He’s a lightweight. He had no idea what he was getting into.
It’s the left’s worst nightmare. To have a faith (socialism), to finally put it to the test, and be sure it will create the magic - “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!” - and to see it fail, as it is NOT the truth - that has to be devastating.
There are many leftists whose faith is being terribly shaken by events.
If you read Horowitz’s book, Radical Son, there was a time this happened to all his communist friends - when it was revealed in the 50’s what a monster Stalin really was. They had fallen for a lie, and it’s a heartbreaking thing to wake up from that. He said the communist drive among his friends just evaporated.
I just received my copy of "Radical Son," and started reading before I even got it in the door. I can hardly wait to really get started with it (have another book going), and I hope it is as compelling as Whittaker Chambers' "Witness."