Monday, November 11, 2024

The Frankfurt School and the American Democrat Party: The Roots of Cultural Marxism and the Subversion of American Values

The Frankfurt School and the American Democrat Party: The Roots of Cultural Marxism and the Subversion of American Values

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS


Throughout my journey from an Iranian-American Muslim and former socialist to a Christian conservative in America, I have come to recognize the ideological roots that shape much of the progressive left, including the modern Democrat Party. An integral part of understanding this transformation lies in the Frankfurt School, a group of Marxist theorists who, in the early 20th century, set the stage for what many now recognize as "cultural Marxism." The Democrat Party, by aligning with many principles derived from the Frankfurt School, has fostered an ideology that goes beyond traditional American values, aiming to replace them with a framework of collectivism, division, and identity politics.

The Origins of the Frankfurt School

The Frankfurt School began as a collective of scholars at the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt, Germany, in the 1920s. It sought to develop a Marxist approach to critique the social, cultural, and economic systems in Western countries. These thinkers, including figures like Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, and Herbert Marcuse, proposed that society was governed by oppressive systems which perpetuated inequality. Unlike classical Marxism, which focused on class conflict within the economy, the Frankfurt School expanded Marxist analysis into social and cultural spheres. They argued that traditional beliefs, norms, and family structures were tools of oppression, paving the way for what we now call "cultural Marxism."

Cultural Marxism’s Entry into American Academia

Following World War II, members of the Frankfurt School emigrated to the United States, where they found a new home in American universities. The influence of the Frankfurt School quickly permeated academic circles, particularly within sociology, psychology, and education. Their theories emphasized the need to dismantle traditional societal structures, labeling them as sources of repression that stifled individual freedom and reinforced inequality. Rather than revolutionizing the working class, these theorists encouraged a "cultural revolution" aimed at reshaping minds and societal values, an approach that has found a warm reception within the Democrat Party's platform over time.

The Democrat Party and the Embrace of Identity Politics

As a former executive director of CAIR-Columbus and president of the Muslim Forum of Utah, I saw firsthand the intersections between identity politics and cultural Marxism. The Democrat Party, rather than advocating for unifying American values, has chosen to divide its constituency along lines of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. This divisive focus mirrors the teachings of the Frankfurt School, which emphasized that societal cohesion built on shared values could suppress the "liberation" of marginalized identities. By fragmenting American society and prioritizing these divisions, the Democrat Party aligns itself with the Frankfurt School’s goals of dismantling traditional social structures.

Undermining Religion and the Family Unit

Religion and the family unit are at the core of both Christian and traditional American values. The Frankfurt School argued that these institutions maintain social conformity and inhibit personal freedom. As someone who has embraced Christianity after rejecting the flawed ideological constructs of my past, I recognize the importance of these institutions as the pillars of a stable and moral society. Yet, the Democrat Party increasingly embraces policies and rhetoric that undermine religious liberties and family values. For instance, Democrats have supported policies that promote a secular, government-centered approach to issues such as family welfare and education, effectively sidelining the role of parents and religious institutions in guiding moral and ethical developmente Democrat Party’s Alliance with the Media and Hollywood

One of the Frankfurt School's key strategies was to use mass media as a means of social influence. In today's world, we see a Democrat-aligned media and Hollywood establishment promoting narratives that criticize traditional American values while championing radical leftist causes. Movies, music, and news coverage often favor perspectives that align with progressive ideals, promoting themes that are increasingly hostile toward Christian and conservative values. This focus mirrors Adorno's critique of "the culture industry" and his belief in the power of media to shape ideological frameworks and manipulate mass consciousness .

Es a Tool for Indoctrination

As a conservative with a background in information technology and cybersecurity, I recognize how deeply embedded these ideas have become in our education system. The Frankfurt School advocated for the use of education as a tool for spreading their revolutionary ideas, a strategy that has flourished within American public education. The Democrat Party’s alignment with teachers' unions and support for curricula that emphasize critical race theory (CRT) and other divisive ideologies show a commitment to this form of cultural indoctrination. Through CRT, students are taught to view their identity through a lens of race, power, and privilege, effectively creating division instead of fostering unity within the American fabric .

Conclusionng Traditional American Values

The Frankfurt School’s influence on the Democrat Party represents a powerful and enduring threat to traditional American values and freedoms. From the elevation of identity politics to the undermining of family and faith, we see the destructive results of these Marxist roots embedded in American politics.

As a former vegan, former socialist, and ex-Muslim, I understand the appeal these ideologies may have, especially to those who feel marginalized or unheard. But the path forward for America should be one that emphasizes unity, moral clarity, and respect for individual freedoms—values that align with a Christian, conservative worldview. It is time for Americans to recognize and reject the cultural Marxism that has infiltrated the Democrat Party and to reclaim the foundational principles that made this country a beacon of liberty.


Citations

  1. Horkheimer, M., & Adorno, T. W. (1944). Dialectic of Enlightenment. Social Science Institute, New York.
  2. Adorno, T. W. (1941). "The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception." In Dialectic of Enlightenment. New York: Continuum.
  3. Marcuse, H. (1964). One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society. Beacon Press.

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