Response to "Cynical Libertarian Society": Stating the Obviouis

 
The following includes an unsolicited tirade from anonymous "Cynical Libertarian Society" (CLS) ostensibly in response to my recently published book, Eco-Nihilism: The Philosophical Geopolitics of the Climate Change Apocalypse. But, honestly, it's hard to tell. 

You can find the complete CLS post here:

 http://www.cynlibsoc.com/CLS/2017/05/stating-obvious-0429-mother-single-fathers-no-better-single-mothers/

I have quoted the opening segment in total--but warning, it is graphic:

Wendy Lynne Lee is opposed to free speech zones. Who the fuck is Wendy Lynne Lee? She’s an unattractive cookie-cutter femistatist cunt.

I am a writer. I chose philosophy as the best possible tool with which to wrench into being what I saw to be true, beautiful, and knowable–often uncomfortable compatriots.
I have been intimately involved in the feminist movement, the queer identity movement, animal rescue, and the movement for an ecologically desirable future for many years.
I am a mother, a daughter, and an ally.
I’m a union member. I tattoo my experience and my commitments on my arms. I am a vegetarian. I have worked very hard for the movement to end industrialized fossil fuel extraction.
If I must sum up some semblance of my commitments and values, I might say this:

Beauty–over mere survival.
Wisdom–over willful ignorance.
Compassion–over smarmy indolence.
Wit–over mendacity.

Laughter–over every fucking evil thing.
https://www.blogger.com/profile/17591185266607991768

She has published three books. No surprises here.

Eco-Nihilism: The Philosophical Geopolitics of the Climate Change Apocalypse
On Marx
Contemporary Feminist Theory and Activism: Six Global Issues
https://bloomu.academia.edu/WendyLee

She is very confused about what violence is.

The denial of healthcare is an act of violence.
Bombing Yemeni children is an act of violence.
Vomiting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is an act of violence.
https://thewrenchphilosleft.blogspot.com/2017/04/

When Hussein Obama murders Muslims with missiles launched from flying robots that is not violence. That is enlightenment for Hussein Obama is The Messiah, The Lightbringer, The Source Of The Cum Wendy Swallowed For Eight Years. All Hail The Messiah!

I tried to post a response to CLS at the website--but while he/she solicits comments, there's actually no mechanism for posting.

So I'll post my comment here, and then say a bit why I think it's important--sometimes--to confront folks like this.

Dear Cynical Libertarian Society:

It is most unfortunate that you're neither cynical nor a libertarian. First, mere name-calling isn't cynical; it's cowardly. It's the first indication that you have no argument to make. And you certainly don't disappoint!

Second, libertarians are among the most vocal opponents of free speech zones. They argue that cordoning off speech into safety zones is a violation of the first amendment--and they're right.

What's just laughable here, however, is that you call me a cunt, but then go on to make abundantly clear that you have absolutely no idea at all what I write about or why. In fact, you jump ship to another indecipherable topic altogether.

I do have to thank you. Posting your incoherent rant has generated even more interest in my new book, Eco:Nihilism: The Philosophical Geopolitics of the Climate Change Apocalypse.

It will also make an excellent example of the fallacy "ad hominem" for my students this Fall term.

If I'm irritating self-proclaimed Nazis like yourself, I must be doing something right.

But, hey, that's stating the obvious.

Cheers,

Wendy Lynne Lee 

I think it's tempting to hold the view that the best response to self-avowed misogynist bigots like this (presumably) gentleman is to just ignore them. Sometimes that's the case. But since the election of Donald Trump as president, I think we have a responsibility to get much braver than we've been in the past. I think, in fact, that we must confront bigots like this one for the following reasons:

1. They're in charge. Anyone who thinks that these plainly hate-filled rants are not mirrored--however much more gentile the language--in the worldview of people like Steve Bannon, or in ideologies like "economic nationalism" and "Make America Great, Again!" just isn't paying attention.

2. When we don't take a stand we allow for this kind of rhetoric to become normalized. Perhaps we think these are "just words." Absolutely not. Words like "I think the Muslims hate us," "grab them by the pussy,"  and "I don't want poor people in my cabinet" helped to get the willfully ignorant in chief elected to the presidency.

3. Our silence makes us complicit. You don't have to be a member of the Progressive Left to see what's wrong in this fellow's characterization of women, of Obama. And even a cursory scan of his website makes clear that the only people he thinks should get to speak, to act, and to rule are white men who share his dark worldview. We let that go at the peril of far more than mere hypocrisy.

4. Screeds like this are opportunities. CLS is neither unusual nor particularly more obscene than many of the blogs that litter the alt-right blogosphere. They offer us the chance to show thinking people just how violent and tyrannical is the far right--and how close it is. It is a pristine opportunity to exercise the right to free speech by showing through reason and evidence just how malignant and dangerous is the worldview at least some of those who support the Trump regime.


There is no cordoned off "free speech zone" in cyberspace--at least not here, not yet.

So my hope is that CLS will see this and respond. To him I say: bring it on. 

My greater hope is that my readers will take that opportunity as well. 

Letter from a "Fan"

Photo Wendy Lynne Lee

Sometimes you have to let the opposition speak. 

I was recently confronted while out shopping by a rather animated gentleman (see pictures--sorry about the quality) who recognized me. In the interest of fairness, I agreed to post his opinion and I offered my email address. 

This is what appeared.

Dear Miss. Lee,

As a property owner and a proud American patriot I resent your constant opposition to the god-given rights of people to make money off the blessed bounty of natural gas that lies under our feet. My great- great grand-dad was amongst the first real Americans who came to this county to bring civilization and the ethic of hard work to an untamed wilderness. Before that this place was nothing - everybody knows that. My people built it into what it is today. As an outsider not born here, you probably would not understand that. I live on the same ground my hole life and know everything I ever needed to know without ever needing to go to far. Its outsiders like you who are hell bent on taking away our rights to live free and make money on our land as we see fit.

Why you libtards think you can come to our area, live here for 10 or 20 years and then tell us what the Lord gave us is not ours to use is beyond me. My family has been here since the beginning. If it was up to you my grand-dad would of never had a job cutting all the trees down during the lumber years.  And know what? You can look out your window and see that, no matter how many trees they cut, it all grew back. That is how the lord takes care of his people, but YOU atheists would not know that now would you? It is the same with natural gas – the lord provides a bounty for those with brains enough to use it anyway they see fit. To not use it is a waste and waste is a sin (everybody who reads the bible knows that). Maybe you should try reading the bible instead of other books written by commies and ignorant intellectuals.

Photo Wendy Lynne Lee

I, for one, am tired of you tree-huggen Obama lovers crying about climate change. Climate change is in the bible, ever hear of the great flood?  THAT was climate change and it made the world better as it got rid of all the perverts and dumber animals like the dinosaurs who could not swim. So, if there is climate change it will probably get rid of people like you who are ruining our country and do not respect our rights.

If I want to put a gas well or a pipeline or nuclear power plant on my land THAT IS MY RIGHT! If you don’t like it than you can plant some trees or put up a fence so you don’t have to look at it. And if you don’t like the smell of a compressor station – TOO BAD! I might not like the smell of whatever you burn on your stove next door but that does not mean I can tell you what to COOK!!

My flag tells me this is still a FREE country and, if you don’t like it, you are FREE to MOVE. Perhaps you might want to try one of those countries like Iraq or Iran who hate us and hate our natural gas. They want us to be superstious like them and slaves to there oil. Natural gas will keep us free and protect our way of life – everybody knows that! Except maybe libtard enviro wackos like you who think they are smarter than everyone who was here first.

Signed,

Benjamin Zene
Bloomsburg PA.