A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this:
People tend to believe in the things that most reinforce a positive self-image. Thus, if the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld Axis of Oil is the tripartite embodiment of all that is petroleum-based and evil, then the constant decrying of that Axis and all of its nefarious schemes makes one, by corollary, righteous. Similarly, if the Clinton/Clinton/Gore triumvirate of Lewdness, Feminism and Earthy-Crunchy-College-Boy Amoralism is the fount of all devilry, then by standing in opposition to it one becomes pure.
Today, I read this:
In short, the justification for bigoted comments directed at those with whom the educated Left disagrees politically is based on two foundations: 1) We're a lot smarter than they are; and 2) We're better people than they are. That logic leads to three inescapable conclusions: We're right. They're wrong. QED: All Republicans are assholes.
Label-wise, I'm politically vague. Nevertheless, Willy Stern is brilliant because he agrees with me and is, therefore, correct. Read the rest, if you would.
[Via Mr. Reynolds]
TANGENTIAL UPDATE: For a thought-provoking treatment of what "tolerance" means these days, check out Paul Griffiths' Proselytizing for Tolerance.
You do come up with some fascinating links.
Posted by: Kathy K | June 3, 2003 09:35 PM
Innaresting, innit?
I've actually got a dead-tree subscription to First Things...Fr. Neuhaus (the Editor) is a bit of an odd duck...he's really smart, but he's also a priest, so his arguments about sexuality tend to have a cold, theoretical cast to them...except when it comes to homosexuals, for whom he has a peculiar, snide revulsion that I, for one, find off-putting. But he often gets good people to write interesting things for his magazine, so it's worth it for that.
Posted by: --iaw | June 4, 2003 10:47 AM