THE LEFT SHOULD GET LOUDER
Perception is Everything

A couple of years ago, I watched on C-Span a fascinating “debate,” ostensibly about the role of religion in public life, between Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz and right-wing talk show host, Alan Keyes. Dershowitz, a much better debater than Keyes, quickly tightened the noose: “the Bible can be used to prove almost any proposition,” and, therefore, is an unsuitable foundation on which to base policy. Indeed, the arbitrary nature of religious authority and interpretation is the major reason why our founding fathers erected what Thomas Jefferson called “a wall of separation between church and state.”

The fascinating thing about the exchange, however, was Keyes’ response, and the reaction of much of the audience, composed primarily of college students. Instead of rebutting Dershowitz’s argument head-on, Keyes passionately proclaimed his dedication to his Christian values, raising his voice, pounding the podium, invoking the fiery evangelical preachers seen on TV all hours of the day. A surprising number of audience members vocally expressed their support for Keyes’ hot-tempered rhetoric. To all appearances, Keyes had scored some debating points by simply ducking and yelling.

In short, the “debate” reinforced something I have long known. Conviction and passion are the most effective rhetorical tactics when persuading Americans—the majority of our countrymen embrace their most cherished beliefs not because of careful, rational thought and contemplation, but because of emotion and authority. The public schools prepare us to believe “experts” and leaders readily and unquestioningly; our primate-derived genetic heritage makes us susceptible to the display of extreme emotion: thinking is impeded by both societal structure and human nature.

Thinking is also tedious and not very fun. America’s mass media drenched environment offers a menu full of quick laughs and cheap thrills, but little else—even the news is now more “infotainment” than informational. Why think when TV can think for you? Why have TV think for you when you don’t have to deal with thinking at all? Don’t be so serious; you’re spoiling all my fun.

Furthermore, distrust of both intellectuals and their challenges to conventional wisdom seems to be part of America’s historic character. A nation of pioneers and frontiersmen had little need for philosophers and unmasculine Ichabod Cranes—besides, their fancy talk sounds like a bunch of hooey. Traditionally, many Americans prefer plain, simple speech and ideas.

It shouldn’t be this way, but it is.

The right wing clearly has an instinctive understanding of the demagoguery that Americans seemingly crave. The left, on the other hand, loves to talk about ideas, and tends to be boring; it also tends to engage in off-putting elitism and arrogance, an albatross around the necks of many outspoken liberals. Unless American progressives can rediscover the rousing rhetoric of William Jennings Bryan and other populists of bygone eras, unless the left can learn to do a better job of speaking to the common man, we can expect conservatives to dominate the public discourse.

Fortunately, I am now seeing signs of liberal anger and emotion, but the trickle must turn into a torrent. Liberals must become louder and simpler in their rhetoric. I know that I have addressed this subject before (most notably, when praising Michael Moore’s Oscar night speech back in March, here and here), but I feel that I need to keep pounding away at it. Being right is not the same thing as being perceived as being right: in America, perception is everything.

Don’t be nice. Don’t back down. (Don’t talk down, either.)

Get mad.

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