Why We Should Listen to Bari Weiss

The New York Times staff editor and writer Bari Weiss has caught global attention with her new article on the “Intellectual Dark Web”. Titled “Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web” in it she profiles a group of people who say “that which cannot be said". The Left Wing is criticising Weiss for trivialising and endorsing activities of a fringe group which thrives on creating a conversation around issues most would dare not endorse. But we must understand that Weiss is merely an observer here, who wants us to open our ears and mind to people who do not hold opinions similar to ours.

Yes, the member of Intellectual Dark Web hold views on issues like feminism, the radicalisation of Muslims and gender dysphoria which may come across as distasteful to many. Some of these views border on outrageous, while others demand a patient, passive and inclusive conversation.

But despite making it clear that she does not associate with the IDW, why are people reading in between the lines of her article?

Weiss is not a member of the IDW. She has merely documented their profile. People are calling Weiss an insider, who wants to normalise a hatred spewing conservative, yet popular cult. This is not the first time Weiss has been criticised for air-brushing conservative outlook or writing articles which have a strong alt right colour to them. All this criticism about her latest piece on social media got me very excited. Hence, I approached her article with a mood likening to that of the Grinch around Christmas.

But amusingly, I failed to find her work offensive. Weiss has tried her best to keep her profile from coming across as a homage to this group. In fact, at the end of her piece, Weiss openly comes out against the IDW.

She says, “I get the appeal of the IDW. I share the belief that our institutional gatekeepers need to crack the gates open much more. I don’t, however, want to live in a culture where there are no gatekeepers at all.”

She further shares, "given how influential this group is becoming, I can’t be alone in hoping the IDW finds a way to eschew the cranks, grifters and bigots and sticks to the truth-seeking." Despite these strong words people are panning Weiss for writing a "glamorous" profile of an alt right group.

The conversation should be more about her article and its subjects than Weiss herself

Instead of offering constructive criticism over her piece, people are busy bashing Weiss. To me she appears to be the kind of person who is defensive about those who endorse views not acceptable to the modern and sensitised world at best. She thinks that these "iconoclastic thinkers" deserve to put forth their views and though we may not like what or whom she is putting under the spotlight. But then we may be afraid of what is staring back at us.

Bari says in her article, “The boundaries of public discourse have become so proscribed as to make impossible frank discussions of anything remotely controversial.”

Today, we are merely making a choice between left and right, instead of balancing them out. There is this deep divide and we are under pressure to pick sides. Why do we have to pick sides? Why is it not possible for us to stand on that divide and objectively point out where each side is going wrong?

The root cause of all social and political bickering on social media is our unwillingness to listen to what those who oppose us have to say.

We stop listening to other’s opinion the second they say a word which doesn’t sit right in our definition of left or right. But do we ever try to make out why a person identifies with left or right-wing school of thought? Do we try to have a patient conversation stripped of any judgement with that person? No. Isn’t that a sign of intolerance?

Weiss merely has painted a portrait of the IDW. Their surprising fame, their struggles, their personal views and even their political affiliations. However, instead of studying it and putting her subjects under scrutiny it has all become about Weiss and what she writes. All she is doing is to ask questions we do not want answers for.

Picture Credit : YouTube

Also Read :If you are a woman and if you have an opinion, you will be threatened: Gurmehar Kaur

Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are author’s own.