Argument and Assassination

Posted on January 8, 2004 in Social Justice Thinking

The folly of arguing with extremists is similar to the folly of assassinating George W. Bush. Leftists at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century thought that by killing off the hated figures who sent the Pinkertons after them and committed other atrocities in the name of capitalism they could win their cause. What actually happened was that they became players in the robber barons’ theater pieces. “They’re violent,” said the robber barons, “so we’re justified in preemptive action.”

Gandhi understood this. I think it is time for the Left to make a leap. All we need to do to face down the lies of the Libertine Right is to prepare a few factual websites. Then, thereafter, point to them and spend the greater part of our energies advancing our vision for the country we love, which is America.