How 'Liberal' Became 'Not Far-Left Enough'

Real Clear Investigations ^ | 17 Oct, 2017 | Ashe Schow

[MtnClimber]

They come wearing black, with masks covering their faces. They bring rocks, fireworks, jars of urine and boards with nails to attack those who disagree with them.

They are known as Antifa – short for anti-fascist – and they have become an often violent fixture at protests from Charlottesville, Va., to Seattle.

But while most visible when clashing with conservatives and police, they also reflect another uncivil war: the one pitting traditional liberals against more aggressive progressives.

This battle is not about the ends – both sides on the left believe that addressing income inequality and social and environmental justice are America’s most pressing issues. It is about the proper means to achieve those goals. And much of the fight revolves around free speech, especially whether “intolerant” viewpoints should be tolerated.

Left-wing internecine tensions intensified after violent confrontations between neo-Nazis and counter-protesters in Charlottesville on Aug. 12. President Trump’s claim that there was “violence on both sides” drew not only criticism of him but more scrutiny of progressives. Soon Democratic leaders were forced to respond, having remained largely silent as they drew energy from by Antifa, Black Lives Matter and campus protests.

When Antifa two weeks later attacked peaceful right-wing protesters marching against hate in Berkeley, Calif., denunciations from the left grew more frequent.

[MtnClimber]

The new left is attacking the old left.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[Bonemaker]

Although there are gradations in behavior and deportment, I reject the finer distinctions between the left, liberals, democrats, progressives etc. They all vote democrat and they all have the same goals. Ordinary law abiding German citizens who voted for Hitler were voting for the ovens. Ordinary law abiding Americans who vote democrat are voting for gun control,confiscatory taxes, government control and intrusion into everyday life, global warming and all the other crap that wretched party stands for.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

What we need now is for a group of Antifa (or a close facsimile) to attack and humiliate a large group of old liberals.

[JimRed]

... they also reflect another uncivil war: the one pitting traditional liberals against more aggressive progressives.

Just like Muslims, who, when they run out of Infidels to kill start on other Muslims who are the "wrong kind" of Muslim.

[jjotto]

“The believing mind reaches its perihelion in the so-called Liberals. They believe in each and every quack who sets up his booth in the fairgrounds, including the Communists. The Communists have some talents too, but they always fall short of believing in the Liberals.”
- HL Mencken

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The natural disposition is always to believe. It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough. The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing. - Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)