https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/06/opinion/leftists-happy-coates-haidt.html ("Can the Left Be Happy?") You are correct Mr. Douthat. The "left" as you would refer to us (as a slight, a derogatory term) are unhappy. But it is not with life itself that we take exception. Rather it is with those who do not treat life with the respect it deserves.
Your response is excellent and so well presented. I might add, having read about the horrors and atrocities that Tony Judt's book deals with ("Post War--a history of Europe since 1945"(, my response to Mr. Douthat would be that much of the horrific postwar atrocitiesdescribed in the book were committed by Russian troops, and sanctioned by Stalin, (the raping of thousands of German women, and the execution of civilians.) The Russians of today have returned to that same playbook of terror, employing those gruesome tactics within Ukraine, again raping of thousands of women, and the execution of civilians. Putin's opponents, whether they are in Great Britain or within Russia, are assassinated by poison or bullets. It is Mr. Douthat's own Republican party that is supporting these horrific events. His trite title "Can the Left be happy" should really be "Can the Right really care about humanity?". How can his taunting and disrespectful words pass muster to get even printed in the New York Times? His party has blood on its hands. --RE
Your response is excellent and so well presented. I might add, having read about the horrors and atrocities that Tony Judt's book deals with ("Post War--a history of Europe since 1945"(, my response to Mr. Douthat would be that much of the horrific postwar atrocitiesdescribed in the book were committed by Russian troops, and sanctioned by Stalin, (the raping of thousands of German women, and the execution of civilians.) The Russians of today have returned to that same playbook of terror, employing those gruesome tactics within Ukraine, again raping of thousands of women, and the execution of civilians. Putin's opponents, whether they are in Great Britain or within Russia, are assassinated by poison or bullets. It is Mr. Douthat's own Republican party that is supporting these horrific events. His trite title "Can the Left be happy" should really be "Can the Right really care about humanity?". How can his taunting and disrespectful words pass muster to get even printed in the New York Times? His party has blood on its hands. --RE
Thank you! Well stated clear response.
Mr. D has an axe to grind and makes inane conclusions.
Any young or old person with awareness and empathy regardless of politics would be concerned with current climate events and geopolitic happenings.