Prior to taking CAS, I had nothing to do with politics unless they involved space or matters which interested me such as the latest box office hits, or video game reviews. Coming into CAS class, one of my main goals was to become more politically involved. As of now, I will confidently state that I do not disagree, nor do I agree with many matters involving politics simply because I lack experience in analyzing and discussing the matter.
Proclaiming my opinion on The Proud Boys and their beliefs will be a large stepping stone of mine in terms of politics and stating my individual opinion, and I am rather excited to dive deep into my inner thoughts involving the topics.
When learning and reading about the proud boys, I really took it upon myself to analyze why members decided to both develop and join the movement. I attempted to analyze the group and its members’ hidden motives by analyzing the group’s three degrees that must be completed if one is to become a true proud boy.
While analyzing the three degrees, I decided to group the first and third degrees together. This is due to the fact that both degrees are carried out to influence dedicated members to proclaim they are an official proud boy. I believe this tactic is done not to truly test a member’s loyalty to the Proud Boy group, but to advertise in public. With the first degree involving dedicated members to publicly announce their loyalty to the Proud Boys while claiming their viewpoint is the only proper and just view and the third degree involving a tattoo with the words “Proud Boy”, I truly believe these two degrees were solely made for publicity.
Analyzing the first and third degree really drew my attention to something my mom would often say to me when I was younger. She would state, “If you want to prove to me that you’re serious about something, show me through your silent actions not your words.” I believe this quote portrays that the Proud Boys embody a sense of childishness when blatantly proclaiming to the public who they are.
Yes, The Proud Boys need to grow in size if they want their movement to be successful, but this could be done through silent actions such as hosting information sessions or spreading out posters which commercialize their idea. This should not be done through violence, forced tattoos, or forcing members to proclaim their view as the only one that is just. To me this tactic reveals The Proud Boy’s childish nature that may potentially stem from previous events in their lives.
While analyzing the second degree, I was truly interested on the statement #nowanks, and personally felt like this degree has more meaning behind it than is stated. This goal is often said to have helped members acquire more women or do better in their personal relationship. I also find it interesting that The Proud Boys venerate the house wife. This gives more power to the man in a relationship and allows the men in relationships to call the shots. In my opinion, it would be interesting to see how many members of The Proud Boys have had relationship issues in the past or have struggled to find a girl. Would many members join The Proud Boys for their claim of getting more women?
I personally do not support The Proud Boy movement and feel that the group is extremely childish in its approach to recruitment, and I do believe a portion of the members have struggled in their previous romantic lives and join Proud Boys in hopes of improving this aspect of their lives. I believe analyzing the rhetoric of The Proud Boys movement is extremely important because the group is influencing the world to truly state their opinions on Western views. The Proud Boy movement has proved to be extremely controversial and may have even paved the way for how future organizations will be managed in the future.
I completely agree with you and your mother. The first degree and third degree seem to primarily serve the purpose of furthering their cause and getting the Proud Boys’ name out there. Also, these actions don’t really impact their cause or ideals. It simply shows that the Proud Boys have members and allows the group to boast their support to the public. This is so very childish. They don’t appear to actually do much other than complain and congregate. I only wish that you mentioned their most childish action, the cereal beatings. I do not think grown men can do anything more childish than beating a man until he utters five cereal brands. It is odd that something so childish and can have such a large effect on the world.