I love this! So to the point and clear. I no longer call myself a progressive because I don’t want to be associated with people who claim to support the very freedoms you mention yet argue for the destruction of Israel. My “progressive” neighborhood is full of graffiti that says “Abolish Israel “ “ Death to Israel “. “Glory to our martyrs “ and worse. These pink and blue haired openly gay or something people with lots of skin showing want to be ruled by radical jihadists ? No they want to enjoy their luxury dysfunction and blame Israel for their problems too. I’m working on moving. Love your blog and sharing.
Excellent points, Pat. "Progressivism" - I put it in quotes for the same reason you put "Pro-Palestinian" in quotes - has become a dirty word for many in the Centre/Centre-Left of the political spectrum. I used to think of myself as a centre-left progressive, and now I feel politically homeless. This is largely because progressivism has become blind activism without much thinking about the underlying causes which this activism is supposed to advance. Worse yet, activism has become fanaticism. And I think it starts with education - our students are no longer taught critical thinking. Rather, they are turned into blind activists.
Again, I regret to inform you that progressives and liberals have evolved into two entirely distinct species.
Other than national healthcare, I can’t really think of another issue on which they actually agree:
Rationalism and objective truth vs subjectivity and standpoint epistemology
Scientific skepticism vs conspiratorial skepticism
Universalism and enlightenment values vs intersectionality and power differentials
Individuality and human agency vs collectivism and victimhood
Free and open speech vs hate speech monitored by a self-deputized elite
Representative democracy vs socialism and bureaucracy
Racism and discrimination bad vs discrimination and racism sometimes good
Blind justice and equality vs identity and melanin-gender-based justice
Improving educational standards for all vs reducing standards for some
Civil engagement and good faith debate vs silencing debate with the likes of ‘if you don’t agree with my ideology, you’re a racist, transphobic, Islamophobe!’
I have a small compassion for young people who have trusted and believed their university professors' rhetoric. They will have to face, eventually, the fact that they have been the modern equivalent of the Hitler Youth and the KKK. How do you come back from that?
Totally true. Thanks for a great piece. I left "progressive" long age. A friend asked why I wasn't progressive any more and I told her REALITY. She looked shocked, shook her head up and down and said "Reality, wow"! What an interesting concept. She'd never thought about that before.
And that is the sum total of progressive thinking. Kol HaKavod to you for telling what needs to be said - the truth!!!
For those whose lives are controlled by men whose edicts derive from a creed that maintains the pinnacle of life was the seventh century, there is no progressive.
Islam is a spritual black hole. At the center of its dying mass it has ceased to progress organically. It can only continue to exist by drawing in random matter that it it attracts with such ferocious gravitational pull that no nearby body is able to resist its violent beckon.
My sentiments and thoughts exactly. It’s excruciating how the radical left Anti Zionist vile ideologues ( & so called progressives) are demonstrably cognitive impaired on this.
An independent Palestine is a ship that departed forever on Oct. 7. Aside from a few self-hating Marxists, Israelis are united in not wanting to reward their genocidal neighbours with an independent state where they will be able to regroup, buy lots more weapons with foreign aid, and attack Israel again and again.
The reshaping of the Middle East is nowhere near finished, but one thing is for sure - Gaza, Judea and Samaria will be fully absorbed into Israel, and Pallies will be lucky to get residency status (without voting privileges) in the country.
After the rolling second intifada jihadi terrorism like Passover massacres ( is when most Israelis understandably gave up on the idea of a two state solution ) which was the audacious response to a reasonable Palestinian state offer by left centre wing Israeli PM Barak to Arafat ( Arafat rejected it and second intifada followed).
I am leaning more and more towards this view too. It’s time for Israel to give up playing “Mr Nice Guy” and assert her strength. “Peace through strength” is how it is in the Middle East.
One way to square the circle is to understand that “Progressives” are just hiding behind a euphemism. “Progressive” sounds good. But progressives behave poorly. Disagree with a progressive and get called all kinds of ugly names. Try to have an intelligent discussion with a Prog and after a few back and forths be prepared to be called names and shunned. Progressives are often basically delusional, like to feel morally superior, are emotionally driven and frequently childish. Usually they lack subject matter mastery and are mostly interested in virtue signaling as opposed to achieving good outcomes. Their approach to Israel is no different from their approach to anything or anybody who doesn’t march lockstep with their thought leaders on every subject. Disagree with them about any of their headline issues and you’ll get the same hostility. Pat’s been very good on Israel, but challenge his views on the pandemic and see how that goes. The best advice is don’t be a Progressive. Alongside that, don’t be a right wing lunatic either. Extremist views are usually associated with other psychological and behavioral problems. There’s a lot of manipulation and pressure these days to move toward one extreme or the other. It’s almost always a bad idea. Everybody is selling something- and not necessarily to make money. Remember that when you read what people write and hear them speak regardless of where they are on the political spectrum.
I love this! So to the point and clear. I no longer call myself a progressive because I don’t want to be associated with people who claim to support the very freedoms you mention yet argue for the destruction of Israel. My “progressive” neighborhood is full of graffiti that says “Abolish Israel “ “ Death to Israel “. “Glory to our martyrs “ and worse. These pink and blue haired openly gay or something people with lots of skin showing want to be ruled by radical jihadists ? No they want to enjoy their luxury dysfunction and blame Israel for their problems too. I’m working on moving. Love your blog and sharing.
Thanks April ... but WE are the progressives. They are haters and bigots. Let's not abandon our progressive cred because they despoil these terms!
Excellent points, Pat. "Progressivism" - I put it in quotes for the same reason you put "Pro-Palestinian" in quotes - has become a dirty word for many in the Centre/Centre-Left of the political spectrum. I used to think of myself as a centre-left progressive, and now I feel politically homeless. This is largely because progressivism has become blind activism without much thinking about the underlying causes which this activism is supposed to advance. Worse yet, activism has become fanaticism. And I think it starts with education - our students are no longer taught critical thinking. Rather, they are turned into blind activists.
More impeccable logic to borrow and share. Thank you once again.
Again, I regret to inform you that progressives and liberals have evolved into two entirely distinct species.
Other than national healthcare, I can’t really think of another issue on which they actually agree:
Rationalism and objective truth vs subjectivity and standpoint epistemology
Scientific skepticism vs conspiratorial skepticism
Universalism and enlightenment values vs intersectionality and power differentials
Individuality and human agency vs collectivism and victimhood
Free and open speech vs hate speech monitored by a self-deputized elite
Representative democracy vs socialism and bureaucracy
Racism and discrimination bad vs discrimination and racism sometimes good
Blind justice and equality vs identity and melanin-gender-based justice
Improving educational standards for all vs reducing standards for some
Civil engagement and good faith debate vs silencing debate with the likes of ‘if you don’t agree with my ideology, you’re a racist, transphobic, Islamophobe!’
Let’s just stop kidding ourselves.
Magnificent article, gladly shared 🇮🇱
Thanks Benn!
I have a small compassion for young people who have trusted and believed their university professors' rhetoric. They will have to face, eventually, the fact that they have been the modern equivalent of the Hitler Youth and the KKK. How do you come back from that?
This is so perfectly written. Awesome
Supporting Hamas rapists? Hmmm I guess women’s rights don’t apply to jewish women?
Totally true. Thanks for a great piece. I left "progressive" long age. A friend asked why I wasn't progressive any more and I told her REALITY. She looked shocked, shook her head up and down and said "Reality, wow"! What an interesting concept. She'd never thought about that before.
And that is the sum total of progressive thinking. Kol HaKavod to you for telling what needs to be said - the truth!!!
For those whose lives are controlled by men whose edicts derive from a creed that maintains the pinnacle of life was the seventh century, there is no progressive.
Islam is a spritual black hole. At the center of its dying mass it has ceased to progress organically. It can only continue to exist by drawing in random matter that it it attracts with such ferocious gravitational pull that no nearby body is able to resist its violent beckon.
Black holes are the imperialists of the galaxies.
Linda Sarsour is a Jew-hater. Period.
My sentiments and thoughts exactly. It’s excruciating how the radical left Anti Zionist vile ideologues ( & so called progressives) are demonstrably cognitive impaired on this.
An independent Palestine is a ship that departed forever on Oct. 7. Aside from a few self-hating Marxists, Israelis are united in not wanting to reward their genocidal neighbours with an independent state where they will be able to regroup, buy lots more weapons with foreign aid, and attack Israel again and again.
The reshaping of the Middle East is nowhere near finished, but one thing is for sure - Gaza, Judea and Samaria will be fully absorbed into Israel, and Pallies will be lucky to get residency status (without voting privileges) in the country.
After the rolling second intifada jihadi terrorism like Passover massacres ( is when most Israelis understandably gave up on the idea of a two state solution ) which was the audacious response to a reasonable Palestinian state offer by left centre wing Israeli PM Barak to Arafat ( Arafat rejected it and second intifada followed).
I am leaning more and more towards this view too. It’s time for Israel to give up playing “Mr Nice Guy” and assert her strength. “Peace through strength” is how it is in the Middle East.
One way to square the circle is to understand that “Progressives” are just hiding behind a euphemism. “Progressive” sounds good. But progressives behave poorly. Disagree with a progressive and get called all kinds of ugly names. Try to have an intelligent discussion with a Prog and after a few back and forths be prepared to be called names and shunned. Progressives are often basically delusional, like to feel morally superior, are emotionally driven and frequently childish. Usually they lack subject matter mastery and are mostly interested in virtue signaling as opposed to achieving good outcomes. Their approach to Israel is no different from their approach to anything or anybody who doesn’t march lockstep with their thought leaders on every subject. Disagree with them about any of their headline issues and you’ll get the same hostility. Pat’s been very good on Israel, but challenge his views on the pandemic and see how that goes. The best advice is don’t be a Progressive. Alongside that, don’t be a right wing lunatic either. Extremist views are usually associated with other psychological and behavioral problems. There’s a lot of manipulation and pressure these days to move toward one extreme or the other. It’s almost always a bad idea. Everybody is selling something- and not necessarily to make money. Remember that when you read what people write and hear them speak regardless of where they are on the political spectrum.
That is impossible because they are merely following what Islam preaches
It already is. They understand what “progressive” really means better than you do.