Suppressing criticism of comrades betrays rather than expresses solidarity
Evidence
For some years I have thought that one simply could not do so, that dissenting speech would probably be a betrayal of that solidarity. More recently, though, I have come to believe that such a position of willed neutrality is politically wrong, morally indefensible. Said, after all, continues to pursue his vocation in the circumstances given to him, which is his wonderful way of answering his would-be assassins. Those of us who admire his courage and yet disagree with him on substantive issues also have to carry on our own critical pursuits. Suppression of criticism, I have come to believe, is not the best way of expressing solidarity. — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 631
Categorization
Category: Contrarian or Surprising Claims
- XREF: Potential methodological note for the strategic essentialism essay: Ahmad models critique-within-solidarity vs the willed neutrality he abandoned.