Viral Video Sparks Debate: Does 'Hero Fantasy' Drive Resistance to Social Progress?

A video posted on social media by a US-based author, Casten aka Red Velvet, on May 19th, 2025, has sparked debate. The video, titled "Republican men don't want society to improve," argues that some Republican men oppose social progress because it challenges their self-image as heroes. Casten suggests a solution: awarding them trophies. "I genuinely believe they don't want society to improve whatsoever," he states, adding that progress threatens their "good guy with a gun" fantasy. The video, while garnering 5139 views and 670 likes, has also drawn criticism for its inflammatory rhetoric. Experts are divided on the video's claims, with some suggesting it oversimplifies complex political issues. The video highlights the ongoing polarization of political discourse in the US and the challenges of finding common ground.