I am a new subscriber here and I’ve enjoyed all of the articles and interviews so far, especially one entitled “A better way to disagree.” But when I listened to this interview with Bibi, I was struck by an unconscious hypocrisy. It seems Barry Weiss finds it easier to talk the talk, than walk the walk. I’m referring to her condemnation…
I am a new subscriber here and I’ve enjoyed all of the articles and interviews so far, especially one entitled “A better way to disagree.” But when I listened to this interview with Bibi, I was struck by an unconscious hypocrisy. It seems Barry Weiss finds it easier to talk the talk, than walk the walk. I’m referring to her condemnation of Donald Trump‘s meeting with Kanye West, and Nick Fuentes.
Barry Weiss seems affected by the same malaise that has been poisoning main stream media for the past 20 years. She takes the view that, rather than engaging and speaking with people, with whom you deeply disagree, you should shun them because some ideas and people are just too reprehensible.
That idea is at the heart of toxic practices like the de-platforming, shadow banning, censorship, and cancel culture. It underwrites foul journalistic practices like guilt by association and smearing of reputations. I believe it is responsible for our deep level of political polarization. Worst of all, it is a lazy, easy dodge, and a short cut to virtue signaling.
It’s no good to say that some people are simply incorrigible and it’s advisable to shun and ban them. Simply consider the case of of Daryl Davis, a black blues musician who spent 30 years meeting with - and befriending- members of the Ku Klux Klan - to astonishing effect. His courage changed minds and indeed countless lives.
As counterintuitive as it seems, Bari should have stood up for Donald Trump‘s meeting with those two lunatics. Not because she believes in what they believe, but she believes that talking with your political opponents and enemies is a far better solution than any other.
If we do not engage with people with who would deeply disagree, we have no opportunity to dissuade them of their opinions, and politically we become far more polarized. It is difficult yet essential for us to talk with people with whom we deeply disagree: our democracy depends on it.
I am a new subscriber here and I’ve enjoyed all of the articles and interviews so far, especially one entitled “A better way to disagree.” But when I listened to this interview with Bibi, I was struck by an unconscious hypocrisy. It seems Barry Weiss finds it easier to talk the talk, than walk the walk. I’m referring to her condemnation of Donald Trump‘s meeting with Kanye West, and Nick Fuentes.
Barry Weiss seems affected by the same malaise that has been poisoning main stream media for the past 20 years. She takes the view that, rather than engaging and speaking with people, with whom you deeply disagree, you should shun them because some ideas and people are just too reprehensible.
That idea is at the heart of toxic practices like the de-platforming, shadow banning, censorship, and cancel culture. It underwrites foul journalistic practices like guilt by association and smearing of reputations. I believe it is responsible for our deep level of political polarization. Worst of all, it is a lazy, easy dodge, and a short cut to virtue signaling.
It’s no good to say that some people are simply incorrigible and it’s advisable to shun and ban them. Simply consider the case of of Daryl Davis, a black blues musician who spent 30 years meeting with - and befriending- members of the Ku Klux Klan - to astonishing effect. His courage changed minds and indeed countless lives.
As counterintuitive as it seems, Bari should have stood up for Donald Trump‘s meeting with those two lunatics. Not because she believes in what they believe, but she believes that talking with your political opponents and enemies is a far better solution than any other.
If we do not engage with people with who would deeply disagree, we have no opportunity to dissuade them of their opinions, and politically we become far more polarized. It is difficult yet essential for us to talk with people with whom we deeply disagree: our democracy depends on it.