Like Christopher Hitchens before him, liberal writer Nick Cohen is "excommunicated" for daring to question the British Left's anti-war, anti-Blair orthodoxy by pointing out that it puts them in the company of murderers and terrorists. Excerpts...
I'm sure that any halfway competent political philosopher could rip the assumptions of modern middle-class left-wingery apart. Why is it right to support a free market in sexual relationships but oppose free-market economics, for instance? But his criticisms would have little impact. It's like a religion: the contradictions are obvious to outsiders but don't disturb the faithful. You believe when you're in its warm embrace. Alas, I'm out. Last week, after 44 years of regular church-going, the bell tolled, the book was closed and the candle was extinguished. I was excommunicated......The least attractive characteristic of the middle-class left - one shared with the Thatcherites - is its refusal to accept that its opponents are sincere. The legacy of Marx and Freud allows it to dismiss criticisms as masks which hide corruption, class interests, racism, sexism - any motive can be implied except fundamental differences of principle...
...when confronted with a movement of contemporary imperialism - Islamism wants an empire from the Philippines to Gibraltar - and which is tyrannical, homophobic, misogynist, racist and homicidal to boot, they feel it is valid because it is against Western culture. It expresses its feelings in a regrettably brutal manner perhaps, but that can't hide its authenticity.
(via RCP)
Posted by dan at August 7, 2005 11:58 PMNick Cohen has certainly been "excommunicated" into good company.
Good show Nick!
Posted by: Whymrhymer at August 8, 2005 01:39 AM