The Woke Mind Virus

"My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus": Elon Musk

(Picture Credit: Pixabay)

Recently, in an interview, Elon Musk opened up about his resolution to end the 'woke mind virus' that "killed" his son. The story goes something like this: Elon Musk's biological son named Xavier recently transitioned to a woman (much to Elon Musk's disapproval), calling herself Vivian Wilson and detaching himself/ herself from his/ her billionaire father. This took place during the pandemic. Owing to the risk of his son committing suicide due to depression, Elon Musk claims 'he was tricked into signing the documents for this irreversible surgery'.

This is Elon Musk's origin story – having seen his biological son transition to the other gender as a minor became the tipping point for the tech billionaire to stand behind the cause of conservative politics. He blames it on the extreme Leftist mindset and ideology that caused this. This event has had cataclysmic repercussions as Musk claims to end this woke mind virus. This doesn't just mean an ideological shift but also massive funding to the political right wing, bearing great consequences on the political landscape of American politics.

But, why would anyone take such a drastic step? Why would anyone want to change their biological sex?

Gender dysphoria is not a new concept. However, irreversible surgery by way of puberty blockers is.

This issue is important to talk about because of the dangerous proportions it has reached, where minor children are persuaded to undergo surgery on the basis that they don't feel good about their bodies. They are put on puberty blockers to facilitate this process, which is a brutal form of abuse on the physical and mental development of an individual. It also raises the question of parental control where either the consent of parents is foregone or they are coerced into agreeing for it for the wellbeing of their children.

This incident with one of the most powerful men of the world is a wakeup call. Musk deems puberty blockers to be "sterilization drugs". The fact that sterilization drugs are being administered to minor children, children of impressionable age is deeply problematic. For an individual who is still growing and does not understand the gravity of his own autonomy or his life choices of the future is something to think about.

We cannot separate the individual from the society. From alcohol consumption to driving license to the right to vote, most choices in today's world are socially determined. So, when an individual transitions from male to female, an individual loses their right to reproduce. If that choice is unconditionally and unequivocally made by a legal adult, then it is certainly their discretion. But, can a child really decide for himself or herself during their teen years whether they are ready to forego their reproductive rights?

There are people who transition and then detransition, if they feel uncomfortable with their decision. If this decision is not well thought out, then it is bound to leave indelible scars on the psyche of a child. This is a contentious issue.

A fair share of such radicalization can be attributed to the constant absence of a fatherly figure that Musk's children have had to endure. A drastic outcome such as this must have had a lot happening behind the curtain that the rest of the judgmental world (yes, including me) was not privy to. Vivian even claims that her father has no right to interfere in her private decisions as he was never an active part of his children's childhood.

Elon Musk is a maniacal genius, whose vision isn't shared by many and whose ideas cannot be comprehended by all. But, his plight as a parent is understandable when he says that he's lost his son to the "woke mind virus". The world's richest man was blindsided by extreme left wing movement and ideology. It might only seem like a one off and perhaps isn't a big deal outside of the first world countries.

But, that doesn't mean that it isn't a dangerous trend.