On the subject of the Left’s incapacity to accept the slightest departure from the dogma, I have an illustrative story.
We all know my opinions on abortion. I have been pro-abortion rights forever. I probably haven’t held any other belief for longer. I’m outspoken and sincere. But I do depart from the leftist orthodoxy on abortion in that I believe it’s a tragedy. It’s nothing to be celebrated. Abortion, I believe together with my sisters from 30 years ago, should be safe, legal and extremely rare. The whole society, I believe, is functioning incorrectly if every pregnancy is not celebrated like the wonderful miracle that it is.
When I deliver the above speech to people who are pro-life, the reaction is never to scream at me or call me names. We end up having a conversation where nobody is mean to each other. I talked to Matushka (the priest’s wife) about this, in these very words. Obviously, she disagrees but it was a great, very peaceful, enlightening conversation.
When, however, I say these exact words at a leftist gathering, I get called names on the spot. “But wait,” I say, “I’m on your side on this. I support this right that you say you hold very dear. Why do you call me a fascist?” Especially since fascists were very much pro-abortion for undesirable categories of women, but that’s another story.
Where are liberal middle-of-the-road people? Where are the people on the Left who can say, “I believe in dignity and respect for trans people. But men can’t give birth, teenage girls shouldn’t have their breasts cut off, and nobody is transphobic for saying this”? Or, “gay marriage is good, no discrimination against gays is good, but men shouldn’t be able to purchase babies, and it’s not homophobic to say that”? Why do you have to embrace the most extreme position 100% or you are a Nazi or a psycho?
I shared the link below with a liberal friend, and her immediate and sincere response was, “well, I told you Kirk was a Nazi!”
People read the most middle-of-the-road, mainstream beliefs as Nazi and fascist. And they are utterly unaware of what they are doing and how radicalized they’ve become.