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Liberal Tolerance: The apostasy of David Mamet

Posted March 27, 2008

Blogger’s Note: It is becoming popular to be liberal again. The Echo Boom kids — the "participation trophy generation" — are heading into college. And they are likely to vote. Untainted by the realities of having to make a living, running a business, or pondering one’s place in the global market place, they are embracing not just the retro fashions of their late hippie-era parents’ bygone youth, but also the ideological cast-offs of the Carter-era, as they are served up by the Democrats’ presidential contenders. According to them, a world run by liberals will be one of social justice, effortless prosperity, and universal goodwill among men.

Given idyllic visions of Liberal Paradise, those who are questioning long-held beliefs suddenly become worse than even the Republican infidels. They’re traitors to the cause… apostates even. I found this wonderful analysis on an Australian blog site.

by Janet Albrechtsen

Why the shock when a smart guy decides to think about issues and changes his politics? It is not just in Islam where apostasy is a capital offence.

Judging from the reaction to David Mamet’s self-proclaimed conversion from liberal to conservative politics, apostasy is also a mortal sin in the arts world. Declaring that he is no longer a "brain-dead liberal", the famed American playwright performed the ultimate act of treason. After turning his back on a lifetime of progressive beliefs, Mamet was flayed for staining his artistic credentials.

Just one question: why does an artist - whether a playwright, a painter or a writer - have to subscribe to left-wing views to make good art?

First to the conversion. Writing in The Village Voice last week, Mamet looked to John Maynard Keynes who, when chastised for changing his mind, famously replied: "When the facts change, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"

Mamet changed his opinion after he did some reading for his latest Broadway play. In November, he pits a corrupt, selfish, money-grabbing, realistic president against his left-wing, lesbian, utopian-socialist speechwriter.

Read on here!
 

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