It appears, that to be a properly Virtuous Western progressive, one has to simultaneously accept the following propositions:
(1) Western killing of Muslims in military conflicts recruits for jihadis such as the Islamic State.
(2) Jihadi killing of Muslims (much more common) does not repel such recruits.
(3) The Islamic State is not Islamic.
It appears to provide a splendid example of how contradiction is not a bug but a feature of Virtue signalling--if you are prepared to swallow all this simultaneously, you are very Virtuous, a member of Club Virtue in excellent standing. Of course, such views appear to be quite common in Muslim communities (for example, in Australia); but they are also about defending congenial belief in the face of inconvenient evidence.
(1) Western killing of Muslims in military conflicts recruits for jihadis such as the Islamic State.
(2) Jihadi killing of Muslims (much more common) does not repel such recruits.
(3) The Islamic State is not Islamic.
It appears to provide a splendid example of how contradiction is not a bug but a feature of Virtue signalling--if you are prepared to swallow all this simultaneously, you are very Virtuous, a member of Club Virtue in excellent standing. Of course, such views appear to be quite common in Muslim communities (for example, in Australia); but they are also about defending congenial belief in the face of inconvenient evidence.
I just happened to have recently read Roger L. Simon's (screenwriter of Enemies a Love Story, The Big Fix, and Bustin' Loose) memoir;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Turning-Right-Hollywood-Vine-Conservative/dp/1594034818
admitting that he used to have to juggle some contradictory ideas in the pursuit of virtuous belief in himself. Quite entertaining, some of those.
He seems to have finally admitted to himself, that there was something wrong with his world view, when he got seated at the O.J. trial just behind Simpson. While some police officer was testifying on the stand against him, O.J. turned, saw Simon's attractive young wife seated there next to him, and winked at her flirtatiously.
Reassessment followed thereafter.
A form of being "mugged by reality" perhaps?
DeleteAny thoughts on why the Obama administration never calls the unspeakably evil regime in Iran "non-Islamic"?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do, see this post:
Deletehttp://lorenzo-thinkingoutaloud.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/why-in-pc-universe-there-is-paucity-of.html
Appeal to support relief efforts following the disastrous earthquake in Nepal..Lions Clubs India
ReplyDelete