Let’s Stop Aligning with Radical Ideologies, says Peter Stockland
Commentary
In a pre-publication interview for her upcoming novel, set to release on April 9, American author and journalist Lionel Shriver shares her thoughts on what she believes is the current state of the world.
Her novel, titled “Mania,” explores the various social manias that periodically sweep through humanity, according to Shriver. She asserts that the evidence supporting this claim is clear.
“All that’s required is to take a step back and recognize that everyone has gone nuts,” Shriver told Laura Dodsworth of The Free Mind website.
Coincidentally, the National Post reported on a legal dispute where a self-identified non-binary individual in Ontario is seeking public funding for surgery that would result in both male and female genitalia. Nuts R Us.
Shriver also highlights a case where a 27-year-old woman in Alberta was granted permission by the court to end her life with the help of medical professionals, raising concerns about the dark realities of social norms.
While courts struggle to intervene in cases of medical assistance for death, they are faced with debates regarding the necessity and funding of certain procedures, such as vaginoplasty for non-binary individuals.
Shriver explains that the theme of “Mania” stemmed from the rise of transgender activism over a decade ago which inspired her to explore the notion of societal manias.
She emphasizes that her novel does not focus solely on gender identity issues but also tackles the broader concept of intellectual conformity in society.
Shriver remarks on the rapid spread of ideological beliefs and the impact of events like COVID-19 on fueling societal manias.
Despite the challenges of conformity, Shriver acknowledges the existence of dissenting voices that continue to question prevailing ideologies, much like the spirit of inquiry embodied by historical figures like Socrates.
As Shriver’s 18th novel, “Mania” is likely to appeal to an audience seeking to challenge ideological norms and think critically about prevalent societal trends.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
