Every so often, I see a leftist say something that's so dogmatic, callous, and obtuse that I really start to wonder if we're not just patiently waiting our turn for the Republicans to clear the stage so we can become the next Bad Guys.

There's no faster path to that, than thinking that belonging to the "Good Guys" somehow magically exempts you from fundamental considerations of other people. There were an awful lot of good, earnest Western leftists who gave, say, Stalinism a leg up because it was nominally Their Side and that was the end of it.

It's going to be a while until we hit that point, and right now, honestly, I'm willing to permit a little skullduggery in the name of defeating a very well-organized and determined enemy, doing horrible things in the here and now like putting migrants into camps.

But if there's one thing I've learned from history, it's that ANY ideology can be infected by Badmeme and turn on humanity. Look at the contrast between the Sermon on the Mount and, say, Jerry Falwell. Hell, even the Buddhists managed to rationalize having an imperialist warrior culture. I don't believe for a moment that, given the right strain, the FALGSC crowd could catch a nasty case, too.

This is why you have pains in the ass like me around. I'm here to ask the annoying questions and drag you back kicking and screaming if you ever start sniffing around that abyss. Because dammit, I've already lost one faith I genuinely loved to it. Damned if I'm gonna lose what little faith I have left. 🐯​

(Not a subtoot & not about anyone in particular. Just sniffing at the prevailing winds again. We do that. 🐯​❤️​ )