Because leftism fills many of its adherents with contempt and hatred. It takes a person of great character and self-control to continually imbibe and mouth the mantras of the left -- that everyone on the right is sexist, intolerant, xenophobic, homophobic, islamophobic, racist and bigoted -- and not become a meaner human being. If I believed just about everyone with left-wing views was despicable, I would be meaner, too.
He concludes with this:
Leftists' meanness toward those with whom they differ has no echo on the normative right. Those on the left need to do some soul-searching. Because as long as they continue to believe that people on the right are not merely wrong but vile, they will get increasingly mean. The problem for the left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the right as vile, it has to argue the issues.
Do you agree?
I agree with his summation, "The problem for the left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the right as vile, it has to argue the issues."
ReplyDeleteIf the facts don't conform to the theory, they must be disposed of. The theory will become fact if we just yell loud and long enough.
And yes, I agree that sort of behavior tends to make the perpetrator mean spirited.