Was Alexei Navalny a Martyr?

 

In 2020, Alexei Navalny was poisoned by Vladimir Putin's agents. He survived after treatment in Germany.  In early 2021, he returned to Russia and was imprisoned.  He died three years later.

 There can be no doubt as to the fate that he knew would await him when he returned.

As this is written the exact cause of his death is not known in the West. But whether he was murdered now or later is merely a matter of timing. He had been doomed when he reentered Russia. Martyrdom was the end he sought.

Why?

 Navalny could have remained in the West and done what he could do as an exile to bring down the Putin regime.

 Instead, he chose a different path.

 Was it spiritual?  Was he motivated by thoughts that that are uniquely Russian? The 100,000 Orthodox priests shot under Stalin's rule all share that designation. But certainly martyrdom is not confined to that part of the world

Think of the radical Islamists who attach labels of “martyr” to all who die for their cause or, as a consequence of it, as if they were "participation ribbons" at a youth sporting event. The label doesn't apply.

 In the Christian faith, Jesus is a martyr above all others.  He willingly gave up His life to absolve all mankind of its sins. From a theological perspective that makes sense.

 Undoubtedly Alexei Navalny is a martyr.  Why he chose to become one, I'll confess, I do not understand. 

Do Some on the Right Hate America?

 

The Sensible Conservator has not lost his senses. Recently I focused on why the far left seemingly hates our country. For them, Western values which are at the core of America are evil (spawned slavery, etc.) and must be expunged. They hate America for what it has always been in their eyes.

Switch perspectives.  Many on the right (not merely the fringe) hate America for what they believe it has become -- a woke-infested society that rejects the values of individual responsibility and respect and religion and focuses on the outlandish which mocks common sense (boys on girls’ sports teams, etc.) Donald Trump personifies the unpatriotic right. He's not a conservative because that which used to be conservative has been   irretrievably lost.  He is no latter-day Ronald Reagan looking forward to continuing on the road toward the shining city on the hill.

 Donald Trump is angry and pessimistic (of course he promotes a veneer of optimism. That's why he can't acknowledge defeat at anything.  To do so would highlight his hopelessness that's due to an extreme lack of self-confidence).

He wants to repeal the policies of the far left being implemented by the "Marxist, communist and fascists” and ignore the old elite establishment of American politics (certainly including the GOP's old guard). 

 The irony is that he has succeeded in life in nearly everything he has tried (except his bid for reelection in 2020, which of course was “stolen”. But he seemingly fears the outcome of the next contest.   

 That underdog, “I am a victim” demeanor is obviously attractive to his base. They share it.  In fact, it generates a feeling of high loyalty which causes apparently every report of his questionable conduct to be ignored if not an opportunity to come to the former president’s defense.  In contrast, Nikki Haley and DeSantis are merely other candidates.

 For Trump backers, policy differences are not the determinant; other factors matter.   Trump voters are by and large enthusiastic supporters who blanch at the prospect that they could be persuaded to vote for other Republican contenders.  Most Trump voters (70%) have adopted his view that the 2020 election was stolen. To them, it seems only fair that the 2020 GOP nominee be able to undo the wrong he suffered last time.  The bulk of Trump’s base supports him because “it is the right thing to do”.  They are generally not susceptible to appeals from other Republican candidates.

Fortunately, when Donald Trump (finally!) departs the political scene, the American haters on the right will largely disappear themselves. Their allegiance had been solely to a bad man.  We can expect a return of the much troubled Republican Party that existed before the Trump era, at least with at least some of the upbeat spirit of Ronald Reagan. Dealing with the bad ideas of the left will remain the essential task for those who love America.