You've outlined some of the misgivings I have about his writing style... it went from a blog to an article and then back. He at least did get to these points and they were clear enough... but the things in the first bold you quoted, he didn't need to write that. However I think this was supposed to be somewhat a personal anecdote/personal synopsis of events that affected his reasoning... I think full disclosure, this is fair. We've all had these run-ins in the US with these movements and it's affected the landscape around us in very significant ways. Unless you're hiding indoors 24/7, you can't leave the house without seeing signage or some other weird phenomenon brewing in the streets... especially if you live in the city as I do. I went to college in MD (a very blue state) and I can only imagine the conversations there now that I am gone back to TX... still, I wouldn't vote for Trump. Though I can understand where it would push many people to do so. I do agree with him that there are some things about the left movement(s) that are anti-intellectual, just like there are on the right... that for me is key to staying sane this election.
I did appreciate the other points he made that supported his reasoning based on those personal anecdotes (can't stomach left-wing propaganda, etc). It weakened his eventual arguments to pivot that direction, but I think he could've made his points fine without those explicit blanket statements. Not fair statements to make, but it is part of an explanation, so I guess full disclosure... he's had some bad history... I don't think a persuasion piece is the intention of this 'article' (which I'm not sure if it is a article or a blog given the writing style) ... given his distaste of the opposing arguments there... which personally, I feel are fair given the amount of hypocrisy and propaganda being generated by this election from both sides. It's hard to
not have a strong opinion on those matters... as they are meant to speak to the individuals in this country and force confrontation between the two opposing views.
An aside, I personally felt his response on the sexual comments... it
did deserve a little bit more than
just a nod. Especially for someone like myself, a woman
I want to know why it's OK to
touch my body parts without my consent. There's so much written on it now, you either agree or disagree it's a tell-all of a sexual predator... because men do exaggerate in these discussions... after all, he is surrounded by women who would welcome it because of his wealth, so there's potential with more context the statement could change meaning... still ... I've been groped, in the waters in the Gulf of Mexico of all places where I am surrounded by a few men and no friend in sight (it was at the beach), with no way to swim away. I was terrified. It brings back unpleasant thoughts for many women like myself and I don't think these statements are funny or amusing, in light of the
potential seriousness of that matter... though I do appreciate (and agree) the argument that it shouldn't be tried in the media... that said, personally I can't think I could vote someone president who speaks in this manner... not given my past experiences.
It's an amazing thing to behold, living in the US, a first world democratic country in modern times... but I think this election is something that will be talked about for many years to come and many books and textbooks will probably more succinctly cover it's developments and the social issues will get a more scholarly approach as time goes on (again... one can only hope!)... which I look forward to receiving in a more digestible format than "Secure our borders!" "Lawsuits!" "Racism and sexism is everywhere!" "OMG, it's Weiner!"
Cue the medieval heckler.