The Price of Bitterness

Date: 2008-06-03 08:30 pm (UTC)
"I am not willing to repeat once more the evidence, since you do not listen. And it is this, not that you disagree, that embitters me."

Then you should be happy to be released from your bitterness, because it is based on a misunderstanding. No doubt the fault is mine for not expressing myself clearly.

I did not say, and I do not believe, that the Fascists did not know they were right-wing until communist propaganda decided it. Nor is this something necessarily implied by what I said, albeit I see why you might read (or misread) it that way. The Fascists certainly thought of themselves and called themselves "right-wing" from the very beginning. The national socialists fully and entirely bought into the myth of the Son of Darkness and the Sons of Light. As far as I know, the fascists were entirely sincere in thinking they were protecting their nations and their churches and homes from the threat of International Communism. They did not realize they were destroying their nations, homes, and souls.

I have listened carefully to your comments. I see how and why they make sense, given your understanding of history. I do not agree with the definitions and axioms, and so I come to a different conclusion.

The point of disagreement, if you noticed, was the point where Enlightenment liberalism transformed into Progressivism. I do not think the free market is a threat to human freedom. I think that a logical system of nomenclature would reflect this, and that the word "Liberal", if consistently used, would refer to those who support limited government based on separation of powers, individual rights, free trade, and so on.

Instead of addressing this point, you complain about how tired you are, and complain that I am not listening to you.

Come now, sir. I have listened. I have asked you three times now to do me the courtesy of assuming that I have reasons that seem good to me for supporting my opinion. It is not because I am ignorant. It is not because I am not listening. It is not because I am being mean.

I am sorry that your patience is exhausted. Anger is an exhausting emotion. We can revisit this issue at some future point when you have regained control of yourself. Or we can agree to disagree, and let the matter rest.

My only request is that, before you discuss this or any topic with me, you re-examine this self-destructive idea of yours that no one disagrees with you except for knaves and fools.

I do not believe such a condescending thing of you. I do not think you are a knave or a fool. I think you are a careful thinker and a learned man. I am impressed with your skill with a pen. You express yourself clearly and beautifully.

I am saddened, and, yes, perhaps mildly insulted, that you do not return that courtesy to me. If I have not earned your respect,all I can do is hope that I might win your good opinion at some point.

But I do not understand why my request for basic courtesy and basic logic is rejected. Have you never actually met anyone with whom you had a respectful disagreement? Have you never understood, yet politely disagreed with, an opposing viewpoint in a discussion? Have you never learned to disagree without anger, impatience, petulance? Without personal attack? Can you not express yourself without unfriendliness toward me?

I would to think of myself as your friend. You have put yourself in a position where you no longer can receive a compliment gracefully from me. You are making it hard to be your friend. I am not a masochist. I do not enjoy turning the other cheek each time you lash out at me.

You are content to sneer that I do not believe in Right-Wing Tyrannies, but when I explain what I actually believe, then you are too sick of me to give me the benefit of a discussion on the point.

You raised the topic this time, friend, not I. Honor, if nothing else, would urge us not raise the topic that we don't want to discuss.

If it is any comfort, I am confident most political thinkers would be in full agreement with you, both on the history and on the meaning of the "Left-Right" nomenclature. I recognize that you are voicing the majority position, which is worthy of respect, if only because so many wise writers side with it.
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