Escaping Tartarus

Oregon Event, 2025, Speech #3. By Durendal

In November of 2025, Oregon held its third official Event. The following is a transcript from the third speech, given by Durendal.

Thank you, gentlemen, for attending this event and making the effort to join us this evening.

We inhabit a difficult and confusing world.

A world that is unrecognizable from the one many of us were born into. It is in this climate of chaos that we meet. These gatherings of countrymen, whether as friends, colleagues or like-minded strangers, bring clarity of mind as to our place and purpose in this strange world. They also provide a sense of comfort in knowing that we are not alone and camaraderie in our struggle to be good and worthy men. It is in this context that I wish to exhort each one of you to begin building real world purpose, connections and institutions.

In a time of chaos, we must be willing to face the storm and build a better world for our communities.

Before I discuss the more concrete and actionable items, I am compelled to address some of the basic issues that we all face.

There is a particular tension between the infinite and ethereal internet and the finite and tangible physical world in right-wing spaces. In my own experience, I would not have the theory of mind nor concept of required action if I had not begun my internet journey by stumbling upon Jordan Peterson, Steven Crowder and Ben Shapiro in 2015. There is a strong likelihood that I would have never found Pete Q, Dave Green nor the Prudentialist without those requisite soft introductions. Yet, this same digital realm that has provided me with the necessary framework to operate in the physical world very nearly trapped me within the confines of its boundless offerings.

In many ways, the internet reminds me of the myth of Tantalus.

We, on the right, whatever that means, have been given a seat at the table of infinite knowledge. This sweet temptation to delve ever deeper into the esoteric and mystical nature of our modern world provides us with a sense of belonging and action. We feel as though we have found brothers, through space and time, who provide us with a profound connection and grounding. We are not insane, after all! In this learning and belonging, we begin to develop a concept of action, as if we are acting in the world through the very essence of our prying apart this knowledge that has been secreted away from us.

By learning, we are doing. By doing, we are acting. By acting we are effecting change.

Yet, nothing. ever. happens.

We are in Tartarus, standing in the pool, being ever tempted by the tree of knowledge and action, yet unable to grasp its promises.

How, then, do we reach up and grab that tantalizing fruit branch? We ignore it.

In simple terms, we must return to living historically normal lives. This is not a call to return to the land nor to hide away as hermits in a distant and secluded place. We, in this room, have the opportunity to ride the wave of a rising tide of change. In order to do this, each one of us must recognize our own talents and abilities and have the willingness to be honest with ourselves. For every Alexander, there are a thousand silver shields. Odds are, most of us will remain anons, serving our communities faithfully and working to build a better future for those in our immediate surroundings.

There is great strength in this simple truth, as it allows for a particular clarity of mind. A mind that is not clogged with black pills and esoteric theories about the paradoxical and omni present “they”. This is not to discourage an atmosphere of inquisitiveness nor a desire to procure a better understanding of the world we live in, but it is to say that by standing in that foetid Tartarian pool one will eventually drown.

So, with a clear mind and purpose, how, now, do we proceed? Each of us live particular lives and find ourselves in wildly different situations, yet these principles should serve to help guide us in our personal lives.

I will not belabor this first point and whilst it may sound woefully Petersonian, in my experience it has served me well. This is to find your spiritual center. This is not a demand to slavishly clean your room and participate in the Sisyphian task of throwing the same pair of jeans in the hamper everyday. I am a Christian, who came back to the faith after years of neglecting it. I find great strength and courage in the Word, two characteristics that have allowed me to face the infinite challenges that our decadent culture produces in a way that I could not resist without God. I know that not every man here is a Christian and it is not my intent to proselytize with this speech. I am simply calling for each of you here tonight to examine your soul and your spiritual life and reconcile yourself with your faith. What we face is ethereal as much as it is physical.

Secondly, you must become a man of action. The temptation in our modern world is to view ourselves as passive nodes that are acted upon, instead of being active agents who visit our will upon the world. As I spoke about earlier, the man of action does not wallow in the deep internet nor in his own pity. Most of us will not have a significant impact on national or international political discourse. There is a very important place for that type of agent, some of whom are in this room. But we who are not so talented or are not called to that realm must forego the temptation to wage war on X or doom post in the comment section of your favorite right-wing substack.

Sometimes Action is nothing more than making a Mr Trash Wheel

What, then, does it look like to be a “man of action”? This action can be as simple as picking up trash alongside the street in your neighborhood or as complex as organizing an event that brings in dozens of like-minded men from across the country to congregate with each other. Whatever action it is that you take, it should be aimed toward the betterment of your community. We must put forth a positive vision if we are to stay motivated and operate not just as men of action but as builders. In addition to the betterment of your community, each action you take should carry with it the objective of developing a network of local and relatively like-minded people.

This leads us to the third point, one that carries great importance. That is to become the nexus point in your community. You must position yourself as the man who “knows a guy”. Through operating in the world, you will begin to develop a network of people who have various skills that will compliment not just your own skill set but could be of great use to someone else. There is great power in being the man who is at the top of every local’s mind when they are in need of something. In positioning yourself in such a way, you will develop the ability to be the first to know about great opportunities, or calamities, that will affect you, your family and your community. This is not just a principle applicable to small towns. Whilst it may be difficult in large cities, this perspective can be paired down to the neighborhood level and then expanded outward.

I think it is possible for any man, in any station of life, to function as the nexus in their community. It will be easier for those who are more financially affluent or who own a business, as they have something tangible to offer. Yet it is not impossible for those who have fewer resources or social capital to position themselves in this way. This brings us back around to the question of the soul that was addressed earlier. As our world continues to descend toward chaos, the masses will continue to gravitate towards men who carry themselves with a certain sense of gravitas.

It is no longer cool to be slovenly.

Dress well, do not be afraid to wear a suit or an expensive coat with slacks and dress shoes with no express purpose other than for the sake of it. I believe there is a real metaphysics to dress and that the way a person dresses is an expression of their inner state. If you dress well and have a deep and abiding sense of self, you will notice people in your community operating with a certain deference toward you.

Finally, do not discount the older generations in your quest to become that community nexus. This perpetual war between boomers and the younger generations has caused grievous and unnecessary wounds where there should be none. I am the first to admit that I have been a foot soldier in this conflict and occasionally indulge in a bit of schadenfreude when the stock market dips. Yet, in a time such as ours, intergenerational conflict will only weaken us.

I am certainly not the first one to make this point, but the boomers have a lot to offer and they desperately want to share that knowledge with someone who they believe is genuinely interested in them or their craft.

Some of my best personal and business relationships are with the older generation and many of my business opportunities have stemmed from older folks taking me under their wing. I am not calling for anyone to be cynical here, either. Be genuine with the older generation. Both your soul and theirs will be the better for it. I want to hammer home the point that boomer hate, justified or not, will put you back in Tantalus’ pool.

To be terminally online is to relegate yourself to Tartarus.

Each of you in this room must understand that your greatest asset is your youth. I, myself, straddle that liminal space between “young man” and “middle-aged man”. Yet because our culture worships youthfulness and has a misguided perception of what constitutes said youth, many older folks still consider me to be young and with many years of exuberance ahead.

This is our leverage.

There are millions of accomplished men who have retired or are ready to retire and wish to pass on their knowledge, assets and passions to someone, anyone, who shows interest. As I mentioned above, if you carry yourself well, dress impeccably and exude competence and energy, you will catch the eye of those who are ready to relax but are not yet prepared to relinquish their life’s accomplishments to people who they deem to be unworthy. This may elicit eyerolls and I am not, necessarily, telling you to pull up your boot straps and go shake the manager’s hand, but there is some real truth to that most boomer of cliches.

It is here, near the conclusion, that I wish to provide a few actionable steps that anyone may take to begin to actualize as their community’s nexus. It is difficult to provide a specific set of suggestions for so broad an audience in possession of a variety of skill sets and personalities. Yet, these suggestions should, at the very least, provide a path with which to follow.

Firstly, honestly and accurately assess your station in life and understand your personality. I would not expect a shy but talented autist to host a dinner party for a local charity, just as I would not expect a gregarious but technologically illiterate socialite to understand how to design a website and increase that same charity’s digital footprint.

Once you have done this, begin to take note of the skill sets of those around you. This is why the first point is so important. If you are to become the local focal point, you must understand how to identify people who have complimentary skill sets that cover for your own personal weaknesses. In this, be pragmatic and humble. You will certainly meet people who will be better at your thing than you. But, they won’t have all of the connections that you have built up. Remember, what will make you valuable beyond your talents will be your network and willingness to share those contacts with others in need. Whether explicit or implicit, people, especially strangers, will always analyze engagements by the value they may receive from their interactions with you, whether in the immediate term or over an extended period of time.

How do you put this to action? In simple terms, by always asking questions and never being afraid to request a coffee meeting. This is why I placed so much emphasis upon your youth and energy. If you are working as a store clerk, do not be afraid to strike up a conversation with every person in that line. A simple “hello” and commenting on how much you like that persons’ jacket may be enough to entice a business owner who has cycled through 20 employees in the last month to hand you their business card. That same opportunity would not be open to a haggardly forty year old man working the same job, even if the interaction was equally pleasant. Be observational and inquisitive. Look for reasons to ask those same people coming through that line questions as you check them out. You would be amazed how many times you will find common interests with strangers by simply asking them about their day.

What if you are not so outgoing? Become competent in your chosen field and work to excel at it. You will still need to be willing to socialize and publicly work for the betterment of your community but this can be made easier if you are known to be a competent man or a great worker. As our culture continues to degrade, it will become easier to build legitimacy by just showing up, doing your job skillfully and being a man of your word. A reputation as a dependable young man will take you far amidst a sea of incompetence.

Amidst these personal actions, you must also organize or participate in local events and groups. This may be as simple as putting together a local warhammer group and then working to build deeper relationships with this group by inviting them over for dinner. It could be as public putting out a post on your local social media page calling for volunteers to help you pick up trash at the local park or as private as quietly taking a trash bag out yourself and cleaning up the sidewalks in your neighborhood. Frequenting the same establishment on a consistent basis and becoming a local is also a great way to get to know business owners, their employees and other patrons. One of the most effective modes of becoming a community leader is by coaching a youth team.

I first started coaching my local 6th grade football team at the age of 25. It affords you a position of authority and respect that may be above your current life station. I was working as an apprentice and living at home with my parents, yet my players’ parents respected me and my thoughts on how to run the team. After coaching for a couple of years, it eventually led to an opportunity to serve on the local budget commission and gave me a platform to run for a vacant school board position.

It is here that I hope to have provided some practical guidance with which to act upon. I have geared much of this for the younger men in this audience, as I believe that they are in a greater need of direction. For those of you who are my age or older, all of these principles still apply. It may be more difficult for those of us who are married, have children, careers or other demands that life may make of us. Those demands do not excuse us, however, from our duties to our communities.

We, in this room, have an opportunity that our fathers and their fathers before them did not have. They lived through a period of great peace and prosperity. We find ourselves living in an age of great disorder and decadence. We are the nameless and faceless men of history. We are the men who historical revisionists will whisper of. We will be remembered for our courage to stand up when other men delighted in their pleasures or cowered away when faced by the hordes. We have the chance to be genuinely heroic. Take hope in knowing that ours is a righteous cause.

Let us be good men worthy of our ancestors and our progeny.