All before my time but if these organs were indeed a form of free expression they only succeeded in nourishing a left wing underground which survived the collapse of communism by hiding behind the wacky mural of post-modernism.
Only one question matters. Do we believe in the western order, our constitution and human rights or not? On all these issues the pro-Palestinian left answers no. It is now actively seeking the introduction of sharia law in western countries. We need leaders who see and understand this threat. This is not the time for debates among minority intellectuals.
It is fascinating that in an excellent piece about "how far removed we are from robust disagreement", irrelevant straw dolls are posted to be happily knocked over in the comments. Even disinformation has been posted. I guess it only serves to reinforce Ross Barkan's point.
I share your goal of uncensored verbal sparring. I advise people to maintain a sense of propriety and a sense of charity, but I don't think those should be policed.
Still, I differ on two points:
1. I don't think we will have really moved on from our censorious culture until we reckon with how our newfound love of free speech was occasioned by our refusal to condemn speech against Jews.
2. There may have been peaceful anti-Israel protests. There have certainly been violent ones, at least around the edges (and being punched around the edges hurts just as much as being punch in the center).
I think a lot stems from most people believing that theirs is the neutral position, and other views are the deviation. It therefore deligimatizes (in their eyes) their position to defend it because doing so implies that their view is not so naturally correct that it requires no defense.
All before my time but if these organs were indeed a form of free expression they only succeeded in nourishing a left wing underground which survived the collapse of communism by hiding behind the wacky mural of post-modernism.
Only one question matters. Do we believe in the western order, our constitution and human rights or not? On all these issues the pro-Palestinian left answers no. It is now actively seeking the introduction of sharia law in western countries. We need leaders who see and understand this threat. This is not the time for debates among minority intellectuals.
The London hospital thing has been debunked
It wasn't just kids artwork, it was political propaganda--text written by adults --that has no place in a hospital setting.
It is fascinating that in an excellent piece about "how far removed we are from robust disagreement", irrelevant straw dolls are posted to be happily knocked over in the comments. Even disinformation has been posted. I guess it only serves to reinforce Ross Barkan's point.
I share your goal of uncensored verbal sparring. I advise people to maintain a sense of propriety and a sense of charity, but I don't think those should be policed.
Still, I differ on two points:
1. I don't think we will have really moved on from our censorious culture until we reckon with how our newfound love of free speech was occasioned by our refusal to condemn speech against Jews.
2. There may have been peaceful anti-Israel protests. There have certainly been violent ones, at least around the edges (and being punched around the edges hurts just as much as being punch in the center).
I think a lot stems from most people believing that theirs is the neutral position, and other views are the deviation. It therefore deligimatizes (in their eyes) their position to defend it because doing so implies that their view is not so naturally correct that it requires no defense.