The concepts of merit, equality, objectivity, innovation, original thinking, skepticism, are casualties of the culture wars. I stopped identifying as a liberal when I realized that critical thinking and questioning ideas--two of the mainstays of intellectual freedom--are not allowed on the left any more than on the right. The further you gravitate towards either end of the political spectrum the more similar the tactics, the dogmatism, the rigidity. Demagoguery has always existed, but now belittling, shaming and attacking people we disagree with--complete with denunciations and attempts to utterly destroy them--are not only socially acceptable, but sickly viewed as heroic. The marketplace of ideas is contingent upon open and unfettered dialogue between differing perspectives and opposing points of view. The left touts diversity as an ideal, but does little to actually honor it.