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The Emotional Appeal of Political Crusades
Sowell peppers his discussions of crusades with the following phrases, some of which I find funny in a dry, wit sort of way. Moral superiority, moral indignation, moral melodrama, cosmic justice, heady crusades and my personal favorite, moral exhibitionism. On the subject of how pursuing moral crusades gives people a sense of purpose and meaning, Sowell said, quote, people's lives lack meaning, which must be brought to them by the anointed via various political crusades or social activism. He also says it is especially important to weigh costs against benefits when there is crusading zeal and heady rhetoric in favor of something virtually everyone regards as desirable.