Rule for Criticizing the Left in Academia

(1) Do not criticize the left

(2) You may--and probably should--criticize the left for being insufficiently radical. This criticism is, in fact, always permissible. It actually means: we need to be more like we are than we are. You absolutely must make this criticism at least occasionally.

(3) Absolutely positively never ever criticize the left for being too far left.

(4) If you do criticize the left for being too far left, make it clear that you "agree with their ends"--you are "just concerned that" their means are not going to be effective.

(5) The most important way of not being effective is: helping the right; the primary and in some sense only way in which the left can fail is: helping the right.

(6) If you do criticize the left in any way that does not reduce to I'm afraid they may end up helping the right--and, to be clear: never, ever do that--you must clearly say--before, during, and after your criticism: But the right is worse. Or: At least they're better than the right.