Asshole Plague!

As published at SubStack, 11/1/23:

[Phnom Penh, 10/29/23]

Measured tone has disappeared. Everywhere you look, there’s hysteria, unchecked rage, genocidal lust, flippant insults and, most tellingly, an absence of good cheer, non-abusive humor and, basically, grace, not necessarily amazing. Assholes have overrun the planet!

Actually, only in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and at least half of NATO. In S.E. Asia, India, Albania, Serbia, Lebanon, Egypt and Namibia, etc., people are still civilized and most lovely. With relaxed faces, they smile.

Passing through all those countries during the last three years, I was warmly treated, with a Baster lady in Rehoboth thinking she was my next wife even. It took quick thinking and decisiveness to wiggle away from that weirdness. On a van carrying watermelons and cantaloupes, I escaped back to Windhoek. So much can go wrong in this life, at any time, and it won’t get better when you come back as a cow or cockroach. Just born, you’re stepped on. Orwell, “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.” Bugs, too, as in just shut up and swallow it. In Cape Town, I was almost mugged by three youths, but even in South Africa, with its evil karma still playing out, I encountered much sweetness.

Waking up this morning in Phnom Penh, I read this remarkable comment, from one “Tina Trent”:

You’re such a liar. Chomsky, NPR executives like Amy Goodman—really, her, check her paycheck—they make millions while denounching capitalism. They are rich grifters. And you believe them.

How pathetic.

I know a lot of Vietnamese in Atlanta. They’d kick your ass. You’re an ignorant whiner. And the only place you belong is in an actual communist fascist state, where they will teach you to be quiet.

What triggered her was this passage in my last article, “So Much Life So Nearby”:

Although just about every Vietnamese, Cambodian or Lao over 55 has experienced historical horrors that are very relevant to you, yes, you! it’s best to ignore them completely, for their testimonies will complicate, if not contradict, the wise words of Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodman and your progressive professors. Also, pay no mind to any Palestinian, Lebanese or any other Arab. Instead, have this tattooed on your forehead, “EX COMMUNIST, NOW ANARCHIST,” or vice versa.

Its tone is already ironic. Plus, I am a Vietnamese over 55, so I’m asking readers to pay no attention to me, lest what I say “complicate, if not contradict” Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodman and progressive professors, all of whom I’ve mocked repeatedly. Even if I was serious, there was no need to call me a lying, pathetic and ignorant whiner who don’t just deserve to have my ass kicked, but shut up in a “communist fascist state”!

When another reader tried to engage “Tina Trent,” I said don’t bother, because “you would only encourage her.” I then quoted Oscar Wilde, “Irony is wasted on the stupid.” I also added, “We’re descending into the crassest and angriest idiocracy. It’s not even funny.”

In my Obscured American and Escape from America series, I interview ordinary people at length, and in my articles, I routinely quote people I’ve met. I’ve also quoted from readers’ comments, the wise, weird and, well, Tina Trentish. All these voices constitute a reality that’s often ignored. In a hundred or thousand years, people can learn more about 2023 by pondering Tina Trent’s gibberish over Amy Goodman’s, and I’m not joking.

Maybe Tina had drunk terrible white wine with too many shots of Evan Williams Black, after her kitten had fallen from her 30th floor balcony. Anyone can have a regrettable evening. Just hours after her outburst, however, she reappeared to, again, swing for the fence:

You know I’m right. Full disclosure, who pays you? I know you’re not with Unz anymore. I like your writing, which is why I subscribe. But what the fuck did the Jews ever do to you? Anger your Iranian bagmen?

There’s more, but that’s enough from this winsome lady.

Also this morning, “SacredCowPies” raged at me for being a Vietnamese colonial in Cambodia:

Personally I don’t care for this tilt toward the Vietnamese in Cambodia. Duh! What happened to national sovereignty Linh? For the record Cambodia is now over 30% Vietnamese thanks to Hung Sen’s opendoor policy with his paymasters […] I’ve seen the arrogant way some of VN strut around town in farmer pants and conical hats like they own the place. Which sometimes they do!. Vietnam = Israel Cambodia = Palestine Someday both the latter will be gone. So enjoy your own version of colonialism.

First off, his “over 30%” of Cambodia are Vietnamese is preposterous, as is his characterization of Vietnam as Israel colonizing Cambodia. In Palestine, the natives are second class citizens routinely abused and, now, mass murdered. Cambodians’ biggest complaint is the Chinese domination of Sihanoukville, but despite their resentment of Chinese and Vietnamese, Cambodians certainly don’t think they’ve lost their country. They are nothing like Palestinians.

Again, the angry tone and unhinged ejaculation. Americans are seriously losing it.

I had enough of such assholism at Unz, so it was a relief to be free of it. When my interview with Kevin Barrett was posted at Unz on 9/25/23, however, I had the privilege of revisiting that Jewish run circle jerk for Angry White Pussies. It has only gotten worse since I left nearly two years ago. With astonishment, I read this “comment” by “sulu,” as addressed to Sylvia Wolfe:

If you’re a fucking dyke that’s your problem. I’m a heterosexual White American male that has lived in South East Asia for some 20 years. For those that don’t know (you for example) I have probably had more pussy than most rock stars. Ask any man that has been to that part of the World what the pussy situation is and he will tell you. Some old bag such as yourself has not the slightest conception. When I was living in the Philippines I was turning down eights so I would have more time to fuck nines. My personal best was 4 girls in one 24 hour period. And that was done without setting out to do so. It just happened that way. It was not uncommon for me to do them two at a time and occasionally 3 at a time. I would just go down the line and the lucky girl ( or the unlucky girl, as the case may be) would catch the load. I never went past 3 girls at one time because I didn’t want to be excessive. 18 to 23 was my favored hunting range. The oldest girl I have ever fucked in my life was 27. And I felt like I should drop her off at the rest home after I was done with her. I would love to have an accurate accounting of how many women I have had. I have only the roughest approximation. Let me put it this way. If blow jobs don’t count I have probably had somewhere between 500 to 700 women. If blow jobs count I have easily had 1000 plus […]

Since sulu was a pilot during the Vietnam War, he must be at least 70-years-old. Obviously, no civilized man should go on about himself like this in any public forum, much less one that’s billed as “A Collection of Interesting, Important, and Controversial Perspectives Largely Excluded from the American Mainstream Media.” Granted, sulu is only a reader, and not a columnist, but with 1,510 comments over the years, sulu clearly believes he has insights worth bestowing. He’s performing for his audience.

Without the internet, we wouldn’t have sulu, SacredCowPies, Tina Trent, Catdompa, Gigolo Joe and so many others, but for 2023, none can surpass web sensation Johnny Somali. Boldly obnoxious, he’s an emblematic American, so should be on a coin, stamp, if not our next president.

Twenty-three-years-old, Somali’s real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael. Before he was arrested on 8/31/23, Somali spent a month in Japan harassing and insulting Japanese. On a train, he’d shout at strangers, “Hiroshima!” or “Nagasaki!” Laughing, he also said, “We’re going to drop another atomic bomb!” At Tokyo Disneyland, he startled passersby with, “Fukushima! Atomic bomb! Shinzo Abe!” The last is the just assassinated former Prime Minister of Japan. At a restaurant, Somali blasted the atomic bomb warning siren. Flashing his gummy, idiotic grin, Somali alarmed women or old people by following them around. His cameraman was another American, 24-year-old Jeremiah Dwane Branch.

When finally arrested, Somali shouted to Branch, “Call the American embassy! Call the American embassy!”

As an American, Somali felt immune to any foreign norm of behavior. Done with Japan, Somali would just go elsewhere to perform more stunts, and become even more famous. Inside a police car a few days later, Somali spotted newspaper photographers, so beamed his brightest smile. So self-absorbed, Somali was apparently delighted at having gained so much attention.

Two months later, Somali is still in jail. Normally so courteous, the Japanese can be as nasty as they come. In prison, they know how to punish your mind and body without leaving actionable evidence. Over the coming months, if not years, Somali will be well versed in the Japanese idea of a great prank. Over and over again, Somali will bare his gum and teeth, but it won’t be him laughing. Branch is also locked up.

To do or say whatever, impulsively or indulgently, without regard for others, is at best childish, but American culture has progressed much further than that. Even when it’s most barbaric or repulsive, America can’t see or hear itself. As more of the world look on in disgust, Uncle Sam is still proud of his bombs, blowjobs, righteousness and blathered nonsense.

Far from all that, I breathe easier. Again, I’m in a culture where people haven’t lost their self composure, thus dignity. Though almost none are tatted up or dressed outlandishly, to be noticed, the odd ones who do are tolerated.

Though not as mellow as Laos, Cambodia is still a very peaceful oasis. Bodies aren’t tense, smiles come easily, laughter isn’t canned and the children are angelic. During this most troubling time, that’s heavenly enough.

[Phnom Penh, 11/1/23]

[Phnom Penh, 10/30/23]

[Phnom Penh, 10/30/23]

[Phnom Penh, 10/31/23]