Discriminating (In)Tolerance
"Critical theorist Herbert Marcuse, the intellectual leader of the New Left in the 1960s–1970s, greatly influenced the radical shift in... culture and politics that has taken place since that time. His profound impact is clearly evident in the rhetoric and behavior of many of today’s... [far-Left] activists (e.g., Sculos & Walsh, 2016).
Rejecting the liberal values of reciprocal tolerance and free speech, Marcuse (1965) called for ‘intolerance of movements from the Right, and toleration of movements from the Left’ (109). More specifically, he sought to justify ‘restraining the liberty of the Right’ with the goal of ‘strengthening the oppressed against the oppressors’ (119-120).
The New Left thoroughly embraced [this form of] discriminating (in)tolerance as a guide to militant, often violent political action during the 1960s and 70s...As countless examples in history have shown, an intolerant, militant minority can, in fact, exercise significant power and do great harm. Many who sympathize with radical political aims do not endorse violence or intolerance, but they often fail to adequately challenge those who do.
Likewise, intellectual supporters like Marcuse do not usually commit acts of violence or intolerance themselves, but they provide theoretical justification and rhetorical cover for those who do (Jussim, 2018). As a result, the far-Left has a significant amount of power and influence... that is disproportionate to their numbers and the reasonableness of their ideas" (Bindewald & Hawkins 2020, 5).
Rejecting the liberal values of reciprocal tolerance and free speech, Marcuse (1965) called for ‘intolerance of movements from the Right, and toleration of movements from the Left’ (109). More specifically, he sought to justify ‘restraining the liberty of the Right’ with the goal of ‘strengthening the oppressed against the oppressors’ (119-120).
The New Left thoroughly embraced [this form of] discriminating (in)tolerance as a guide to militant, often violent political action during the 1960s and 70s...As countless examples in history have shown, an intolerant, militant minority can, in fact, exercise significant power and do great harm. Many who sympathize with radical political aims do not endorse violence or intolerance, but they often fail to adequately challenge those who do.
Likewise, intellectual supporters like Marcuse do not usually commit acts of violence or intolerance themselves, but they provide theoretical justification and rhetorical cover for those who do (Jussim, 2018). As a result, the far-Left has a significant amount of power and influence... that is disproportionate to their numbers and the reasonableness of their ideas" (Bindewald & Hawkins 2020, 5).
Leftwing Violence is "Protest" & Rightwing Protest is "Violence"
In the minds of many on the Left today, constitutionally protected Right-wing speech is violence, and Left-wing violence is constitutionally protected speech.
"Useful idiots" on the mainstream Left routinely romanticize the destructive behavior of unruly far-Left mobs. Ignoring lawful orders, rioting, looting, committing arson, and harassing and assaulting political opponents on the basis of demonstrably false beliefs is permitted and even encouraged if done under the euphemistic banners of "antiracism" and "antifascism."
To many on the Left, socialist, anarchist, and black chauvinist mobs have the moral authority to forcibly control and limit access to public spaces, block public streets without a permit, disrupt speaking events, and de-platform political opponents. Meanwhile, duly appointed law enforcement officers in a constitutional democracy are routinely denigrated for enforcing the law when career criminals decide they do not have to comply.
This warped perception of reality is heavily influenced by neo-Marxist critical theories, postmodernist identity politics, and, especially, Marcuse's notion of discriminating (in)tolerance.
Antifa and Black Lives Matter are illiberal, undemocratic, militant minorities that use implied or explicit threats of mob violence if the American people do not uncritically endorse their false narratives or if our government does not cave to their long list of ridiculous demands. The mainstream Left grovels and makes concessions. The Democrat-media-academic complex either socialist revolutionaries don't exist or implicitly endorses their rioting, looting, arson, destruction, and violence.
I encourage you to watch the videos on bottom of these Antifa and BLM pages and see these illuminating examples of egregious hate speech that rarely, if ever, draws condemnation from influential voices on the Left. Compare those examples to the ones presented in the videos below to get a sense of this patently absurd double standard as Left-wing militants initiate violence against Right-wing demonstrators.
"Useful idiots" on the mainstream Left routinely romanticize the destructive behavior of unruly far-Left mobs. Ignoring lawful orders, rioting, looting, committing arson, and harassing and assaulting political opponents on the basis of demonstrably false beliefs is permitted and even encouraged if done under the euphemistic banners of "antiracism" and "antifascism."
To many on the Left, socialist, anarchist, and black chauvinist mobs have the moral authority to forcibly control and limit access to public spaces, block public streets without a permit, disrupt speaking events, and de-platform political opponents. Meanwhile, duly appointed law enforcement officers in a constitutional democracy are routinely denigrated for enforcing the law when career criminals decide they do not have to comply.
This warped perception of reality is heavily influenced by neo-Marxist critical theories, postmodernist identity politics, and, especially, Marcuse's notion of discriminating (in)tolerance.
Antifa and Black Lives Matter are illiberal, undemocratic, militant minorities that use implied or explicit threats of mob violence if the American people do not uncritically endorse their false narratives or if our government does not cave to their long list of ridiculous demands. The mainstream Left grovels and makes concessions. The Democrat-media-academic complex either socialist revolutionaries don't exist or implicitly endorses their rioting, looting, arson, destruction, and violence.
I encourage you to watch the videos on bottom of these Antifa and BLM pages and see these illuminating examples of egregious hate speech that rarely, if ever, draws condemnation from influential voices on the Left. Compare those examples to the ones presented in the videos below to get a sense of this patently absurd double standard as Left-wing militants initiate violence against Right-wing demonstrators.
Parallels Between Today's Neo-Marxist Mobs & Mao's Red Guard
Antifa/BLM Throwing Objects off Overpass at Vehicles in Pro-Trump Caravan
What Really Led Up to the Murder of a Trump Supporter in Portland
Militant Left Shuts Down Trump Rally in Chicago
Demonstrably False BLM Narrative Inspires Stabbing of Random White Man #1
Demonstrably False BLM Narrative Inspires Stabbing of Random White Man#2
Believe "Oppressed"; Violate "Oppressor's" Rights Rights w/ Impunity; Evidence of Oppression = Optional
Patriots March w/ American Flags - Antifa/BLM Assaults Them
Below:
Patriot to Commies: “Not today, y’all. You’re gonna get maced. If you keep following us, you’re going to get maced.”
Commie to Patriots: “I’m gonna stab a knife in your back, you fat fuck!"
Patriot to Commies: “Not today, y’all. You’re gonna get maced. If you keep following us, you’re going to get maced.”
Commie to Patriots: “I’m gonna stab a knife in your back, you fat fuck!"
Patriots Wave American Flags - Antifa/BLM Predictably Try to Suppress Their 1st Amendment Rights:
Antifa/BLM Goon Squad Accosts, Then Assaults Pro-Trump Demonstrators:
References
Bindewald, B. & Hawkins, J. (2020): Speech and inquiry in public institutions of higher education: Navigating ethical and epistemological challenges, Educational Philosophy and Theory, DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2020.1773794
Courtois, S., & Kramer, M. (2014). The black book of communism: Crimes, terror, repression. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.1086/ahr/68.4.1044
Jussim, L., Areo (2018). The reality of the rise of an intolerant and radical Left on campus. Accessed March 17, 2018. https://areomagazine.com/2018/03/17/the-reality-of-the-rise-of-an-intolerant-and-radical-left-on-campus/
Marcuse, H. (1972). Counterrevolution and revolt. Beacon Press. https://monoskop.org/images/0/0b/Marcuse_Herbert_Counter-Revolution_and_Revolt.pdf
Sculos, B., & Walsh, S. (2016). The counterrevolutionary campus: Herbert Marcuse and the suppression of student protest movements. New Political Science, 38(4), 516–532. https://doi.org/10.1080/07393148.2016.1228580