Giving Shape to my Misgivings

### Reader’s Letter to The Guardian, 15th July 2024 ###

Dear Editor,

Bravo to Simon Jenkins: The assessment that he makes of the NATO summit (The Guardian, 15th July 2024, link below) and of the attitude of political leaders (e.g. Keir Starmer) corresponds exactly to my view.

So why can’t I express this view amongst my friends? I have to permanently “keep  schtum” to avoid being instantly tarred-and-feathered (verbally) as a despicable, Putin-lovin’ peacenik … regardless of any nuance that I might try to express.

Then I read Mehdi Hasan’s excellent outline of the “Maga-like” cult-mentality which has crept into the US Democratic Party (same edition, link below) where there is “no tolerance for questions or critical inquiry”. This made “the penny drop” for me …

My conclusion is that Maga-ism has materialised EVERYWHERE with self confessed “tolerant liberals” happy to trash people because they (mainstream liberals) feel so secure and sanctimonious in their view of the world. Unfortunately that is a world where wars are raging and we are tottering on the brink of potential uncontrolled escalation.

Many thanks to Simon and Mehdi for giving shape to my misgivings.

Yours,
Alan Mitcham

Link to Simon Jenkins’ article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/15/prime-minister-cheerleading-war-ukraine-starmer-iraq-nato

Link to Mehdi Hasan’s article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/15/democrats-joe-biden-maga