Melinda Selmys

This brutality is fuelled by a sense of absolute moral righteousness, and by complete contempt for anyone who doesn’t immediately fall in lock-step with one’s own convictions. Perhaps the greatest weakness of the left is the increasing reliance on bullying tactics in order to silence those who disagree – or even those who simply don’t understand. To the righteous warrior, the justice of the cause is so self-evident that the only possible reasons for failing to believe in it are obstinacy, privilege, entitlement, stupidity or simple evil.

Too often, any attempt at dialogue, or even honest questioning, is shut down. The attitude seems to be “You didn’t immediately agree with what I said? Well, in that case I don’t have time for you. Also you’re sub-human filth.” There’s no space for conversation, and no willingness to try to understand where the other person is coming from. In some cases, any attempt to even try to comprehend or dialogue with those who disagree is seen as betrayal. “If you were serious about being my ally, you would block that scum.”