They promise freedom but deliver a dangerous mix of radical Islam and socialism. Victor Davis Hanson points out the impossible contradiction at the heart of this new political alliance. He asks if upscale socialists really believe they can tolerate radical Muslims while supporting gay rights. The answer is no, yet they keep voting for the same people.
Victor Davis Hanson notes a perplexing trend in Western Europe and the United States. He sees an alliance between radical Muslims and traditional Marxists that should not exist. According to the Daily Signal, these groups hold views that directly clash with one another. Hanson asks if we truly believe people like Zohran Mamdani or Ilhan Omar accept LGBTQ+ rights. He points out that these leaders are often fervent Muslims who support laws banning such freedoms.
Think about what happens if a gay person tries to announce their pride in Saudi Arabia. Hanson asks if you really believe they would not be in serious trouble there. He notes that going to Iran to repeal sodomy laws would also bring danger. The Daily Signal reports that even in Egypt, forming a trans support group would cause trouble. These facts show the deep gap between Western socialist values and Islamic law.
Hanson wonders how a book editor in Manhattan feels about men dreaming of 72 virgins. He asks if this vision of sexual use goes well with a professional woman in Denver. The Daily Signal states that these upscale women ally with men who view them as tools. This alliance makes no sense on the surface, yet it drives our current politics.
The conflict runs even deeper than social issues. Hanson explains that Islam believes in Allah and that non-believers are doomed to hell. The Daily Signal notes that Muslims feel a duty to spread worship and loyalty to their God. In contrast, Marxists and socialists agree that religion is the opiate of the masses. They believe class struggle is harmed by people who believe in a God.
Christianity teaches that the meek are blessed and that social justice comes in heaven. Hanson says the Sermon on the Mount offers no help for the poor in this world. It tells believers to be morally better than the rich to enter heaven. But the socialist message is different. The Daily Signal reports that for them, there is no heaven and no God. They insist social justice must happen right now.
Marxists want the state to control the means of production. Socialists believe private property can exist but want the state to own utilities and railroads. Hanson highlights that these two systems want opposite things from society. One demands total loyalty to a divine power, while the other demands total loyalty to the state. They cannot both win in the same home or community.
