Critique a person who uses derogatory language towards the left and uses historical references to support their argument.
Telling people to shut the f*ck up and calling them ignorant is the lefty version of civility here I guess.   Lots of us have read Gramsci, and the writings of the Frankfort School, and, yes, Saul Alinsky; we understand the communist march through the institutions.   Into the 50s progressive was a synonym for communist, and a "progressive person" was a trusted fellow traveler but in a position where s/he couldn't be an open, card-carrying member of the Party.  Liberal became the substitute for use in polite company during the Cold War years until failed liberal policies made liberal a pejorative as well.   The government schools had done a good enough job of revising and air-brushing history that by the 90s it was felt safe to go back to the term progressive.   Some of us do know history and know that you've exposed yourself as either ignorant or a liar, but I'm confident you just think of yourself as "educated."