Thread by @sunnshiiny

@leftmindset @albertaNDP It is futile to ask extremists to stop being extremist.

We give these people legitimacy by not challenging their extremist beliefs. By accepting far right ideology as legitimate and acceptable for a pluralist social democracy, we make it an available option.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We must remove that option. Some people believe in anarchy, communism, fascism. But as a society we reject those options because they are inconsistent with democratic principles.

Authoritarian theocracy is incompatible with democratic governance.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP People are free to prefer authoritarianism, but they are not free to impose those beliefs on the rest of us.

But that’s what is happening. Libertarians have rejected democracy, the social contract, pluralism, humanism, secularism and liberalism.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP That’s their right to believe what they want to believe. That’s religious freedom.

The problem is exacerbated by the equally zealous human rights advocates who believe all people are equal and deserve the same treatment. Completely the antithesis of traditional faith.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Both are competing for domination of the zeitgeist of modern society. The progressive left is as much to blame for this mess as the far right. But most people won’t accept that truth. Because it requires them to examine their ideological beliefs.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Modern humanist and liberalist society has imposed its values and beliefs on traditional communities. And our current situation is the result.

A pluralist society means more than one worldview is available. So conversion therapy supporters feel restrained when it’s not legal.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP They believe their rights and freedoms to believe what they want to believe is being removed. And it is. There is no point in trying to fool ourselves that it is all about human rights. It’s a majority telling the extremist faith groups that their values and beliefs are invalid.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Don’t get me wrong. I completely believe conversion therapy is wrong. And I 100% agree with the ban.

But it is also a value judgement on those who supported it. It’s accompanied by sanctimony and self righteousness. And condemnation of those who believe it’s a valid belief.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP The left doesn’t have an appreciation of the superiority they exude to others who are not ideologically aligned.

So they demand force be used to protect victims. The right sees it as interference in their value system and condescension from secular godless people.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP My point is we rush to make social changes and ignore the underlying narrative that presents a value judgement to those ego are impacted directly. Without discussing the impact. We just expect compliance and forget about the angst it creates in the impacted communities.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP In other words, we need to do better. Imposing laws on communities who are in a completely different head space about values and beliefs causes tensions and resentment. Resistance becomes the expected behaviour. Then rebellion. Which is where we are now as a society.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP The right perceives democracy as a threat to its values and beliefs. And frankly, it is. I’m analyzing this openly and clinically without judgement on whose beliefs are valid and whose aren’t.

But a pluralist democracy is supposed to accommodate all beliefs.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Even the ones we disagree with ideologically. That’s what pluralism is. The coexistence of disparate value systems in one society. Competing for resources and legitimacy.

I believe the progressive left lost that understanding. And they use force to make changes.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP The arrogance to believe your ideology is the only acceptable option has become the norm. That’s extremism. That’s how our beliefs and values have been manipulated to produce the chaos we are currently experiencing.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP The religious right believes their value system is superior & should be the dominant culture of society. The progressive left believes their value system is superior & should be the dominant culture of society. Each has an imposed hierarchical system which they vehemently defend.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP But those are beliefs, not reality.

The truth is somewhere in the middle.

Patriarchal hierarchy is only advantageous if you’re male, white & Christian.

Complete equality is only advantageous if you’re BIPOC, LGBTQ or female.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP But what value system could provide privilege and advantage for all pluralist factions? A value system that permits social change at the pace each faction finds comfortable? What would that look like?

We haven’t got pluralist social democracy in Canada.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We have dysfunctional extremism. Every democracy across the globe is currently grappling with this conundrum. It’s being manufactured by stoking the extremists to refuse cooperation and compromise and the desire for the fantasy of perfection created by homogeneity.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We are not all equal. We are all of equal value. My education, experience, culture, gender and age make me unique. No one else is equal to me. Similar maybe, but not equal. They are people who are more educated, younger, older, a different gender, less experienced or more.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We are not quantitatively equal to each other. Yet that’s the prevailing belief and value of the progressive left. But we are also not just a reflection of our gender, ranked by other qualifiers over which we had no control.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP There is no qualitative difference in value between a middle aged, urban, Métis woman with a Bachelors degree and access to an internet full of knowledge and a male farmer who attends church religiously and produces food for thousands through hard labour of his own.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We are of equal value.

But many would argue we aren’t.

That’s the source of our societal conflict. We refuse to engage in conversation about how we assign value to each human being.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We cling to ideological beliefs that assume perfection when we are well aware perfection is unattainable.

I get it. I was a perfectionist in my youth. Had to give it up because it drove me crazy. And everyone around me.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP I still pursue perfection, but I also know I’ll never get there. Precision, integrity, reality and truth are all concepts I try to be as accurate as possible.

Extremism is the pursuit of perfection with no leeway for mistakes. I lived there for a long while. It’s not fun.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP And it’s not productive.

Perfection will never be achieved.

The fantasy of left progressives entertain that all people who are given the opportunity to be equal and the resources to achieve personal fulfilment is the pursuit of perfection.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Consequently, theonomy and theocracy will never achieve perfection.

Human existence is more complicated. Since we are all separate and disparate in experience, talents and knowledge, perfection cannot be obtained. There will ALWAYS be some who don’t have the same worldview.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Ideals are inexact guides. Not road maps.

The world is imperfect. Every poultry farmer knows some chicks will hatch deformed and soon die. That’s the nature of existence. There are imperfections in every part of existence. Nothing is perfect. Everything changes.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP I know this is all philosophical mumbo jumbo, but this is how people coexist with disparate beliefs. They acknowledge the imperfect world we live in and tolerate differences between them.

Dehumanizing “others” who have a different value system creates unnecessary conflict.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Yet we are encouraged by populist leaders to do just that. Dehumanize those who don’t share our values and beliefs.

Freedom means every human being has the right to determine their beliefs and values. Without coercion or interference.

But that’s not what modern society does.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP Military grade PSYOPS is being used to exacerbate and radicalize beliefs and values. Whether that’s political rhetoric, memes, Social Media, MSM, etc.

All in an effort to create chaos and polarization. That’s not freedom. It’s coercion and manipulation.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP We will never achieve perfection.

But we can coexist if we try to meet somewhere in the middle. And embrace our imperfection. Make room for different values. Discuss and communicate about compromises.

That’s pluralist social democracy. That’s what I work towards.

@leftmindset @albertaNDP @threadreaderapp please compile