Ideology Crashes into Reality

The invaluable website, Twitchy, ran an article today on the Democratic Socialists of America's hawking of t-shirts through their Twitter feed.  The shirts are for sale, even though the DSA tries to pretend that they are given in exchange for a donation, like a PBS tote bag.  One Twitter user posed the obvious question, "Why aren't they free?"

It reminded me of two other instances where people purporting to hold firm convictions compromise them when confronted with the real world.

V for Vendetta is an anarchist movie, based on an anarchist graphic novel, by anarchist Alan Moore.  Yet when you tee up the DVD for an evening's enjoyment, you are confronted with this familiar image:

Alan Moore may self-identify as an anarchist, but that doesn't prevent him from calling on the government, specifically the FBI, to protect the income he derives from his art.

The other case is the Shady Maple Smorgasbord, an all-you-can-eat buffet in East Earl, PA.  It serves some of the best food in Pennsylvania and regularly draws huge crowds.  The owners are a family of Mennonites that eschew the use of violence, either in war or to protect their own persons and property.  Yet there are signs throughout the dining room stating that all food must be consumed on the premises.  Removing any food from the restaurant is considered shoplifting and will be reported to the police.  In other words, they are perfectly willing to enlist others to protect their property by force, or the threat of force.