Comments appear to have dried up at Harry's Place, so I'll just make a brief aside here about the general theme of this weekend. I imagine that my own views are considerably out of kilter with the bulk of the STWC, and so I think I can genuinely deny an accusation of special pleading. But I find it a little distateful on basic grounds of principle that the HP commentators place so much emphasis on, erm, size. Surely one engages ideas, not quantity. That an idea held by a small number of people is contemptible because of the fact that it's held by a small number of people seems an odd position for a 'progressive' site to take. Would a handful of folks protesting about union rights or free speech be subject to such derision-by-bean-counting?
Posted by Alan Allport at March 20, 2005 07:16 AMThey have always viewed the idea with contempt; the smallness of the group holding the idea merely validates that contempt. It's a common human malady that most of us suffer a good part of our lives: we just can't stand it that there might be one person out there who doesn't see it our way. Dissent has value only when I'm the one dissenting.
Posted by: Bobby Farouk at March 20, 2005 12:43 PMAlan, if all we did was compare size, I'd agree with you. But I think that over the last couple of years, we've engaged in plenty of substantive discussion on the differences between us and the opponents of the Iraq invasion, as well as those now calling for immediate withdrawal.
Since we do focus heavily (or as you would probably say, inordinately) on the activities of the antiwar movements, it's hardly suprising that we would devote a few posts to noting the decline in numbers at the latest demonstrations.
And comments are open at this post.
Posted by: Gene Zitver (at Harry's Place) at March 21, 2005 07:19 AMPoints taken, Gene, but I think you'd have to admit that the general tone has been less about 'noting a decline' than it has been: look at that pathetic shower. Numbers alone do not make an argument.
Posted by: Alan Allport at March 21, 2005 07:26 AM