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The Right Side of History?

Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2024
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by Outside Contributor
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Honest questions: When was the last time that being on the right side of history meant lauding the failed assassination attempts of a duly elected president? When was the last time that being on the right side of history meant publicly encouraging the harm of those who voted differently and propagating self-harm to spite the perceived opposition?

I’ve been an American citizen for three decades, but I am a Bengali immigrant born in Libya. Perhaps it’s a language barrier; English is my fourth language after Bengali, Arabic, and Hindi, though it is the language I’m most comfortable with today, the language in which I defended my doctoral dissertation. Perhaps I’m missing some context somewhere, nuance reserved only for the most discerning, sophisticated Americans, of which, possibly, I am not.

I genuinely want to understand how the most militant calls for violence can come from those preaching peace and love and how the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive Americans can seek forcefully to install ideological uniformity exclusive and inequitable to those who think differently.

A curious pattern emerges when examining historical movements and their participants’ certainty about being “on the right side of history.” This phrase often serves as a rhetorical tool to claim moral superiority without requiring deeper justification. Throughout history, many groups, convinced of their moral righteousness, turned out to be remembered for their errors and crimes.

The Spanish Inquisition believed they were saving souls. Supporters of slavery cited religious and scientific “proof” of their position’s correctness. Supporters of eugenics, including many leading intellectuals of the early 20th century, believed they were improving humanity. Communist regimes responsible for millions of deaths were sure they were creating a more just world, cosplaying as clairvoyants equipped to assess the present through the lens of the future as if it were the past.

The pattern continues, with various groups declaring themselves “on the right side of history.” This declaration often signals a concerning unwillingness to engage with counterarguments or consider the complexity of issues. It can lead to dehumanizing opponents and justifying harmful actions in service of supposedly righteous ends.

The phrase itself reflects a misunderstanding of how history works. History isn’t a straight line of moral progress with straightforward “right” and “wrong” sides. It’s a complex interplay of competing ideas, circumstances, and consequences that often become clear retrospectively. Claiming to be on the right side of history before the present reaches the future has historically been one of the most obvious signs that we are not on the right side of history.

We must ask why this phrase has been so popular throughout history in all its translations and adaptations. What is there to gain by feigning prescience? They say hindsight is 20-20, and retrospect is often unquestioned and unchallenged. If present-day actions could be as unquestioned and unchallenged as retrospect, it becomes easier to convince the masses that their best interests are in mind within those actions. It also becomes easier to convince the masses that contrarians have the worst interests of the masses in mind.

Although unethical, brainwashing the masses to believe that we are on the right side of history is the most efficient and often the most effective approach to garnering unwavering support. If we are indeed on the right side of history, we wouldn’t have to try so hard to convince the masses that we are.

Given the breadth and depth of historical context, it may be time to consider the possibility that those who weaponize cancel culture and character assassination against dissent may not be on the right side of history, especially if they are precluding their position as being on the right side as a given, like communists, eugenicists, enslavers, warmongers, etc. of the past. The mental gymnastics that have been employed to justify harm toward dissent and propagate self-harm to spite the perceived opposition, calling for violence in the name of peace, are akin to historical examples of indoctrination.

Moral progress typically comes from the willingness to acknowledge complexity, remaining open to change — not being overconfident in our righteousness. Admirable historical figures often expressed doubt and wrestled with difficult questions rather than claiming absolute certainty.

Thus, for anyone willing to respond, assume blissful ignorance, and help a Bengali immigrant who was born in Libya understand how justifying harm toward dissent and propagating self-harm to spite the perceived opposition, calling for violence in the name of peace, equates to being on the “right side of history.”

Nafees Alam is an assistant professor in the school of social work at Boise (Idaho) State University. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

Reprinted with permission from DC Journal – By Nafees Alam

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.

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Max
Max
17 days ago

The Bottom Line — The American nation has forgotten about the foundation that the Founding Fathers built this nation on — the BIBLE, the Word of God. Until there is national repentance, the repealing of laws that go against the Word, this nation will continue to suffer chastisement and eventually judgement if the situation becomes worse. The nation has been given a reprieve for the moment but what will the nation do?

bill
bill
17 days ago

America would be far better off if more natural born citizens displayed the level of patriotism as this author does.

TexasResister64
TexasResister64
16 days ago

This is the most brilliant statement I have read in the wake of the past year of prevarication by the left, when you characterized them as “cosplaying as clairvoyants equipped to assess the present through the lens of the future as if it were the past.” A perfect definition of playing at “being on the right side of history.”

Lyne
Lyne
16 days ago

You give no context for who, what, where, when this “Right side of history” comment came from. Yet the article is topped by a photo of President-Elect Trump.
Who are you claiming as saying they are on the “right side of history?”
I find your article extremely confusing with no context provided.

David Millikan
David Millikan
15 days ago

Better to be on the right side of history than under Communist democrats. The past 4 years speaks volumes on being on the wrong side of history which will live in infamy. Our children will remember the past 4 years of hell and they will warn their children.

Neal M Christensen
Neal M Christensen
16 days ago

There is no right or wrong side of history. There is only history.

Pat Brannan
Pat Brannan
16 days ago

That’s a great article. I believe most Americans don’t believe the authoritarian leaders are on any right side. Be it freedom, gender ideology, or climate crisis, their stands are , in reality, a product of their superiority complex. In a world that works harmoniously, “the greatest will be the servant of all.”

johnh
johnh
15 days ago

All people should know history , so they can determine their own version of right & wrong. But, one thing that confuses me is that some some of the worst atrocities in history have come from the hands of some religious groups. I WILL ADMIT THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN & THAT IF ALL RELIGIONS FOLLOWED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, what a wonderful world we would have for all.

Melinda
Melinda
16 days ago

Thanks for a thoughtful philosophical article that explores the topic thoroughly.

KEN KING
KEN KING
17 days ago

THAT IS THE TRUTH OF IT ALL . YOU HAVE SAID IT WITH THE REALITY OF HOW IT TRUELY DOES RAISE THE TRUTH OF IT FOR ALL OF US TO TRUELY THINK ABOUT IT .STOP AND ???? THINK FOR YOURSELF.

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