Within Reason #56 Susan Neiman - Left is Not Woke
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Feb 18, 2024 Susan Neiman discusses her book 'Left Is Not Woke' and the clash between emotion and logic in defining left-leaning values. They explore identity, intersectionality, being Jewish, and challenges faced by the left like proto-fascism and the climate crisis.
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Woke Used as a Right-Wing Slur
- The term "woke" has become a slur used by the right to attack those fighting discrimination.
- Susan Neiman distances her book from right-wing instrumentalization by affirming her socialist stance and avoiding right-wing media.
Core Left Principles Explained
- Leftists believe in universalism, justice, and progress, distinguishing them from reactionary views tied to "wokeness."
- Social rights are a key leftist value, equal to political rights, beyond the liberal focus.
Wokeness: Mixed Emotions and Assumptions
- "Wokeness" combines left-wing emotions supporting victims with reactionary assumptions about fixed identity.
- It mistakenly assumes identity groups determine political allegiance, e.g., ethnic background deciding political views.