While mostly accurate, Zak Moore's op-ed ("Elitism, Not Intellectualism," Oct. 5) misses some very important points. As an "ultra-liberal" elitist, I would like to point out some of those glaring deficiencies. Like my fellow "pseudo-intellectual" associates, I am indeed an atheist; but as Moore neglected to mention, we also worship Satan (we do run into ideological hypocrisy worshipping Satan while still rejecting the existence of God, but we manage).
I hate all religious people, including my parents, who spend hours each week at the Hindu temple they helped to construct in Des Moines, Iowa.
On the subject of Iowa, my home state, I hate it, along with all other states in the Midwest, the South and the West. Actually, I will just say it: we ultra-liberal types hate America, and everything about it. As Monsieur Moore (since we hate America, we never use the word "Mister") suggests, we hate America's culture, heritage and history. Second -generation immigrants like myself even hate that this country accepted our parents with open arms. Yes, in our Satan-worshipping, South-bashing, English-pastry-eating gatherings, patriotism is in fact "derided as a kind of propaganda." Monsieur Moore did, however, fail to mention that we also beat up small children who wear red, white or blue clothing.
Oh, and Monsieur Moore accurately pointed out that we love Noam Chomsky, but I think he may have missed the point; we actually worship him. Literally, we pray to him. Maybe that's how we get around the whole Satan-worshipping/atheism paradox mentioned earlier...
Aside from Monsieur Moore's criticisms of my ideology, I do feel that he and I share certain theoretical foundations. Yes, I will endlessly lambaste the United States' policies and citizens; but aside from that, I share his belief that any criticism of an institution suggests an absence of both love and loyalty and ought to be suppressed immediately. We also both believe that all members of an institution should rigidly subscribe to a specific set of values. In Moore's view, that seems to mean an utter "reverence for God and religion," and disapproval for cultural relativity; in our case, it means devil-worshipping and ritual animal slaughter.
Despite the shortcomings that I elucidated above, I am glad that Monsieur Moore and I generally agree upon the existence of this political archetype that will soon overrun the campus. While his opinion may have been unfavorable towards my comrades and me, we still appreciate his opinion -- in a very condescending and arrogant fashion, of course -- for so accurately describing a vast portion of this campus and this country.
Moore has followed the lead of authors like the enlightened Ann Coulter, author of such books as, "Slander: Liberal Lies about the American Right;" "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must);" and "Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism" (is there a recurring theme here?).
Often, people from both sides of the political spectrum attempt to paint one side into a ridiculous caricature that really represents no one or almost no one. This sort of caricaturing generates apparition-issues that do nothing to further serious political debate. It warms my heart to know that Moore chose not to construct the threat of a phantom political faction; instead, he highlighted a real liberal-elitist movement that we hope gains in popularity and eventually upends the American political system and way of life.
I wish Monsieur Moore all the best, and please do not be offended if you happen upon us while we drink the blood of a slaughtered patriot.
