The "Look What I Can Get Away With" Era
Our Biggest Challenge This Decade: What to Ignore and What to Fight
We are living in an era where pushing boundaries—sometimes for humor, sometimes for defiance, and sometimes simply for attention—has become the norm. In the past month alone, we've witnessed shocking moments from some of the most influential figures in our culture:
The most successful entrepreneur of our generation did a Heil Hitler salute on stage. I don’t believe he’s an anti-Semite, but I do think he decided it would be funny—a demonstration of how far he could go without consequences.
One of the most prolific musicians of our generation posted a flood of anti-Semitic comments and explicit porn on X. Again, I don’t think he truly supports this stuff; rather, I believe he was "pulling an Elon/Trump" and showing us how bad he could be without facing consequences. Or simply how little he cares what other people think.
Our President has repeatedly demonstrated that he can act with impunity—whether it's about sexual matters or promoting violence that works in his favor. Not only does he escape consequences, but he reclaimed the Presidency of the United States.
Trump has set the playbook: the person with the most power in this world is the one who can say or do the most outrageous things without facing repercussions. Penalties, it seems, are only for suckers and losers. This is a very dangerous equation and we must all remain vigilant about it.
So what do we do from here?
Be Anti-Woke and Anti-Fragile
I grew up watching Eddie Murphy, and there isn’t a racial joke in the world that could truly offend me. But there’s a huge difference between saying “Indians smell like curry” and actively calling for people to "normalize Indian hate." One is an off-color joke, the other is a dangerous incitement.
We need to cultivate resilience—the ability to handle offensive humor and hard truths without breaking. But we also need to draw a firm line against racist dogma. “Normalize Indian hate” isn’t just an opinion; it’s a call to arms against a group of people, and that is something we cannot and must not tolerate—not as Indians, not as any group, and not as a society.
How Do We Hold Our Ground?
Shouting on X won’t do anything. Trust me, I’ve tried it. Writing to congressmen won’t change much either. The only way to push back is through our collective power—our eyeballs, our dollars, our votes, and our relationships. We must make our stance so strong that no one would even consider re-hiring someone who spreads hateful dogma.
If we, as a society, decide that “normalize Indian hate” (or any similar rhetoric) is unacceptable, we must make that known in tangible ways. That means refusing to engage, refusing to amplify, and refusing to support those who cross the line. It means making it clear—to governments, businesses, and cultural influencers—that some things are simply beyond tolerance.
We don’t need to police every joke, but we must stand firm against dogma that undermines human equality and fairness. If we don’t, we set ourselves on a rapid descent toward a lawless, chaotic society—one where power belongs only to those who thrive in anarchy and impunity, much like the South Africa that shaped Elon Musk’s upbringing—a place where the few flourished at the expense of the many.
Beware of Boondoggles
Every time there’s a pushback against racist or unacceptable rhetoric, the other side cries “woke-ism” or claims that people are being overly sensitive. But even worse, sometimes the very people impacted by oppression defend their oppressors—whether out of fear, self-preservation, or misguided loyalty.
We saw this in Nazi Germany, where those targeted often tried to appease their persecutors. The same occurred in U.S. slavery, leading to the term "Uncle Tom"—a phrase now used to describe those who weaken resistance against oppression from within. These dynamics are powerful and dangerous, and we must remain vigilant against them, as they can undermine even the strongest movements.
At the end of the day, our challenge isn’t just about what to fight against—it’s about deciding what we can afford to ignore and what we must never let go. That, more than anything, will shape the future of our society.
What do you think? How do we prosper in this new paradigm?