Saying that there is no intellectual basis for Liberalism is a very strong statement, but one that is difficult to deny, especially after sifting through the loads of hate e-mail I received last week, in reaction to my column The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living.
Despite giving each correspondent at least three opportunities to attack something specific that I had written, I received only this sort of drivel:
“I just read your piece and I felt compelled to write and express my opinion that I disagree with almost every idea you presented. Your ideas are strikingly similar to the pronouncements of Nazi Germany. There are a few small differences but, on the whole, your generalizations and falsehoods are quite in line with Nazi thinking. I hope you grow out of your right wing, racist funk soon.”
***Did the Nazis have to worry about illegal immigration? I bet the borders of Nazi Germany were just bursting with people trying to get in. Did Joseph Goebbels have an official position on entertainment industry morons or the American Civil War? Since poor American Blacks are surely amongst those hardest hit by the effects of illegal immigration, it does strain credibility to cry “racist” at those of us who complain about immigration policy.
“Liberalism has always been at the front of positive social change. It was that way in ancient Greece and it is that way now. I would propose that it has always and only been liberal thought that has brought about positive social change throughout history. I would also propose that conservatives in America are only successful because of the ignorance of most of those that support them.”
***Since the term “Liberalism” means exactly the opposite of what it did about 150 years ago, I asked him to define what he meant. I also challenged him to get a bit more specific on “positive social change.” I did offer a few hints… More abortions? 70% Black illegitimacy rate? Higher taxes? PC-dominated education? Decaying health care system? Social Security that’s going broke? Hordes of unassimilable aliens? Loss of our industrial core? Threats of terrorism? Loss of an American culture and identity? I’m not holding my breath waiting for a reply.
There were also a few that ventured into some of my archived material, producing these gems:
“Like most conservative movements in history, they never can reach an objective view of themselves and, therefore, march like lemmings off any cliff their leaders take them. Well, I think I am a clear exception to your commentary. I’ve never lost a formal debate, a forum from which your celebrated conservatives all hide. They always need a podium, a balcony or a golden microphone from which to preach to their crowds of worshipers like, as one famed leader described them, women. You’ll always find conservatives following closely behind the helm of power for protection and disguising their fear in ludicrous acts of courage that, when not at war, wins Darwin awards.”
***Do you see anything here other than boasting, silly platitudes, and precious little pronouncements? Is there a point hidden somewhere in that verbiage? Note that this was supposed to be a specific response to one of my articles.
“I wasn’t interested in your site actually, nor reading the same stuff I hear from your playmates, Hannity and Savage, to whom I also listen at least twice a week and whom I’m sure you simply regurgitate, an assumption based on the small example I’ve seen.”
***Here again, nothing specific, laced with an effete personal attack. Evidently, those of the liberal elite need not even read the material they will criticize, as their assumptions are more than enough.
So, what conclusions can we draw?
Although there is nothing wrong with calling people names (Jesus did it all the time), epithets in themselves are hardly form a persuasive argument, even if they seem to comprise a large portion of liberal apologetics. Then, there is the other staple—vague platitudes. “War is not the answer.” OK, then what IS the answer? “No blood for oil.” Why not, if it is the basis of our economy and way of life? “Tax cuts favor the rich.” Naturally they do, since the rich pay the most taxes!
Once you remove epithets and platitudes, they will attempt to classify you as part of a group, and assume that they know all your values in advance. This trait is probably quite sincere, since it reflects their distorted collectivist mindset. Still, it is most annoying to try to force them to deal with what YOU think, rather than fend off their endless supply of straw men.
Any ideas that their side did advance at one time have long been disproven, but that never stopped them. Even a flat Earth proponent can be convinced of his error if he circumnavigates the globe, but a true believing liberal will never lack for excuses as to why his philosophy is perpetually bankrupt. We just didn’t spend enough money, he will lament, even as he penalizes those who create the very wealth he would squander.