Bucking the narrative: Hipster’s guide to hidden anti-Semitism within left

For a while now, I have turned my focus on preaching freedom of expression rights from youth to the activist community because I have come to realize that while the liberal activist community views themselves as agents of tolerance, they seldom practice it. Instinctively, activists drive to silence and remove intolerable ideas and opinions rather than engage and debate them. Today I ran across this column by David Schraub in The Tablet Magazine called, A hip leftist hub is hosting an anti-Semite today, here’s what progressive must learn from that which brilliantly exposes a similar contradiction. 

Schraub’s detailed commentary and exposé follows the recent dustup after the uber hip and progressive Brooklyn Commons invited 9/11 Truther and theorist of Jewish conspiracies, Christopher Bollyn to speak at an event (tonight, Sept. 7) called, “9/11 and our Political Crisis.” Apparently Bollyn will prove using evidence and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that the Jews are behind 9/11. Ok, a little bit of tongue in cheek here, but you get the idea. Schraub, a devout liberal himself, says that people like Bollyn are attracted to venues like The Brookyn Commons because liberal audiences eat this stuff up.

It’s all about the narrative. The Left has deftly and aggressively controlled the narrative that they are the party of tolerance and the right-wing is the party of Klansman. Good PR and good enough for most people, and that’s the simplistic and acceptable view (Clinton = Tolerant Trump = Racist) most Americans accept. Done deal. But with further examination, it’s easy to note that anti-Semitism, fascism, speech restrictions and censorship have ALWAYS flourished within the Left (as well as the Right). Look at the UK’s Jeremy Corbin and the Labor Party’s endless accounts of anti-Semitism within the progressive ranks. Or just Google anti-Semitism on college campuses. Or read Roger Cohen’s column on anti-Semitism and the Left in the New York Times. There are many historical examples as well such as New York intellectuals hosting fascists and neo-Nazis at soirees and gatherings in the 60s and 70s.

Schraub states, “… ‘There is no space for anti-Semitism in the progressive community.’ This self-soothing declaration founders upon the simple fact that, apparently, there is such space.”

The reason I am highlighting Schraub’s column here is that it complements the theory that progressive activists may be too comfortable disrespecting freedom of speech all in the name of combating bigotry and racism. Like I’ve stated on my website, if you are in the business of preaching tolerance, then you better be an expert at practicing it.

Images: Christopher Bollyn from The Brooklyn Commons website. Example of linking Israel to 9/11 – screenshot from video Truth behind 9/11 will annihilate Israel.