There is a certain dysfunction peculiar to the weak, unsophisticated and undeveloped intellect which makes it difficult for it to integrate apparently contradictory information into a coherent whole and a viable response to reality. These are people who once they catch their side in some crime, suddenly find it impossible to interpret their side's actions as anything but crimes. The corollary to this is that suddenly the "other side" is invested with a virtue it does not have, or ever had, and that no outrage they perpetrate could ever be a crime.

People like this cannot see that the truth is gray, not black and white, but they also miss the point that even if it is gray, and even if the other side may have legitimate points to make or grievances to address, sooner or later we all have to pick sides because in the real world there IS evil, and that sometimes you cannot compromise with it, and sometimes you have no choice but to destroy it utterly, the good along with the bad.

Today, it is liberals who seem to exhibit this form of fuzzy-headed thinking, but believe me, it is not restricted to them, and it never was. It just seems that way now because political and cultural dialogue is no longer dominated by the instant dismissal of one side or the other by instant conversation-enders like political or religious slurs (Communist! Atheist!, Traitor!). Now we've added counterbalancing inanities (Imperialist!, Fascist! Racist!). However, there is no question in my mind that much of the fuzzy-headed and downright ridiculous positions adopted by some liberals are primarily reactions to equally wrong-headed absurdities held by conservatives. And we always tend to exaggerate this cognitive and logical error in our opponents, and forgive or ignore it in our allies.

The real path is the middle path, the abolition of thought based on prejudice disguised as principle, and superstition masquerading as faith, and the affirmnation of the very human ideal that it is possible to defend one's rights legitimately and vigorously without having to be a bully. We have to recognize our opponent's valid points and do our best to negotiate them, but always be ready to show strength and determination along with compassion and reason, and not put up with any bullshit.

Unfortunately, It may very well be the case that the great conflicts of history cannot be resolved this way, and that societies can only be mobilized by hatred and ideology and lies. If that is is the case, then we are all lost.