RE: The Paradox of tolerance and current events
August 19, 2017 at 3:43 am
(This post was last modified: August 19, 2017 at 3:44 am by bennyboy.)
(August 18, 2017 at 6:22 pm)TaraJo Wrote: So, I'm sure everyone here who's had conversations lately about current events in America, especially in regards to politics, has seen some variation of this. Leftists, who usually get the reputation as being all about tolerance, are reacting with violence and aggression against right wing protesters or their causes. The line is simple: "So much for the tolerant left."
For me, it brings to mind Karl Popper and the paradox of tolerance. His claim was that a universally tolerant society will ultimately lead to the destruction of tolerance in that tolerating intollerance will lead to the intollerant eliminating toleration. Therefore, he argued, a free, open society should not tolerate intollerance.
And I can't help but think he was right. Germany, back in the 20's and early 30's tolerated national socialism and let that idea into the free marketplace of ideas. The end result is that this group gained power and had no interest in tolerating Jews, gays, intellectuals or differing political ideologies.
Now we have people showing up for political protests, flying nazi flags and proudly wearing kkk robes and I'm left here wondering, when do we need to apply this idea? When do we get to stand up and tell the intollerant "No more"?
They feel the same way. They've watched their hometowns change, they've watched their religious beliefs get marginalized (at least from their perspective). But they are not us, and we don't need to care too much about that. Their traditions and world views are not ours, and we are under no compulsion to foster them.
I don't believe in a moral view. We shouldn't shut down nazis because THEY are intolerant, and we're champions of free speech. That's clearly an oxymoron.
The reason to shut them down is that new ideas have taken root, the old ideas are no longer acceptable, and the social world is in a state of flux. Let those fuckers hide in the closet. Let them fear to be discovered for the freaks that they are. Isolate them with strong social stigma and let them in their isolation wonder whether there's anyone else who thinks as they do.
In short-- drop the moral arguments, step up and claim the fucking prize already. A new day is dawning, and being on the right side means not having to justify your actions.
