Why You Can't Argue With a Leftist
By Owen Benjamin, Prager University
If we do, we can disagree—even strongly disagree, and still
have a productive discussion. We might even reach a compromise. But if we don’t share the same goals? Then what?
Then, rhetorically speaking, we’re at war. And only one side
can win.
Let me explain.
My parents and brother lean more to the liberal side of the
political spectrum than I do. We argue. We slightly nudge each other. We change
opinions a little bit. And then we go back to Scrabble.
They were very upset when President Trump withdrew from the
Paris climate accords. I was happy. We argued about it, but it was all good
because we share the same goals.
We all want clean air and water for our children. We all
want to develop clean energy; we want America’s economy to prosper; we want to
be less reliant on fossil fuels.
I thought the accords were a bad deal for America. The best
way to lower carbon emissions, in my opinion, is to let the free market and
American ingenuity loose on the problem. They, in contrast, think the government
needs to step in, fund the research, and keep the corporations in line.
Doesn’t matter, because we have the same goal: a healthy planet.
We also disagree on
gun control. My brother is a little more with me, but my dad wants a lot
more regulation because he wants fewer school shootings. So do I. So does my
brother. But I believe if a potential killer knew he’d encounter teachers and
administrators well-trained in the use of weapons, we’d have less shootings. Different solutions. Shared goal.
I’ve always thought that this is how America is supposed to
work. Liberals and conservatives respectfully arguing over the best solution to
a shared goal.
But now there’s a
third party in the game: the left. And they’re changing the rules.
When I was growing up, the left was on the fringe. But now
they’ve moved into the mainstream. They’ve pretty much taken over our
educational system. They’re in the media. In corporate HR departments. And,
more and more, sad to say, in the Democratic Party.
The left doesn’t
share the same goals that liberals and conservatives do. They have a whole
different set of goals.
Let me give you some
examples.
Raising kids without a gender identity or encouraging them to
question their sexual identity. This, to me, is a form of child abuse. I don’t
care who’s doing it—parents, teachers, doctors. Their goal is not my goal.
Here’s another one: Demonizing white people and males for the
world’s problems is not part of my value system. There is no shared
goal in that.
I believe in merit and character over race. But now it’s cool
to say that white males have done all the bad things in the world.
I have two little boys. I get angry just thinking about
people telling them they’re responsible for racism and sexism—beautiful little
children who just dance in the kitchen and smile. So that’s not a shared goal.
Here’s a third example: People can differ about how many
legal immigrants America should allow into the country. But when it comes to
whether America should have “open” borders—well, there is no shared
goal there. A country with open borders ceases to be a distinct country. And I
want America to remain America.
All these ideas—and I could give you a dozen more—are coming from the
left. They want to turn the history of Western Civilization, of America—a
history I’m very proud of—into a highlight reel of human errors. These ideas
threaten everything I cherish—my family, my community, my country.
And what does the left offer in its place? Nothing
constructive that I can see. What are their goals? Kids with no clear
sexual identity; group-think based on race, gender, and class; no national
pride or borders. Are you okay with that?
My issue is not with
liberals like my brother and my dad and a lot of my friends. We can argue until
the cows come home. My issue is with the left because we don’t share goals.
This war of goals isn’t coming. It’s here. You
need to decide which side you’re on: the liberals’ and conservatives’ side, or
the left’s.
Your future depends on it.
