After a killer's political delusions of "righteous violence" drove him to murder random Jews on the streets of America, it is clear that the disease of terrorism has metastasized from Right to Left.
The disease that has parasitised Elias Rogriguez's brain and soul is an equal-opportunity destroyer of intellectual function and moral judgment. It doesn't discriminate of the basis of educational level or socio-economic status. Just look at the wealthy and well-educated child-zombies shrieking anti-Israel slogans, intimidating and abusing their Jewish classmates and celebrating the war-crimes of Hamas. On the campuses of 'elite,' formerly well-respected universities. It looks like a Hollywood production about a post-apocalyptic hellscape, like 'The Last of Us.'
I don't pay a lot of attention to political labels like 'Left,' or 'Right.' But I think I can recognise mass psychosis when I see it. 'Progressives' (if that's a term that applies) need to start considering what is emanating from their own part of the ideological spectrum. In the interest of fairness, nuance and balance (which 'Progressives' always claim to be for) the 'Right' needs to do the same.
While there have been right wing nuts, terror has always been part of the leftist play book going back...well to the French Revolution but more recently in the 60s and 70s. None of this is new. Its just that for whatever reason, Western Jews refused to recognize where the hate has been emanating from.
Oh yes. I've become far less progressive than I was before Oct. 7 in several key ways: 1) I will not donate to any politician or organization that is not supportive of Israel; 2) I suddenly realize that instead of whining, minorities should get their acts together and start being responsible for themselves; 3) I've become a huge supporter of Western values (always was, but didn't realize the importance); 4) I've become a supporter of the military, and the U.S. place in the world. I no longer care about spreading democracy or women's rights -- not our problem. We need to keep trade going. And of course quell any violence that threatens us or our Allies. 5) Trans rights is ridiculous. I don't care who you love, how you dress, or who you marry but there are two genders, period. I'm starting to sound a bit center Right.
Thank you so much for your wonderful essay.......I was wondering how this racist/terrorist Elias Rodriguez, was able to carry his gun, from Chicago (where.he boarded the plane to DC ?.....) and how come there were not Security at the Museum ?..... We lost a beautiful young couple......It's so devastatingly sad and heartbreaking.....
Really? Who thought that? Many of us are well aware that left-wing violence and terrorism is nothing new and has always been with us. I guess as a "progressive", the author has been willfully blind regarding more than a century of pervasive leftist violence.
"Terrorism is a disease. Terrorism is a transmissible, global disease. And for a long time, many of us in the West thought that it was a disease primarily limited to Right-wing fanatics after the 1990s".
This is a thoughtful historical view of how we got where we are. As a side bar, It is not a small thing that some universities fostered antisemitism instead of calling it out when first noted. It would appear that administrators simply stood back and observed and let things happen. Was not their common sense of decency moved by how Jewish students were being treated? University level bullying? Please don’t laugh: were these people not raised right?
Jonathan, I’d appreciate learning from you how you define Left vs Right, and give ideological and organizational examples of each, please. Thanks very much.
The disease that has parasitised Elias Rogriguez's brain and soul is an equal-opportunity destroyer of intellectual function and moral judgment. It doesn't discriminate of the basis of educational level or socio-economic status. Just look at the wealthy and well-educated child-zombies shrieking anti-Israel slogans, intimidating and abusing their Jewish classmates and celebrating the war-crimes of Hamas. On the campuses of 'elite,' formerly well-respected universities. It looks like a Hollywood production about a post-apocalyptic hellscape, like 'The Last of Us.'
I don't pay a lot of attention to political labels like 'Left,' or 'Right.' But I think I can recognise mass psychosis when I see it. 'Progressives' (if that's a term that applies) need to start considering what is emanating from their own part of the ideological spectrum. In the interest of fairness, nuance and balance (which 'Progressives' always claim to be for) the 'Right' needs to do the same.
While there have been right wing nuts, terror has always been part of the leftist play book going back...well to the French Revolution but more recently in the 60s and 70s. None of this is new. Its just that for whatever reason, Western Jews refused to recognize where the hate has been emanating from.
It's crazy that this even has to be explained. Even crazier is how many people will disregard the explanation. It's always, "Well, in that case..."
Islam is a disease
Oh yes. I've become far less progressive than I was before Oct. 7 in several key ways: 1) I will not donate to any politician or organization that is not supportive of Israel; 2) I suddenly realize that instead of whining, minorities should get their acts together and start being responsible for themselves; 3) I've become a huge supporter of Western values (always was, but didn't realize the importance); 4) I've become a supporter of the military, and the U.S. place in the world. I no longer care about spreading democracy or women's rights -- not our problem. We need to keep trade going. And of course quell any violence that threatens us or our Allies. 5) Trans rights is ridiculous. I don't care who you love, how you dress, or who you marry but there are two genders, period. I'm starting to sound a bit center Right.
Thank you so much for your wonderful essay.......I was wondering how this racist/terrorist Elias Rodriguez, was able to carry his gun, from Chicago (where.he boarded the plane to DC ?.....) and how come there were not Security at the Museum ?..... We lost a beautiful young couple......It's so devastatingly sad and heartbreaking.....
Really? Who thought that? Many of us are well aware that left-wing violence and terrorism is nothing new and has always been with us. I guess as a "progressive", the author has been willfully blind regarding more than a century of pervasive leftist violence.
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"Terrorism is a disease. Terrorism is a transmissible, global disease. And for a long time, many of us in the West thought that it was a disease primarily limited to Right-wing fanatics after the 1990s".
They have certainly convinced me that my money and vote are not wanted. And they will get neither.
Nice essay, Jonathan F!
This is a thoughtful historical view of how we got where we are. As a side bar, It is not a small thing that some universities fostered antisemitism instead of calling it out when first noted. It would appear that administrators simply stood back and observed and let things happen. Was not their common sense of decency moved by how Jewish students were being treated? University level bullying? Please don’t laugh: were these people not raised right?
Trump will learn the hard way that foreign policy is not the art of making a Manhattan real estate deal
This temporary deal is a disaster
Jonathan, I’d appreciate learning from you how you define Left vs Right, and give ideological and organizational examples of each, please. Thanks very much.
We are cooked.