Letter 4: We have to trust people to make up their own minds about their beliefs and politics

This is my second letter in my exchange with Julie Bindel, in response to the question: "Can feminist causes be furthered by working with right wing or religious people and groups?

This is part 4 in a 6-part correspondence series between journalist, Julie Bindel, and myself. I am contributing parts 2, 4, and 6 here, at The Same Drugs, and Julie is contributing parts 1, 3, and 5 on her Substack, Misogyny: What is it and why won't it die?

I must admit I have always felt a bit lost in the debate about “allying with the far right,” as I can never figure out who this “far right” is and who it is that is “allying” with them. The controversy never starts at the beginning, with an explanation of what is actually happening out there and why it is a problem. What we too often end up with is an argument of rumours and virtue signaling, wherein some insist they would never ally with racists and extremists, implying there are others who are doing just that.

So I suppose before moving forward I would like to hear specifics. Who is the “far right”? What defines them in terms of policy proposals and aims? What does it mean to “ally” with someone? Who in the women’s movement is doing this? And, most importantly, what is the harm or concern, in practical terms, with regard to these purported relationships?

In terms of examples, you have mentioned a man named Tommy Robinson several times. I have explained that unfortunately I’m not familiar with his views or politics, so can’t speak to him with any expertise, but the truth is that I’m not really familiar with any “far right” characters or groups. I don’t know these people, I don’t know what their interests are, and as far as I can tell they are marginal, in terms of influence.

I’m from Canada, and such groups are all but nonexistent there. This is perhaps why references to the “far right” often feel like the boogeyman to me.

When Canadians apply the label “far right” more specifically, they attach it to the group of working class truckers who fought back against authoritarianism in Canada, demanding a return of our Charter Rights and Freedoms. American progressives joined in on this slander with enthusiasm, parroting Prime Minister Trudeau’s claim the Freedom Convoy was a “fringe movement” of misogynists and racists.

Canadian media have also attached the “far right” label to supporters of Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, the only mainstream politician that could inspire me to vote in the next election. Am I “far right,” in that case?

The answer, of course, is yes.

According to the Canadian left, I am far right. The reasons for this being that they don’t like me. The insinuation of either being “far right” or of “working hand in hand with the far right” exists for the purpose of scaring people away. Why should someone listen to my views on women’s rights, gender identity, pornography, free speech, or bodily autonomy when I am an evil far right extremist?

It is the way these terms are thrown around so casually and clearly as a means to libel groups and individuals that has led me not to give much credence to them.

If there is something that qualifies as “far right,” few seem to agree on what it means. Nor can we seem to explain what it means to “ally” with them.

Over and over I see feminists and leftists accuse women who appear on Fox News of “allying with the far right,” as though appearing on media platforms or panels equates to signing onto every view held by the host or fellow panel member. I have seen numerous feminists accuse women of “allying with the far right” on account of being photographed with men tarred with this label (whether these men are or are not “far right” is a mystery to me, as they are relative strangers and nobodies, and I don’t believe women’s beliefs and politics are defined by people they appear in selfies with, in any case). I have seen feminists accuse women of “allying with the far right” on account of the rumoured politics of their security team — a load of nonsense if I ever heard it, as though I have ever in my life vetted the politics of the bodyguards hired to protect me from violent trans activists.

I don’t care what beliefs or politics are held by people who attend my events, stand near me, want to take photos with me, interview me, or protect me from being killed. My work is to share my views and beliefs, and to fight for what I consider to be a more free, just world. Whoever would like to join me in that endeavour is free to.

Many leftists feminists, like you, say the left we see today, wherein men verbally abuse us and threaten us with arrest, censorship, and violence on account of our ability to define women as adult human females, are not the “real left.” And I wish that were true. But today, this is the left. This is what is endorsed and perpetuated by our progressive politicians, media outlets, and spokespeople. It should not be, but it is.

The answer to that reality is not necessarily to re-identify ourselves as right wing (unless you feel this is a good fit) — I myself have opted for the no-labels;no-ideologies route. I choose my beliefs, associations, friends, and preferred policies outside the limits of parties and ideologies. I advocate for truth, rationality, constitutional rights, civil liberties, sovereignty, and freedom.

Whether or not right wing men support women’s right to access abortion doesn’t make a lick of difference to me in terms of my advocacy for women’s bodily autonomy. I don’t hear anyone worrying that right wing men who stand too close to women’s rights advocates might catch feminism (yet I know some do, having witnessed many men expand their views on things like gender identity and pornography, based on conversations with women opposed), why are we treating women as naive pawns of men, so malleable they cannot think for themselves?

We need to trust people to make up their own minds, even if they make them up badly. That is how a free, democratic society works. We must allow open conversation and debate, freedom of association and expression, and work as hard as we can to ensure people have access to as much information as possible in order to make up their minds. And I believe one of the best ways to do this is to speak to and engage as many people as possible, regardless of what thoughts lurk within them.

With respect, as always,

Meghan