Saturday, August 16, 2008

THE LEFTY WAR NUT


Strange, but true. Those who have perused my blog will know my politics are very Left (as in socialist). Unusually enough, however, I am a war nut. Not a militarist, but one who has a great interest in some aspects of military history.

Why is that? Is there a fascist lurking within? Those in the political middle often like to say "extremes touch," implying that the radical Right and the Radical Left are essentially the same. Sometimes this is true. Morally, there is little to choose between Hitler and Stalin. But where is the Right Wing equivalent of Rosa Luxemburg? You can find tyrants on the far Right and the far Left, but in the latter you will also find people of integrity, brains, heart, and a real concern for people and justice. This cannot be said for the far Right. Love can be found in the radical Left, but not on the radical Right -- unless we include the love comrades in arms have for each other while murdering the innocent.

But I digress. Perhaps more anon . . .

3 comments:

kswolff said...

The Far Right did have their artists, usually French. Robert Brasillach and Celine (not the talentless singer) had Fascist sympathies. And then there was Wyndham Lewis and Ezra Pound, both great English stylists.

Far Right Republican artists? Mel Gibson and Thomas Kinkade?

Lynn Cheney wrote some great lesbian erotica. Does that count?

Queen of the Universe said...

Frequently I have this discussion...it is the reason I stay VERY left of center. It's what's best, IMHO, for the world as a whole.

I also think one person can make a difference.

But hey, that just me...

kswolff said...

Centrism is the realm of the mediocre. I'm more of a mixed bag mutant of political and economic ideologies, a moral libertarian and mixed-system capitalist-socialist. The utilities, defense, and health care should not be left to the machinations of the free market. Abolish the FCC and MPAA (violence good, male nudity bad). Among other things.