Intellectuals don't honor Liberal values either

Blogblather continues to argue that "Patriotism, heroism, Western Civilization" and "Nationhood" have no value for him and, presumably, for anyone else. These are "abstract nouns" he declares, and "have as much substance as shadows."

These are indeed abstract nouns, but our nation's forefathers invested them with blood and meaning. If we set philosophy aside and examine our history, we can learn that.

The City Journal has an applicable article by Sol Stern. It is a book review of Paul Berman's The Flight of the Intellectuals and is entitled "The Intellectuals Keep Flying." It is subtitled "The New York Review of Books seeks to discredit Paul Berman." Berman writes, "It’s understandable that the book—and, indeed, all of Berman’s work since the 9/11 terrorist attacks—would discomfit The New York Review. Just as his 2003 bestseller Terror and Liberalism did, Berman’s new volume criticizes liberals for their frequent denials when confronted with violent assaults against their own democratic societies by radical Islamist movements. This failure of nerve Berman attributes partly to political correctness (excessive multiculturalism and moral relativism) and partly to cowardice. Berman’s main exhibit for the intellectuals’ “flight” from universal liberal values is two members of The New York Review’s all-star team: the aforementioned Timothy Garton Ash and the Anglo-Dutch journalist Ian Buruma. Berman skewers both writers for bestowing respectability on the self-proclaimed Islamic “reformer” Tariq Ramadan, despite his abhorrent views on women and gay rights and his tortured apologetics for radical Islam. While going easy on Ramadan, Garton Ash and Buruma scorn the courageous Muslim dissident Ayaan Hirsi Ali for her “enlightenment fundamentalism.” These impeccable liberals, writes Berman, “sneered at Ayaan Hirsi Ali for having taken up the ideas of Western liberalism and celebrated Tariq Ramadan for having done nothing of the sort.”

Note that Stern and Berman refer to "Intellectuals' flight" from "universal liberal values." These values aren't the ones I have listed, but that's okay, they reject them as well.

But, enough of "abstract nouns"; consider actual events: " Berman’s main exhibit for the intellectuals’ “flight” from universal liberal values is two members of The New York Review’s all-star team: the aforementioned Timothy Garton Ash and the Anglo-Dutch journalist Ian Buruma. Berman skewers both writers for bestowing respectability on the self-proclaimed Islamic “reformer” Tariq Ramadan, despite his abhorrent views on women and gay rights and his tortured apologetics for radical Islam. While going easy on Ramadan, Garton Ash and Buruma scorn the courageous Muslim dissident Ayaan Hirsi Ali for her “enlightenment fundamentalism.” These impeccable liberals, writes Berman, “sneered at Ayaan Hirsi Ali for having taken up the ideas of Western liberalism and celebrated Tariq Ramadan for having done nothing of the sort.”

Berman doesn't mention the abstract nouns Blogblather finds so objectionable, but he mentions womens' and gay rights. Surely these are dear to the heart of any "liberal" and yet Berman's exemplars, Ash and Baruma laud the Muslim Taraq Ramadan, even though he would sacrifice these liberal values and then scourges (figuratively) the already abused (by Muslims) Ayaan Hirsi Ali. If you are willing to send traditional American values skittering into the corner as shadows, what about Womens rights? What about Gay Rights? What about coming to the defense of a female refugee from Islamic abuse?"

Years ago I read Berman's Terror and Liberalism. Berman was no Bushite, but he couldn't swallow the slavish "Liberal" support of Saddam Hussein -- denied in words, those shadowy things, but advocated in deeds. Surely Liberal values must not be compromised in any treatment of Saddam Hussein and his evil regime, but compromised they were. Perhaps it has gotten easier over time. What worry about the violation of "Liberal Values," if they are shadowy worthless things like suitcases that can be packed with anything anyone likes?

This is why "history" is a better vehicle for addressing these matters than "philosophy." With philosophy blogblather can argue that there is no such thing as transcultural rationality -- and mean whatever he likes. But Ayyan Hirsi Ali has a history as does Taraq Ramadan and we can examine them, if we are willing, and see where they came from, what they have said, and what they are about. One loves the abstract value "freedom." The other seems awfully comfortable with Islamic values that are inimical to traditional "Liberal Values."

Will the Blogblathers of this modern world be convicted by the relation of these facts? Alas, no. They are willing to cast facts, as quick anyone can produce them, into the same dark corner they sent the traditional American values.