1 Comment
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Tim Coffey's avatar

"The people in Bari Weiss’s The Free Press comments are 100% behind the idea that this happened because Democrats and liberals have been comparing Trump to Hitler and calling him a fascist."

I suppose these same people are blissfully unaware that whenever Turning Point USA has an event in anywhere in the country, literal Nazis show up and do their thing. And since TPUSA leader Charlie Kirk is a Trumpist and has done nothing to denounce these people, it's not unreasonable to conclude that Kirk, and by extension Trump, considers such people an integral part of their coalition. Or maybe Bari thinks the guy wearing the Camp Auschwitz sweatshirt on January 6 is a splendid guy who really means her no harm.

One more thing. When Tom Nichols did his take on "The Screwtape Letters" here five years ago, this is how Screwtape described "conservatives" to Wormwood when discussing the latter's patient in Letter 2:

"Your man is not only ambitious, but he is a conservative. In modern America, this means that he feels himself part of an embattled minority trying to do the Enemy’s will in a fallen world. (In some instances, this may well be so, but never let it occur to him that there are many people who share neither his politics nor his particular religion who feel the same way, and who may be doing far better on that score than he.)"

In Letter 7, Screwtape instructed Wormwood:

"Do not fail to use the patient’s religion against him. Tell him that the Old Man would not be where he is were it not the will of the Enemy.

"Now, that this last point is so ridiculous that it could blow up in your face if you do not handle it with great care. A moment of sober consideration will reveal it to be utter twaddle. (After all, what human beings think their opponents are appointed by the Enemy Himself?)

"Because this is such fragile nonsense, you must plant the idea quickly and then just as swiftly prevent your patient from examining the logical contradiction at its core. Instead, impress upon him that he can and should serve the Old Man as a way of serving the Enemy. ***Convincing humans to do evil in the name of the Enemy is still one of our finest maneuvers, and you will find it highly enjoyable.***" (Emphasis mine)

So I guess these people can believe what they wish. And I could believe that I am the smartest, most handsomest engineer to ever walk the earth. But just because we believe something doesn't mean it's true.

Expand full comment