Posted on 07/13/2005 9:16:22 AM PDT by SampleMan
Is it possible to sober liberals to the real threat of Islamic terrorism? Even liberals that that have coccooned 9/11 in political correctness? Maybe.
Despite offering counseling, self-blame, and endless pacifism to people trying to kill us, liberals always hold a passionate ire for two groups, conservatives and Christians.
It should be suggested to liberals that when they rollover on Islamic terrorism, they are encouraging their "real" enemies (Christian Conservatives) to start using terror tactics to achieve their ends.
I AM NOT ADVOCATING THIS COURSE OF ACTION!!!!! Only the argument, as an eye opener.
Huh?
They already think Christians are terrorists. They connect people like McVeigh (minus evidence of his Christianity) with people like the unibomber (leftist) and create imaginary ideological terrorism cells.
"they are encouraging their "real" enemies (Christian Conservatives) to start using terror tactics to achieve their ends."
This tactic might work with some of the less-hardbitten lefties in your circle, but for all intents and purposes, the left already claims that Christians (and Jews) use terror tactics, so this only invites greater anti-Christian and antisemitic bigotry disguised as political discourse.
You know as arguments go it does have merit. Conspiracy driven libs might buy it.
I'm suggesting that when they say, "...yes, but we must address their concerns and the actions we've taken to bring this on." that it be turned back on them as, "Is that how you feel about abortion clinic bombings?"
Remind them that it is the liberal side of the United States that Islamic terrorists hate.
Examples: Hollywood and equal rights for women.
Nope. Sorry. I don't think it would work.
They did not ask the question once of Eric Rudolph "What have we done to make him so angry?"
It is about pre-disposition. They already hate Christians. They would hate Islamics too except they have not had enough experience.
"Is that how you feel about abortion clinic bombings?"
You will have already keyed them in, and will have shown your hand, by using the word "abortion." Try "reproductive health centers" instead. Another problem is that "progressives" instinctively hate anything counterrevolutionary... internal threats against their establishment institutions obviously should be dealt with harshly, and external threats against capitalism are to be encouraged. That's what you're up against... an insect mind with what can only be termed a hive mentality, LOL. You'll only come out ahead by pitting two of their own beliefs against one another, and forcing them to utilize their freedom of choice.
They support the Islamic terrorists because they see the terrorists as enemies to Christians. Period. They are not smart enough to see that Christians protect them from the Islamic extremists.
The correct principle is to understand that whenever terrorists (of any kind) thereby achieve their aims, it weakens civilization. However, liberals don't get that and they won't ever. They already condone terroristic acts (hence their love of Che Guavara) in the name of "social injustice." Liberals (and some others) already lump Islamic terrorism with abortion center bombings - in their minds (to use the word loosely) those are both due to religious fanaticism which is the worst threat to the planet.
Concur that they aren't consistent, but they never have Eric Rudolph thrown back in their face when they start suggesting counseling and surrender concerning Islamists. That's what I'm suggesting. I think it would be a powerful tool.
My point exactly!!! Confront them with a terrorist scenario that not even they like. Then force them to explain why Islamic terrorism isn't as bad as conservative terrorism would be.
"... it weakens civilization. However, liberals don't get that and they won't ever."
I'm of the opinion that you're being altogether too charitable here. Weakening this particular civilization, far from being problematic, is actually a goal of theirs. Look back over the past forty to fifty years, and what do you see? I see hopeful black Americans in the fifties and sixties, working patiently to acquire the full rights that should have been their due all along, being cynically manipulated into one socialist scheme after another by the cynical lefties who rode into prominence on their backs. That these same socialist schemes have been utter failures, and have actually worked to the detriment of black Americans, does not appear to be of particular concern to the selfsame lefties who advocated them in the first place. This is a pattern that has been repeated again and again. Education, sexual liberation, feminism, environmentalism... all of these appear noble on the surface. Beyond surface impressions, there again you find failed or failing socialist schemes, implemented by cynical leftists who rode in on the back of what should have strenghtened our society. Instead, we get decadence and decay. That decadence and decay was not a mistake; far from it, this was the original intent.
"Nope, they kowtow to Islamics because THEY ARE AFRAID"
They kowtow to the Islamics because they regard the Islamics as a revolutionary force that can help hasten the end of capitalism and our republican form of governance.
Lieberals know that Christians would never actually employ such tactics, so it's no threat to them. They are more worried that Christians might impact the U.S. culture.
Make 'em ride the subway - that oughta do it!
Anyway, I don't wish to reinforce their us (reason-based) versus them (religious fanaticism-based) mentality.
Just today I spoke to a liberal who has become convinced that the non-militant Arab Muslims are in tribal denial - rendering them unable to criticize the extremist mullahs. Liberals get their ideas from NPR which has been known to cite a difficult truth every now and then.
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