The left abandoned Syrians struggling for freedom because they were inconvenient victims

Syrians didn't fit their self-image of being cool for opposing American power and so they deserved to die

Syrians didn't fit their self-image of being cool for opposing American power and so they deserved to die

There's an interesting critique of the left that it focuses too much on empathy at the expense of effective policy.

There is definitely truth to this. In the past I would've resisted the idea of mandatory treatment for the mentally ill because it would feel wrong, as it would be coercive and rely on the police. But it could be working in NYC and should be explored as an option.

So I do see a problem in my own past with empathy trumping effectiveness.

But that can't be the whole story, because no one could have been more empathetic than the people of Syria demanding the freedoms and in return being targeted for annihilation by Assad.

The left did mobilize in response to Syria once.

It mobilized in response to Assad's gas attack in 2013. They mobilized to make sure nothing was done about it. They cheered when Obama said nothing would be done, that Syrians would be left alone to be slaughtered.

Why?

Syrians were inconvenient victims.

This is proven by the left being willing to protest for them as refugees. Because then they are passive and can be used to score points against American and European governments the left wants to be seen as rebelling against.

As refugees, as passive victims, the Syrians were acceptable victims.

As people demanding the rights we so often take for granted, as victims of Assad, Iran and Russia, they were to be ignored and silenced. It was wrong for them to ask for help, because that would make America look good if it did something.

That couldn't be allowed.

Syrians needed to die to keep the left's self-image intact, their blood sacrificed on the left's altar of purification from the sins of American power.

So no, I don't think it's empathy that drives the left.