A principle of reference in every political performance and in every marital argument: having your reasons does not necessarily mean you are being reasonable. Of course, Republicans have reason enough to go to war with Disney, but war against the new-woke corporation cannot be waged from something that looks a lot like abuse of power. First, because we conservatives detest government, power, and therefore abuse of power. And second, because by doing so you are giving the left reasons to do the same thing as soon as they get the chance. And the trail of corpses will be summed up in one word: freedom. So, on top of that, in the end the enemies of freedom, i.e., the left, will win.
You know that Sen. Josh Hawley announced a bill to strip Disney and other companies of special copyright protections, limiting the protections to 56 years to be applied retroactively. While it could start up a debate about whether or not those special copyrights are appropriate and what their duration should be, even the senator himself has made it no secret that his bill is not so much in response to that debate, but is more about revenge for Disney’s crazed attacks on Florida Republicans and their even more crazed woke agenda, which would make Mickey Mouse himself blush if it were up to him. Hawley’s press release read:
The age of Republican handouts to Big Business is over. Thanks to special copyright protections from Congress, woke corporations like Disney have earned billions while increasingly pandering to woke activists. It’s time to take away Disney’s special privileges and open up a new era of creativity and innovation.
Like it or not, Disney, like Netflix and other idiotic companies, has every right in the world to sink its profits. The most we can do is sit back with popcorn and watch the breakdown. That one of the most recognizable icons of the last century in America chooses to ruin its history and prestige does not justify Republicans going down the same path, betraying their sacred respect for freedom, fair play, and private property. And besides, what the hell, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are not to blame for being in the hands of illiterate fools.
Disney’s woke garbage must be fought on all possible fronts, denounced at all hearings, and even boycotted if necessary, in campaigns arising from civil society itself. But positions of power should never be employed to poke fingers in the eyes of major corporations as part of a culture war that moves in a realm that has nothing to do with economics and copyright. That’s typically what the left would do. And the only reason for believing in the Right is not about losing or winning battles, but about holding a series of very different convictions. Yes, my friends, the day blondes and brunettes become the same thing, you will find me leaning towards redheads.
In a way, this mess reminds me of an idea that the great Cardinal Robert Sarah often insists upon, when he invites Christians not to be afraid of maintaining their principles when we feel alone: Jesus never told us that there would be a lot of us. What a great truth! Fighting the cultural battle against Disney is fine and winning it would be great, but not at any price. It is better to lose it and maintain our principles, than to win it and become the same immoral garbage that the left has become.
I don’t want to come down too hard on Josh, with whom I otherwise haven’t dealt with nor have I followed his career closely. But nothing irritates me more than seeing my own people get it wrong. Besides, before Josh took the spotlight away from me, when it came to being stupidly wrong, that was my damn specialty. What about my copyright on stupidity?
Itxu Díaz is a Spanish journalist, political satirist, and author. He has written nine books on topics as diverse as politics, music, and smart appliances. His most recent book is Todo Iba Bien. He is a contributor to the Daily Beast, the Daily Caller, National Review, the American Conservative, The American Spectator, and Diario Las Américas in the United States, and is a columnist for several Spanish magazines and newspapers. He was also an adviser to the Ministry for Education, Culture, and Sports in Spain. Follow him on Twitter at @itxudiaz or visit his website: www.itxudiaz.com.
Translated by Joel Dalmau
