Know Your Enemy

More Mailbag, More Friends [Teaser]

Sep 26, 2024

04:52

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Tash Lewis, a Dissent co-editor known for her engaging insights, joins the conversation. The pair tackles some stimulating listener questions on leftist politics intertwined with orthodox Christianity. They discuss how to cultivate hope within socialist movements during tough times. Freud's teachings get a fresh perspective, and family politics bring in some humor and complexity. To top it off, Tash serenades Matt with a delightful rendition of 'Happy Birthday' in Welsh, adding a personal touch to the lively dialogue.

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Quick takeaways

Cultivating hope in leftist movements requires active engagement, transforming feelings of defeat into proactive efforts for change.

Acknowledging complicated family politics and grappling with orthodox Christianity can aid in understanding diverse perspectives within leftwing ideology.

Deep dives

Maintaining Hope Amidst Defeat

Remaining hopeful in the face of political defeat is a significant theme in leftist movements. Many individuals within these movements often find themselves comfortable with feelings of defeat, leading to an abdication of responsibility when it comes to instigating change. It is essential to transform this sentiment into a proactive drive to continue the struggle, much like the principle articulated by Joe Hill, who urged people not to mourn but to organize. Historical instances, such as labor strikes that evolved from mourning into mobilization, illustrate how grief can catalyze collective action against oppressive systems.

Cultivating Hope Amidst Defeat

4min

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Matt and Sam continue the 100th episode extravaganza by answering more truly excellent listener questions and hear from more friends of the show. Topics include: leftwing politics and orthodox Christianity, how to maintain hope (especially on the socialist left), learning to love Freud, complicated family politics, and more! Plus: Dissent co-editor Tash Lewis sings "Happy Birthday" to Matt in Welsh.

Sources:

Charles Péguy, Portal of the Mystery of Hope (1911)

Wesley Hill, "After Boomer Religion," Commonweal, April 29, 2019

Herbert McCabe, "The Class Struggle and Christian Love," in God Matters (2012)

Matthew Sitman, "Against Moral Austerity: On the Need for a Christian Left," Dissent, Summer 2017

Dan Walden, "Gender, Sex, and Other Nonsense," Commonweal, March 1, 2021

Peter Gay, Freud: A Life for Our Time(1988)

Pat Blanchfield, "Death Drive Nation," Late Light, Nov 1, 2022

Casey Blake and Christopher Phelps, "History as Social Criticism: Conversations with Christopher Lasch," Journal of American History, Mar 1994

Sam Adler-Bell, "Beautiful Losers," Commonweal, Mar 11, 2020

— "Jews in the diaspora must resist the inhumanity being done by Israel in our name," New Statesman, Nov 29, 2023

— "Good Enough," The Baffler, April 2024