When Kindness Turns to Condemnation: The Progressive Double Standard

A Nation Divided — On Veterans Day, No Less

This is being written on Veterans’ Day, a time when we give thanks to all who have served the country in uniform and pay special honor to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedom and liberty. This stirs feelings of patriotism among most of us. As I watch the political debates unfolding these days, I have to ask: What the hell is wrong with us?

The Shift Away from American Exceptionalism

For too many years to count, I have listened to progressives demand we “be honest with ourselves.” Only by focusing on the negative aspects of our culture and history can that test be met. No need for including historical context or comparison to others. Just so you know how bad we have been and are. We used to discuss “American exceptionalism.” Now, it is a sign of being for the right things and enlightenment to accept the progressive point of view. No exceptions.

The Unholy Trinity of Influence

The Unholy Trinity—academia, legacy linear media, and the world of entertainment—wear their certitude of being good and right on their sleeves. There is no need for a consistent set of standards to evaluate and decide a single thing. Nope. On everything, all you need to know is that progressives are right.

A Culture of Smugness and Moral Bankruptcy

We could decry the multitude of instances when the only thing tying together their positions is a smugness and arrogance that all who oppose them are stupid, evil, or both. We could express our disagreement on how wonderful socialism is, or any of 10 other things. Yet, there is one issue that encapsulates the moral bankruptcy that defines progressive thought today.

The Line That Should Never Be Crossed

For now, let’s focus on one thing—violence to achieve your political objectives. Unless and until progressives loudly condemn anyone, including other progressives, for condoning its use, I do not want to hear another word from them. The same people who embraced limitations on speech, the people who cannot ask often enough if you were being kind, are the ones not only condoning violence but also embracing and advocating it. I repeat, spare me another lecture on the moral virtue behind all they seek. Not another word.

Selective Morality and Deafening Silence

You will find no shortage of those in the know, including many religious leaders, having plenty to say about every issue under the sun. Immigration policy? Funding levels and eligibility for public health care? The environment? You name it, and progressives will loudly tell you they are moral issues. What about wanting to kill individuals opposed to their agenda? Suddenly, the cat’s got their tongues. I guess most of us can agree that a desire to kill your opponents fails the kindness test. The sickening rationalizing, even celebration, of the assassination of Charlie Kirk is no outlier. That much we know.

A Chilling Example in Virginia

We just witnessed an election in Virginia where the Democratic candidate for Attorney General (Jay Jones) shared with a colleague his desire to put a bullet through the head of another member of the General Assembly who opposed Jones’ position on particular issues. For good measure, he added that he would like to do the same to the two children of this terrible member. With the mother watching. You see, the opponent was not in favor of gun control. Wondering for a friend how this meets the kindness test.

Where Is the Outrage?

Tell me in what world this is acceptable for any candidate to do, much less for the candidate to become the chief law enforcement official in the state. How is it possible that the folks who care so terribly much about what pronoun you use can accept this sort of willingness to kill a political opponent in stride?

Hypocrisy Laid Bare

The inability of progressives to condemn Jones and demand that he step down from running says a whole lot more about them than those of us who are appalled and outraged by the venal behavior. However, among liberals and very liberals, 42 percent say political violence “can sometimes be justified,” according to a recent survey. Among the very conservatives, that number was less than 10 percent. Help me. Who has the moral high ground here?

The Final Word

I do not think I am alone when I say no more lectures by progressives on the moral virtue behind their positions. If they cannot muster the courage and voice to say politicians such as Jay Jones have no business serving in public office, they need not tell me how awful my positions and thoughts are on basic political issues.

Not another word. Not interested until you make clear that violence in pursuit of political objectives is beyond wrong and unacceptable.

Common Sense: A Stench of Hypocrisy

Common Sense: There is a bad stink on progressives, and only they can rid themselves of it. For now, please, just shut the hell up.