Sympathy for the Cuckold
A few years ago, when the term “cuck” was enthusiastically embraced by many of my cultural allies, I personally balked at usage of this crude appellation.
“Cuck,” short for “cuckold,” denotes a man whose wife has cheated on him. It is a cruel, mocking term, intended for ridicule, and I found it unkind to make fun of men who have been subjected to the humiliation of finding out that their lover has been unfaithful to them.
I was mostly unaware at the time that a widespread effort was underway to mainstream cuckoldry, and when I found out it was something of a shock. It oughtn’t have been: given that every other type of sexual deviancy was being promoted, why would I realistically expect otherwise about this one?
Today I am completely copacetic about “polymorphous” perverts and other weirdos being shamed as “cucks,” or being assigned any other slur, really.
However, the naive, overly trusting man, who discovers to his horror that the girl he thought was true-hearted was all along playing him for a fool, deserves our compassion. That is the “cuckold” of whom I speak here.
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There is a messy high-profile case which is now in the virtual headlines amongst the online right. I will not name any of the principles here, but you are likely to have heard of it. The long and short of it is that a young man of a strong Catholic faith became engaged, then married, to a young woman who is— or was— an online “trad influencer,” who also strongly proclaimed the importance of her faith and conservative values and mores.
After they married, the pair visited the Vatican, where the Pope himself blessed their union. The girl afterwards posted a picture of this, seemingly heartwarming moment (appended above).
Unfortunately, it soon was discovered that this young woman, while talking a good game, was most resolutely not practicing what she preached. During much of the time that they were together, and “saving themselves” until their wedding night, she was secretly carrying on an affair with her boss, who is also a right-wing internet personality with “hot takes” galore. one who claims to be Orthodox, and who has— or had— a wife (she’s apparently divorcing him now), along with two children.
Some are reporting that the girl— who is vocally pro-life and pro-chastity—- discreetly had an abortion. Others have said that the young man, upon hearing of his wife’s betrayal, became so distraught that he entered an institution, having been plagued with suicidal thoughts.
It is all very salacious, and I dislike having to refer to it lest this be reduced to a “drama post,” which is why I am not using any names.
It is not my purpose here to dwell on the misdoings of the two guilty parties discussed above. Hopefully, both have acknowledged the catastrophic wrong they have done to their marriages, the vile sins they have committed. Hopefully, both are on the road to sincere and earnest repentance.
Nor do I wish to “make hay” from these events, or use them as “grist for the mill” to make any sweeping statements about the contemporary state of men, women, or marriage in general. Others have, and will continue to do so, and I suppose that’s fair, as far as it goes.
I, however, am too distracted, in this case, by how heartsick I feel for the young man to engage in any such cultural polemic.
In the midst of all of the vituperative rhetoric surrounding this whole grisly mess, I do hope that, if you are the praying sort, you will keep this young man in your prayers.
To be betrayed so egregiously, at such a tender age, in such a pivotal moment, is truly a heinous turn of events for this fellow. He is in grave need of spiritual healing, and I ardently hope he receives it.