PJ Media

A stimulating essay. I agree that strong emotions in one vein can be turned toward other directions. I would not suggest however that this is the sole domain of the left. There are many emotions across the ends of the political spectrum, and rising emotions from any given perspective tend to have rising emotional responses. So look right as well as left for reactive Romanticism.

For instance, it would be difficult to find right wingers who are not attracted to Romantically idealized conceptions of the individual, representative government, and other traditionally right perspectives. I say this not to criticise but to clarify: when engaged in serious discourse you will find strong emotions from the right as well. You will find anger in many who are threatened by opposing views and the percieved impacts of those views.

From the extreme right, the anger of cult-like communities like skinheads, racists, and neo-nazis. Clearly they are driven in many cases by a sense of threat (just check out any extremist literature – it is virtually all inclusive of some statement of threat). Another right wing analogue would be an anti abortionist bomber. In that case, some emotional issue is channeled toward murder, on behalf of an oppressed unborn.

I’d encourage us all to more fully own our own perceptions. The statement “The anger on the Left is more visible right now, fanned by the flames of frustration at being at last in power, but still not in control” might be more accurately “visible *to me* right now”.

There is plenty or Romantic impulse to go around. Perhaps its not just that we are living in a time where a Romantic tilt is to the left, but where there is an increased sense of Romantic in the culture. If self conciousness, self awareness, individualism, expression, and creativity are the hallmarks of Romantic vision, then perhaps we are living in a period of Neo-Romanticism where the advent of communications make such vision possible for all.