Left-Wing Tolerance

It was a disgusting display. What else can be said about it?

A few days ago, one of the senior editors at “The Hatemonger’s Quarterly”—let’s just call him “Chip”—went for coffee with a few friends and new acquaintances. Unfortunately, after a few minutes, the topic of politics came up.

Now, it just so happens that “Chip” knows a fair number of self-proclaimed members of the artistic avant-garde. In practice, this means that some of his pals champion a brand of aesthetics previously favored by Dada artists. That is to say, they consider themselves ahead of their time by favoring an outlook popular in painting circles in 1911.

Oh, stop being so darned radical! It’s hard to keep up!

Now, almost invariably a particularly malignant and un-thinking politics comes along with this pseudo-avant sensibility. Not always, but often enough.

Accordingly, many of “Chip’s” buddies are essentially Green Party fellow travelers, and they offer lock-step support for a variety of self-proclaimed “progressive causes.”

You know, progressive causes: Like hoping for the victory of militantly intolerant Islamic fascists against the forces of civilization. Oh, and promoting gay marriage.

Thankfully, after a few minutes the talk turned to another subject. “Chip” was forced to endure only a bit of praise for Hezbollah and condemnation of the nefarious “Israel Lobby.”

Talk turned to the topic of victuals. One of the interlocutors mentioned that he had recently enjoyed the food at a new Israeli restaurant in town. Upon the mention of this, one of “Chip’s” acquaintances, a young Mexican guy, groaned.

“Uggh,” he exclaimed. “How can you eat that stuff? Israel makes me sick.”

To which the first interlocutor responded: “Come on, Juan. You have to be able to separate the people from their governments. Just because you don’t like what Israel’s government does, you shouldn’t blame that on all Israelis.”

Without a moment of pause, the table was off to another conversation. Although disgusted, “Chip” offered nary a peep, and let the subject pass.

We know what you’re thinking: This is the kind of exchange one can hear from the mouths of left-wing radicals—the kinds of folk who are always bleating about their preternatural tolerance and anti-racism? This is pathetic!

We mean, come on: Just imagine if someone, upon hearing that a friend visited a fine Mexican restaurant, groaned and bellowed: “How can you eat that stuff? Mexico makes me sick.” Exactly how ultra-racist would that person sound?