I have a love/hate relationship with the Left.
On the one hand, I strongly believe that the Left plays a pivotal role in the social and political process. Not only are they a vital counterbalance to the conservative Right, they are also the driving force behind radical social change. Civil rights, the feminist movement, social democracy and the welfare state – these are just some of the many brainchildren of the Left that have profoundly changed the face of our world for the better.
On the other hand, I find myself increasingly disheartened by the shape and direction the Left has taken over the last few decades. The once great intellectuals of Leftist thought have been usurped by virulently vocal protestors who spend more time screeching at authority figures than they do developing genuine suggestions for change. An ideological platform once rich in powerful tools for social justice has degenerated into an endless cycle of marches and flag-waving. The spirit of free choice and constructive argument, once the cornerstone of Leftist thought, has been replaced with a mob mentality masquerading as moral righteousness. Revolutionary ideas have been swept aside by pointless catchphrases and slogans, inappropriate (and often vicious) name calling, and a ‘with us or against us’ attitude that both stifles and condemns debate.
The true spirit of the Left has been thoroughly commandeered. Where once it held a unique and substantial footing in its own right, it is now all too often defined solely in opposition to its opponents. Nowadays, rather than presenting alternative viewpoints, liberal protestors posit themselves as challengers of tyranny and oppression; their opponents, whoever they may be, are cast as ‘Big-Brother’ type overlords with fascistic intentions.
I am aware that this is not always the case, and there are exceptions to any rule; however, a large proportion of the Left is in danger of being reduced to a shadow of its former self.
But this was not always the case. The essence of the Left is not truly represented by the one-track battle-cries of its hijackers, any more than the essence of the Right is monopolised by tinpot dictators or global military voyeurism. At its core, the Left is about the desire for change, equally opposed yet complimentary to a Right that is about preserving the status quo. Traditionally, this has represented itself through the philosophy of promoting the state as a means to affect beneficial change. The Left views government and the nation as a vessel through which social and economic equality can be more efficiently ensured – thus, it aims to increase the power of the state to enable it to do so. The Right, in contrast, seeks to limit the power of the state in the belief that increased personal liberty is the key to equality. The view of the Left as a tool to combat tyranny and dictatorship – a dictatorship inherent in anything not in line with its own message – is quite modern and, in my view, is the very means by which the true message of the Left has been corrupted. By its own hand, the Left is in danger of becoming the very tyranny it now claims to combat.
The extent of the derailing of the Left is most evident when compared to the efforts of its best known thinkers. Martin Luther King, a man of peace and a stalwart champion of civil rights, backed up his passionate rhetoric with a just vision that was heartfelt and practical. Betty Friedan, gender rights campaigner and visionary of second-wave feminism, wrote with an eloquence that awoke a nation of women to the inequalities in their lives and inspired them to achieve much needed change. American Presidents like Roosevelt, Kennedy and Johnson saw the flaws inherent in unbridled capitalism and sought to restructure the state to combat poverty, unemployment and economic inequality. These renowned personalities wrought a better and more just world through a dignified and pragmatic challenge to the status quo. Moreover, their positions stood as unique and solid in their own right, rather than mere empty railings against their opponents. They defined themselves by what they stood for, and not merely by what they stood against.
And so, I challenge the Left. Do not degrade yourself to a mere caricature. Step beyond the confines of the narrow-minded and take up arms for the social causes that need you. Challenge the lingering cultural inequities that women are faced within the workforce. Challenge the prejudices in society that prevent gay couples from celebrating their love in the same legal fashion as their heterosexual counterparts. Formulate, motivate, aggravate, legislate! Combine passionate ambitions with practical steps and get things done! By doing so, you’ll find that people like me are far more likely to cheer you on rather than dismiss you.