By Tom Knighton
For many of us on the outside, it’s easy to make sweeping generalizations about social justice warriors and their world of radical Leftist activism. But when someone becomes disillusioned and leaves, their words can be especially valuable knowledge about this problem America is facing.
Here’s what one ex-radical has to say:
I see increasing numbers of so-called liberals cheering censorship and defending violence as a response to speech. I see seemingly reasonable people wishing death on others and laughing at escalating suicide and addiction rates of the white working class. I see liberal think pieces written in opposition to expressing empathy or civility in interactions with those with whom we disagree. I see 63 million Trump voters written off as “nazis” who are okay to target with physical violence. I see concepts like equality and justice being used as a mask for resentful, murderous rage.
The most pernicious aspect of this evolution of the left, is how it seems to be changing people, and how rapidly since the election. I have been dwelling on this Nietzsche quote for almost six months now, “He who fights with monsters, should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.” How easy is it for ordinary humans to commit atrocious acts? History teaches us it’s pretty damn easy when you are blinded to your own hypocrisy. When you believe you are morally superior, when you have dehumanized those you disagree with, you can justify almost anything. In a particularly vocal part of the left, justification for dehumanizing and committing violence against those on the right has already begun.
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I have been wondering why more people on the left are not speaking up against violence, in favor of free exchange of ideas and dialogue, in favor of compassion. But I know why. I was in the cult.
The author, Keri Smith, sees something that many of us have witnessed from the outside: the Left is openly embracing violence against their enemies, seeking to destroy political rivals, rejecting the civil society.
By identifying them as a cult, she hits on one of the key problems with SJWs. Like all totalitarian movements, they demand devotion to their ideals and brook no deviation from that ideology.
Smith was wise to break from them, though they will undoubtedly label her as sexist, racist, homophobic, or one of the other slurs they keep in their limited quiver of insults. Of course, by now, she knows this will happen; it probably contributed to her awakening.
Maybe her coming out will help others afraid to leave the cult, too.