Fighting Taliban Child’s Play Compared to Violating the Progressive Consensus

 

Among the more curious and revealing remonstrations from the Cultural Left in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election is its deeming the victory of Donald Trump to be “not normal.” Curious because progressives project great concern over shielding individuals from the wrath of a paternalistic society that would impose on everyone its heteronormative (and many other) norms rather than “celebrating diversity”; revealing because it suggests that progressives are actually more concerned with replacing society’s norms with norms of their own.

The totalitarian streak on the Left is universal, as is the contempt with which it holds anyone who strays from its current orthodoxy. Consider the loathing expressed by Remainers for the majority of UK electorate who voted to exit the European Union in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. It is in the same vein as Hillary Clinton’s disparaging “deplorable” comment about Trump voters or Obama’s slicker-than-thou dismissiveness for voters who “cling to guns or religion.”

In all three instances the political establishment — left-of-center virtually by default — performs a switcheroo and then proceeds to lambast anyone who refuses to take their eyes off the pea. From the Democrats’ Russian meddling meme to Labour’s “soft Brexit” — whatever that means — progressive rhetoric suggests that in a sane world, un-woke voters should be subject to the kind of Three-Fifths Compromise applied to American slaves during the Constitutional Convention.

The case of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Andrew Villanueva provides a typical example of the near hegemony of the political left in American culture and its remarkable ability to get everybody onboard. Last Sunday, Villenueva was the only member of the Steelers to walk out of the tunnel before Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears and hold his hand over his heart while the national anthem played. According to USA Today, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told CBS prior to kickoff that the team would not take the field for the anthem in order to remain unified despite disparate opinions on Trump and the practice of silent protest prior to NFL games. “Whatever we do we’re going to do 100 percent, we’re going to do together,” said Tomlin. “We’re not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda.”

So there we have it: yesterday’s norm — standing for the national anthem — is now deemed the purview of “divisive individuals.” (Notice also that in attempting to defend his actions, Coach Tomlin borrows from the prestige of the US Marine Corps and its motto semper fidelis: “always faithful.”) Such a non sequitur would be rightly viewed as risible when coming from a conservative — imagine for a moment a politician rallying around traditional marriage in the name of national unity — but consensus enforcers like Tomlin are prevalent wherever the Left dominates, from academia to the climate studies. It’s this so-called “divisiveness” — really the failure of everyone to get onboard with the progressive agenda — that inevitably brings around optics-oriented establishment Republicans like Jeb Bush and John McCain on issues as varied as political speech and immigration.

Villanueva, a former Army Ranger with multiple deployments to Afghanistan, is learning that fighting the Taliban is child’s play compared to standing up to the Cultural Left. In apologizing for standing for the national anthem, the offensive tackle explained that what was mistaken for standing on principal was, in fact, all a big misunderstanding or something.

Liberals instinctively attempt to make the kneeling issue about rights — a strawman argument if there ever was one, as denying anyone the right to kneel during the national anthem. It is not the normative conservative position but that’s where liberals feel most comfortable, hence the framing of the issue as one of rights. Ask a progressive about the rightness of kneeling during the national anthem, however, and see how quickly the conversation turns to Russian meddling.

The debate over same-sex marriage was another example of progressive normalization. Recall that before Biden out-embraced Obama on the issue that the latter explained his concerns over same-sex marriage, almost as if by apology, by explaining that “God is in the mix.” Obama, though, grew demonstratively grateful when Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy came into that mix, as he also did when Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts saved Obamacare by deeming the individual mandate a tax — in contradiction to Obama’s strident claims to the contrary.

Alejandro Villanueva may indeed be deemed, like John McCain, a useful maverick: immensely respected for his sacrifice to his country and thereby useful to the Cultural Left so long as he caves on issues important to progressives. The Left is in thrall to narrative more than truth, and the narrative of a former Army Ranger refusing to stand for the national anthem may prove irresistible. For that one, we’ll have to stay tuned. Many Americans won’t.

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  1. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Very good.

    • #1
  2. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    David Deeble: Villanueva, a former Army Ranger with multiple deployments to Afghanistan, knows that fighting the Taliban is child’s play compared to standing up to the Cultural Left. In apologizing for standing for the national anthem, the offensive tackle explains that what was mistaken for standing on principal was, in fact, all a big misunderstanding.

    This doesn’t reduce my admiration of Maj. Villanueva, but now I utterly despise his teammates.

    Was that their intent, do you suppose?

    • #2
  3. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    As usual, Dave, targeted/timely/tasteful…S/F to you (and HD) always!

     

    • #3
  4. CarolJoy Coolidge
    CarolJoy
    @CarolJoy

    Great essay. Thank you.

    Being recently “Dem exit,” I have apparently baffled my “more Progressive friends” who now are wondering at what stage in my recent past, I decided to become a KKK, card-carrying White Supremacist. Protesting that that is not the case does little to restore my reputation. Apparently until I join them in their marches and sign the petitions, I will remain guilty and never proven innocent.

    In my email inbox today, I found two separate notices about the urgency in returning our nation to those whose wisdom and tolerant virtues can undo the stink of the Trump Presidency. The first email concerned “Credo’s” need to have my signature that will implore the government (or some other entity, perhaps the Wizard of Oz) to immediately strip the nation’s Capital of all offensive statues. And these statues must go, and soon, OR ELSE!

    I read the above communication to my spouse and we almost lost any hope of returning to work today as we were both laughing so hard.

    The second email had to do with re-instating Hillary to her post as POTUS, as otherwise the USA will not be able to oversee the absolute necessity of engineering those activities that will reverse the Global Climate Changes. I was still laughing too  hard to undertake reading it – I think the email will still be there tomorrow, unless the Flying Monkeys have eliminated it, or me, by then.

    I wish I had some pill or other to take so none of this seemed so absurd. Even a bit of Calif’s favorite native weed cannot entirely lessen the  sting of this insanity.

    • #4
  5. David Deeble Member
    David Deeble
    @DavidDeeble

    Glad you’re here, @caroljoy – the water’s fine!

    • #5
  6. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    CarolJoy (View Comment):
    Great essay. Thank you.

    Being recently “Dem exit,” I have apparently baffled my “more Progressive friends” who now are wondering at what stage in my recent past, I decided to become a KKK, card-carrying White Supremacist. Protesting that that is not the case does little to restore my reputation. Apparently until I join them in their marches and sign the petitions, I will remain guilty and never proven innocent.

    In my email inbox today, I found two separate notices about the urgency in returning our nation to those whose wisdom and tolerant virtues can undo the stink of the Trump Presidency. The first email concerned “Credo’s” need to have my signature that will implore the government (or some other entity, perhaps the Wizard of Oz) to immediately strip the nation’s Capital of all offensive statues. And these statues must go, and soon, OR ELSE!

    I read the above communication to my spouse and we almost lost any hhope of returning to work today as we were both laughing so hard.

    The second email had to do with re-instating Hillary to her post as POTUS, as otherwise the USA will not be able to oversee the absolute necessity of engineering those activities that will reverse the Global Climate Changes. I was still laughing too hard to undertake reading it – I think the email will still be there tomorrow, unless the Flying Monkeys have eliminated it, or me, by then.

    I wish I had some pill or other to take so none of this seemed so absurd. Even a bit of Calif’s favorite native weed cannot entirely lessen the sting of this insanity.

    Another Prozac morning in the land of pablum and sativa.  One way , one thought , the goal of diversity progressive style.

    • #6
  7. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    The Left is fundamentally totalitarian. Whether forcing people to buy health insurance or forcing people to kneel or forcing Christians to violate their conscience they show no remorse to forcing people to think like them.

    Even when they don’t each government power like in the Google controversy they cannot help but force right-think on everyone.

    • #7
  8. Songwriter Inactive
    Songwriter
    @user_19450

    David Deeble: So there we have it: yesterday’s norm – standing for the national anthem – is now deemed the purview of “divisive individuals”.

    Straight from the Progressive Left playbook. Control the language. make it mean only what you want it to mean.

    I hope Mike Tomlin is confronted directly by someone who actually speaks English (So, no journalists, then) and made to defend his comments.

    • #8
  9. Kate Braestrup Member
    Kate Braestrup
    @GrannyDude

    CarolJoy (View Comment):
    Being recently “Dem exit,” I have apparently baffled my “more Progressive friends” who now are wondering at what stage in my recent past, I decided to become a KKK, card-carrying White Supremacist. Protesting that that is not the case does little to restore my reputation. Apparently until I join them in their marches and sign the petitions, I will remain guilty and never proven innocent.

    Yup. Right there with ya.

    • #9
  10. Underground Conservative Inactive
    Underground Conservative
    @UndergroundConservative

    Every time I see the pajama boy, I nearly lose it.

    • #10
  11. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    CarolJoy (View Comment):
    Being recently “Dem exit,”…

    What finally made you get out?

    • #11
  12. RyanFalcone Member
    RyanFalcone
    @RyanFalcone

    For some clarity on the Villanueva situation here in Pittsburgh…it has been grossly misrepresented by the media from the beginning. There are in fact, several players on the Steelers roster who not only would never kneel but would not stand pat and allow any teammates to do so either. Thus, the reason that the entire team decided to not even take the field as the two factions were irreconcilable and the team valued team unity above their social differences. Also, realize that Villanueva actually supports the kneelers. The entire team is pretty pissed off at this point about the whole issue and angry at Villanueva for being an idiot.

    • #12
  13. CarolJoy Coolidge
    CarolJoy
    @CarolJoy

    drlorentz (View Comment):

    CarolJoy (View Comment):
    Being recently “Dem exit,”…

    What finally made you get out?

    First, the fact that Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most corrupt Democratic candidate going all the way back to the guy who was President after George Bush the Elder. (Diane Feinstein might actually be more corrupt, but she won’t run for President.)

    Secondly, the absolute hostility that is heaped on anyone who is opposed to rampant and extreme immigration by Dems and progressives. This sore point was re-injured when I also realized that my “progressive” friends who support immigration only support the “ideal immigration” scenario. When the actual problems resulting from over immigration affect them, they are incensed. “How could my family member be rejected from working for Big Silicon Valley firm in order for that firm to hire more people here from India on work visas?” Or “how come the guy next door converted what should be a family dwelling into a dormitory for day laborers?”

    Finally I realized I liked Ahnold a lot more as governor of the state of California than the ego-bloviating Jerry Brown. California was heavily hit by the housing market collapse, and then the Total Economic Collapse. Ahnold had the presence of mind to go ask Geithner for a friggin’ 20 billion dollar loan to help the state  budget out, so it would not be balanced on the middle class. Geithner refused, saying such a thing would be bad for the Fed deficit. (A loan of 20 Bil to a state having 40 million people is not preposterous.) To add insult to that injury, Geithner approved 20 billion to Israel just 14 days later.

    Oh and ObamaCare is a joke. A mandate on every household to pay at least $ 50 a month for an insurance policy that allows a person only a yearly paid visit to the doctors. If you don’t comply with the mandate, then you are taxed more. Bah humbug says I. (Additionally around Feb 2016 we realized our business took a 15% a month hit in terms of profits. People whose discretionary income is diverted to Big Insurers have to refrain from buying goods and services.)

     

    • #13
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