If you think that the trans movement should be opposed, why are you not willing to join in "protests"? What is it about being a "classical liberal/progressive conservative" that makes you content to sit on the sidelines? Pushing against transgender ideology and activism can and is taking many forms, not just street demonstrations or pick…
If you think that the trans movement should be opposed, why are you not willing to join in "protests"? What is it about being a "classical liberal/progressive conservative" that makes you content to sit on the sidelines? Pushing against transgender ideology and activism can and is taking many forms, not just street demonstrations or picketing. Take a look at the many different things that Women's Liberation Front is doing: https://womensliberationfront.org
You have totally misunderstood me. I won't join a group of radical feminists in a protest but I do protest in my own way. To my senior community centre, for example, when they celebrated LGBTQ Pride Day. They are a Jewish organization and such lifestyles are against Jewish law. Believe me, it didn't endear me to the administration, which is filled with non-religious woke types. I don't need the women's movement to speak my mind and I don't sit "on the sidelines".
In a pluralistic, democratic society such as ours, we should not be casting people as "enemies or friends". Things get accomplished when people form coalitions on particular issues or policies without having to agree on other issues or policies. Most things can get bipartisan support because they really are not partisan issues. I am not trying to make friends when I work with Republicans and Independents in Oregon to get certain legislation passed or block other legislation. But neither are they my enemies, just because we disagree on many issues. I am pragmatic. Many good things can be accomplished by collaborating and cooperating with people on things we agree on. (Actually, I do feel that some of the Republicans and Independents that I work with are now my friends. There is absolutely no reason why friends have to agree on everything politically or otherwise.
The problem with forming coalitions with folks who don't share your views on most things, but do on one issue is that it reduces your credibility on the other issues. When you have a clear set of values, you think twice about who you associate with.
People need to stop judging people's credibility based on who they associate with and who they form coalitions with on specific issues. Right now, if we "think twice" and do not join with conservatives on stopping harm to women and children by the transgender movement, then women and children will continue to be harmed. Many irreparably. My credibility and that of anyone should be assessed by facts like human sex cannot be changed and that men/males cannot be women/females, nor is any child "born in the wrong body". I fully understand your point, but unfortunately that is stopping many women and men from advocating for what they know is right! My values are very clear, but I am also pragmatic. I know that many women are afraid to be thought to be conservative if they express agreement with attempts in red states to pass laws prohibiting males from participating in girls' and women's sports or prohibiting the use of puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries on minors in the name of "gender affirmation". Meanwhile, in blue states, thousands of girls and boys under 18 are being provided with hormones by Planned Parenthood and other medical providers which cause irreversible, harmful effects, despite the fact that a majority of Democrats oppose such medical interventions for minors. We need Democratic candidates and office holders willing to buck the current party line and have the courage to stand up and speak out against the harm being done to children. Having values does not get anything done to implement those values. I care about getting things done to stop people from being harmed.
First, I'm Canadian and I do have conversations with my Member of Parliament (not my Congress person) even though he is not with the party I voted for - which is Conservative. I'm well aware of the medical and psychological damage to trans persons, but it's the medical and psychological associations that need to be pressured, not the politicians. And they won't be influenced by a bunch of radical feminists with signs. If I was an American my main concern would be ensuring a fair voting process and then I'd vote for Trump because he already stated that if elected, he'd make it a criminal act for anyone to give or approve gender transitioning drugs and/or procedures to persons under 18. Trump's other policies are also something I approve of, even though some of them pit the US against Canada in certain trade issues. Under Trudeau Canada has become a socialist joke with basic freedoms being denied and the woke mob reigning supreme. Finally, as an individualist (not a collectivist, as you seem to be) I would tackle any immediate concerns with the trans movement by removing my kids from public school and either homeschooling or sending them to private. If more individual families did the same thing, you'd see the left's stranglehold on public schools - which promotes gender transitioning and other principles of critical race and gender theory - end.
Given the context of Canadian politics, your comments here make more sense. What a mess of gender ideology in the schools. Also Conservative has a different meaning with Provinces and school districts in Canada.
However I must push strongly against your statement about Trump. He has never demonstrated any ability or real interest in actually getting policy passed. It is 100% about looks and attention. Anyone who trusts that he could work with the US Congress to pass anything substantial is not being realistic. It would only supercharge the hardcore fringe.
There’s a recent poll that the majority of Americans strongly disagree with gender ideology for children. The activist fringe is trying to hide these results and rebrand puberty blockers.
Ah yes. Trump's policies passed by Executive Order not through Congress, which made them easy for Biden to overturn. (BTW: Obama did the same thing.) And yes, Trump is a master showman who excels at playing up his achievements (however temporary or fraught with difficulties). Unfortunately, Trump's policies are not popular with many Republicans (RINOs?) as well as Democrats. Therefore, the likelihood of him getting bills through Congress - whether mostly Dem or mostly GOP - is bleak unless Americans can convince/pressure their congress people to vote for them. Re the poll you mentioned: I'm glad to hear it. I sense the average Canadian, regardless of political affiliation, feels the same way but few are lobbying their Members of Parliament.
Exactly. If you read my response to Holly Hart, you'll see that I protest in my own way. I don't want to be associated with radical feminists because they don't represent my views.
Most protests are self-indulgent, attention-seeking orgies of anger and the least effective form of activism. In fact, they are often counterproductive. Why should anyone be bullied into joining a mob and putting out more hate into the world? Maybe this person wants to engage in something hopeful or constructive. A mob is a mob regardless of what they claim to represent. Also, cancelation is a real phenomenon. Going public with one's beliefs carries great risk, and therefore it's a private, personal decision that everyone deserves to be able to make on their own, free from bullying, coercion and harassment.
If you think that the trans movement should be opposed, why are you not willing to join in "protests"? What is it about being a "classical liberal/progressive conservative" that makes you content to sit on the sidelines? Pushing against transgender ideology and activism can and is taking many forms, not just street demonstrations or picketing. Take a look at the many different things that Women's Liberation Front is doing: https://womensliberationfront.org
You have totally misunderstood me. I won't join a group of radical feminists in a protest but I do protest in my own way. To my senior community centre, for example, when they celebrated LGBTQ Pride Day. They are a Jewish organization and such lifestyles are against Jewish law. Believe me, it didn't endear me to the administration, which is filled with non-religious woke types. I don't need the women's movement to speak my mind and I don't sit "on the sidelines".
The enemy of my enemy is NOT necessarily my friend.
In a pluralistic, democratic society such as ours, we should not be casting people as "enemies or friends". Things get accomplished when people form coalitions on particular issues or policies without having to agree on other issues or policies. Most things can get bipartisan support because they really are not partisan issues. I am not trying to make friends when I work with Republicans and Independents in Oregon to get certain legislation passed or block other legislation. But neither are they my enemies, just because we disagree on many issues. I am pragmatic. Many good things can be accomplished by collaborating and cooperating with people on things we agree on. (Actually, I do feel that some of the Republicans and Independents that I work with are now my friends. There is absolutely no reason why friends have to agree on everything politically or otherwise.
The problem with forming coalitions with folks who don't share your views on most things, but do on one issue is that it reduces your credibility on the other issues. When you have a clear set of values, you think twice about who you associate with.
People need to stop judging people's credibility based on who they associate with and who they form coalitions with on specific issues. Right now, if we "think twice" and do not join with conservatives on stopping harm to women and children by the transgender movement, then women and children will continue to be harmed. Many irreparably. My credibility and that of anyone should be assessed by facts like human sex cannot be changed and that men/males cannot be women/females, nor is any child "born in the wrong body". I fully understand your point, but unfortunately that is stopping many women and men from advocating for what they know is right! My values are very clear, but I am also pragmatic. I know that many women are afraid to be thought to be conservative if they express agreement with attempts in red states to pass laws prohibiting males from participating in girls' and women's sports or prohibiting the use of puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries on minors in the name of "gender affirmation". Meanwhile, in blue states, thousands of girls and boys under 18 are being provided with hormones by Planned Parenthood and other medical providers which cause irreversible, harmful effects, despite the fact that a majority of Democrats oppose such medical interventions for minors. We need Democratic candidates and office holders willing to buck the current party line and have the courage to stand up and speak out against the harm being done to children. Having values does not get anything done to implement those values. I care about getting things done to stop people from being harmed.
First, I'm Canadian and I do have conversations with my Member of Parliament (not my Congress person) even though he is not with the party I voted for - which is Conservative. I'm well aware of the medical and psychological damage to trans persons, but it's the medical and psychological associations that need to be pressured, not the politicians. And they won't be influenced by a bunch of radical feminists with signs. If I was an American my main concern would be ensuring a fair voting process and then I'd vote for Trump because he already stated that if elected, he'd make it a criminal act for anyone to give or approve gender transitioning drugs and/or procedures to persons under 18. Trump's other policies are also something I approve of, even though some of them pit the US against Canada in certain trade issues. Under Trudeau Canada has become a socialist joke with basic freedoms being denied and the woke mob reigning supreme. Finally, as an individualist (not a collectivist, as you seem to be) I would tackle any immediate concerns with the trans movement by removing my kids from public school and either homeschooling or sending them to private. If more individual families did the same thing, you'd see the left's stranglehold on public schools - which promotes gender transitioning and other principles of critical race and gender theory - end.
Given the context of Canadian politics, your comments here make more sense. What a mess of gender ideology in the schools. Also Conservative has a different meaning with Provinces and school districts in Canada.
However I must push strongly against your statement about Trump. He has never demonstrated any ability or real interest in actually getting policy passed. It is 100% about looks and attention. Anyone who trusts that he could work with the US Congress to pass anything substantial is not being realistic. It would only supercharge the hardcore fringe.
There’s a recent poll that the majority of Americans strongly disagree with gender ideology for children. The activist fringe is trying to hide these results and rebrand puberty blockers.
Ah yes. Trump's policies passed by Executive Order not through Congress, which made them easy for Biden to overturn. (BTW: Obama did the same thing.) And yes, Trump is a master showman who excels at playing up his achievements (however temporary or fraught with difficulties). Unfortunately, Trump's policies are not popular with many Republicans (RINOs?) as well as Democrats. Therefore, the likelihood of him getting bills through Congress - whether mostly Dem or mostly GOP - is bleak unless Americans can convince/pressure their congress people to vote for them. Re the poll you mentioned: I'm glad to hear it. I sense the average Canadian, regardless of political affiliation, feels the same way but few are lobbying their Members of Parliament.
That's a good point.
You're overthinking—again. It's a tribal maxim that explains much of human behavior, more than political coalition building (and fracturing) does...
Exactly. If you read my response to Holly Hart, you'll see that I protest in my own way. I don't want to be associated with radical feminists because they don't represent my views.
Most protests are self-indulgent, attention-seeking orgies of anger and the least effective form of activism. In fact, they are often counterproductive. Why should anyone be bullied into joining a mob and putting out more hate into the world? Maybe this person wants to engage in something hopeful or constructive. A mob is a mob regardless of what they claim to represent. Also, cancelation is a real phenomenon. Going public with one's beliefs carries great risk, and therefore it's a private, personal decision that everyone deserves to be able to make on their own, free from bullying, coercion and harassment.