On Moira Donegan – Guardian Columnist

by Chan Walrus | Jan 6, 2023 | Politics

One thing that never fails to disturb me is the relentless work of Moria Donegan, a US Guardian Columnist, 

Whilst I believe that in some ways, Moria is a talented writer, and I to my surprise also support several of her stances on things, I believe that there lies in her words a deep seated hatred of men, especially those of white skin colour that borders on disturbing. She also has a hatred of the right wing, of which she is most definitely a part but I shall get to that later! I’m a white male conservative who is centre right in my beliefs. Good god, am I in for it if she ever reads this! If you do Moira, I am basing what I’m writing on your words and actions online, and my definitions on what left and right are have actually been researched, as I’m currently writing a book which defines what the definitions actually mean. 

Kyle Rittenhouse on Trial, Picture by Ben Garrison

I first came across Moira’s corrupt crusade against the human race in her writing regarding the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse in the US. Kyle underwent one of the most brutal experiences in US legal history, condemned not just by the media, but by the president of the United States, Joe Biden. The jury’s final verdict of his innocence was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever seen. 

She released an opinion piece stating that “Kyle Rittenhouse isn’t crying for those he hurt. His tears, tellingly, are for himself.” An opinion piece that is still live, despite the trial proving Kyle was forced to defend himself against a very real peri, for which he was found Not Guilty on all counts. This to me is concerning, because I believe that frankly an apology should be in order, at least. It would be a humane thing to do, considering the fact that most of the media seemed intent on painting him a certain way. This doesn’t change the fact that no one knows what another person is thinking. It also doesn’t change the fact her article remains in the Guardian.

In Moira’s particular opinion piece, in connecting Kyle’s case with that of Brett Kavanaugh, Moria states that both cases “pointed to a peculiar phenomenon that remains little understood: the rightwing use of public displays of white male emotionalism as a political tool.” This is very confusing to me for a multitude of reasons.

I wonder weather Moria Donegan herself has the ability to read minds, to know the deep secrets of the human soul. This, I find very much doubtful. I wonder how she, if confronted with the same situation as Kyle Rittenhouse would have reacted. Would she have just stood there and been brutally assaulted or killed? Would she have used her supernatural psychic abilities which she used to apparently read Kyle’s mind to survive? Having watched the sequence of events leading to Kyle discharging his weapon, I believe his actions saved his life. Would Moria have died to preserve the lives of people who were trying to potentially kill her? If we look at the video, and see what was happening to Kyle, ask yourself how you might have reacted in his situation.

When it comes to a situation in which a person is assaulted and is genuinely fearing for their life, it’s really important to take in what actually happened rather than listen to the media representation or what Tweeting imbeciles have to say on Twitter. It’s easy to say or do anything from the comfort of your home. 

When referring to her work, I wonder what she means by the right wing… By the definitions we can easily find online such as the Wikipedia article, which explains very well that ordered social hierarchies are desirable as a right wing concept, (hierarchy as opposed to the equality of the left.) I wonder how she must feel being part of the Guardian, which is itself a right wing and hierarchical organisation. I wonder if everyone at the Guardian is equally paid and of equal rank and responsibility. If not, then she is just another part of the tragic engine that is right wing ideology. 

In many ways I find her repeated statements on the right wing across her many articles to be devoid of knowledge as to what the right wing actually is, to malign it as some oppressive evil force. Don’t get me wrong, every evil dictatorship in existence is hierarchical and therefore right wing, which is in contrast to the left wing ideal of equality. But this doesn’t make every right wing organisation or government bad. She uses it as a buzz word to amplify her hate filled rhetoric. This I find concerning as it makes for a very sinister and divisive approach to reporting, especially if you are trying to do it from a balanced standpoint – not that you’ll find balance in the Guardian, which spends most of it’s time playing ‘left’. Moira appears to strive more for hierarchy than equality in her work, as the enforcement of agendas she favours upon unwilling people, against their will, is not an ‘equality’ or ‘leftist’ trait. Moreso it lends itself to far right thinking, which as I have mentioned in my work is dangerous. 

It is very obvious in the work of many so called ‘leftists’ that they favour a structure, or design within society that purports to be equal but enforces a set of rules and agendas upon people, often unwilling people, in the name of ‘equality’ which ultimately creates equity through hierarchy and is therefore right wing – but not in the good way. This does not afford equal respect among people, as only one side of the ideology is represented and the other has to suck it up. It is one of the many reasons I believe I have met few true leftists in my experiences online and offline. The most bizarre is probably my friend James in the USA, who is exceedingly left wing, and with whom I agree on almost everything we’ve talked about! The thing is the true left do not want to enforce ideology on others. Rules and hierarchy are a part of a right wing structure and in my eyes an important part of society. Though in the wrong hands and with the wrong ideology, they are toxic and highly dangerous. 

In a world in which people could be relied upon to help one another and work together with equal rights and responsibilities, I could honestly say that would be an ideal society to strive for, if it were achievable. However, we live in a world where it is necessary for a government to be there to protect the people from invaders, to provide support and care for those unable to support themselves. I’d be pretty horrible if I didn’t think these right wing things were not only fantastic, but sadly a necessity. But then, I digress…

She then targets white male emotionalism, stating: “And yet conservative white men’s emotions are increasingly coming to the forefront of political life, and they seem to animate much of the Trumpist right.” – Whatever that means. Personally, I think it’s normal to have a physical reaction to remember a situation wherein you are forced to shoot people in self defence and have it brought up. Moria, on the other hand, I wonder if she would have felt anything at all, had she been forced to defend herself. I don’t see what being white or male has to do with anything, unless of course you’re a racist misandrist – but then again the world is full of those these days, yet again, in many cases, masquerading as the ‘left’.

She is right though that the emotions of both Brett Kavanaugh and Kyle Rittenhouse were a big deal for the media on a global scale. They did become political in many senses as well, though in Kyle’s case I believe his explosion of emotion was real, that he was reliving a genuinely horrible experience. I am not familiar enough with the Brett Kavanaugh case enough to comment, though connecting both the cases to try and prove a point about white male conservatives didn’t really make much sense to me, as I don’t think that’s really what the article was about… or was it? Was the article a political device to shame people and tar them with a certain skewed agenda? Surely not.

When I saw her article: “The Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial was an orgy of misogyny” (which is a beautiful use of words) I almost decided to retitle this article “Moira Donegan’s work is an orgy of Misandry (Though the thought of Moira at an orgy isn’t a good thing.) The temptation shouldn’t always be followed. Though the article itself comes across as one sided, Moira does make some decent points, though it confuses me greatly that she can not seem to understand that Johnny Depp has been blacklisted for a while over Amber’s allegations – something Amber didn’t have to go through in the same way.

My thoughts on the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case are that I do not really care. I see two deeply flawed individuals duking it out in the public arena, neither whom I particularly care for. Considering her crusade for women’s rights and previous article on Jeffery Epstein, which showed her knowledge of the case, I wonder why the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell was not covered by Moira. There certainly isn’t a peep about it on Twitter… She could have smashed it, if she chose to report on the trial, and it would have been a massive boost for women’s rights, with Maxwell being a key player in Epstein’s life.

Moria Donegan was involved in quite a big controversy a while back in which she stated in an article for the Cut that she created a spreadsheet called “Shitty Media Men” which brought together rumours and allegations of sexual misconduct by men in magazines and publishing. She believed that it would help protect women from sexual harassment and assault. Protecting women from such horrendous treatment is definitely a noble goal, however rumour and allegation are not suitable ways to do this. A person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and whilst we know there are people who get away with things, people should not be destroyed based on allegation and rumour alone.

Having been wrongfully arrested and horribly mistreated for a sexual assault which I never committed, I have some experience of the damage rumour and allegation can do, and even now, it is impossible for me to see my son because of the rumours and damage it generated. I lost friends, I felt like I could no longer face my colleagues and my life was completely derailed. I was one of a sizeable group of men that this person had accused of sexual assault, and I certainly won’t be the last.

Once the police actually did an investigation and concluded I could not have possibly done what I was accused of, my life still didn’t go back to normal. That said, I am a carer working in a Bupa care home and I hold an Enhanced DBS, which I wouldn’t if I were actually a criminal. The people I work with are fond of me so to hell with everything I’ve lost. I wonder how Moria would have framed my story. Maybe I would have deserved to lose my son, friends and all that I lost. Maybe her psychic evaluation of me would have shown a warped and evil beast lurking within the confines of a dark and confused man that I am not even aware of. Who knows? 

I’m sure if she ever reads this, she will hate me, a privileged white man, for pointing out some of the terrible fallacies and falsehoods she has spread. Little will she be able to understand the admiration for her drive and ambition that I actually respect about her work, and though I believe it is dangerous and misguided, I hope she will continue to work hard for women’s rights and to try and help to protect people… As long as it doesn’t come at the cost of others.