Take What the Defense Gives You.

If you've ever stepped onto a football field, chances are you've heard your coach hammering one phrase into your skull: "take what the defense gives you." It's like a mantra, a guiding principle that's supposed to navigate you through the chaos of the game. And it's pretty self-explanatory, really. But just for the sake of clarity, let's break it down: when your opponent slips up, makes a mistake, or unwittingly cedes territory, you pounce. You seize the opportunity laid out before you with both hands and make the most of it.

During the recent chaos unfurling across college campuses, surrounding subject of Israel and Palestine, a single photograph emerged, capturing a group of white fraternity brothers standing guard around the American flag. This image spread, like wildfire, engulfing the attention everyone on the political right, from the standard-issue Fox News conservatives to seasoned veterans of the Dissident Right.

To many, it wasn't just a picture; it was a beacon of hope, a small white pill, a drop of water in the desert of ideological warfare.

Like clockwork, the counter-signaling commenced. Accounts across Twitter (X) began their usual routine of "Actually," followed by attempts to educate their followers on why this was a misguided gesture. They aimed to redirect the narrative towards the "real" story. But you and I both know that in the grand scheme of things, the truth of a matter often takes a backseat to its spirit.

Now, I can empathize with the inclination to highlight the inconvenient truth that the flag these young men are staunchly defending represents, in large part, a government that hates them. It symbolizes a regime that actively undermines their ability to become the men God indented them to be. A regime that is intent on snipping their threads in the fabric of society by squeezing them out of the job market, precipitating economic downturns, and auctioning off their birthright piece by piece.

All of that holds true, but it's crucial to bear in mind that the flag isn't synonymous with the government it represents. For many on the right, particularly those entrenched in mainstream conservative circles, the flag holds profound significance. It's not merely a symbol of governance but rather intertwined with notions of heritage, home, and personal identity. It embodies their sense of belonging and self.

With that in mind, our focus shouldn't solely dwell on the government's actions but also on the instincts driving these young men to safeguard the flag. They're acting in accordance with a primal urge, defending what they perceive as theirs, and that impulse is something we should endorse. Granted, these instincts might be misdirected, but at their core, they represent a sense of loyalty and honor.

Every individual, within the Dissident Right, started somewhere. If we're honest with ourselves, many of us can trace our paths back to where these young men currently stand. That instinct to shield one's flag and people resonates deeply—it's a sentiment that in part drove me to enlist in the Marine Corps. Evolving from the position these young men occupy now to where the DR is today, is a journey that takes time and reflection.

There's little merit in hastily rushing to countersignal these young men. At their core, their intentions are noble—they embody the type of individuals we want standing alongside us. Instead of immediately pushing back against their actions, we should seize this opportunity to engage with them, to introduce them to our ideas. After all, you catch more flies with honey.

Ultimately, if we aim to enact meaningful change, we must prioritize building relationships and forging alliances. Just as in football where you're taught to take what the defense gives you, in our interactions with these young men, we should see their willingness to defend the flag as an opportunity. We need to make ourselves approachable to those who may not yet align entirely with our beliefs. These young men are already on the right path; they just might need a gentle push in the right direction. Like leading a horse to water, we can't fault them for not immediately drinking.

-TJS