This still seems to fall under general “un-American activities”. The Dies Committee wasn’t just targeting Commies, although they did it with more relish than when going after any other group, they targeted any organization bent on overthrowing the constitutional order.
I actually think there’s a reasonable argument for going back to that, but I think it first requires acknowledging that maybe they had a point.
Did she miss Skokie?
Why the ACLU defends shitty people. They’re talking here about that asshole Milo, but I think the implications for Nazis are clear.
I do. I want such nastiness out in the open where it can be lampooned, derided, and ridiculed for the hate speech it is rather than fester in secrecy. Let those who say such evil be seen and then be publicly known.
I don’t need to know WHO the racists are, anymore than I need to know who any of you are on this board. What I do need is for your ideas to be out in the open so i can rebut them. What possible reason could I have to need to know who any of you are?
I agree, but the premise only works if there is sustained and explicit derision from the highest places.
That is the problem right now- our highest leader is not only NOT giving vigorous opposition, he has let it come into the WH and have his ear. That’s why people are more afraid today- the threat seems more real, more credible, more plausible. The more credible the threat the more vigorous the opposition.
We are 100% in agreement on that.
You have my sympathies. There’s a high probability my husband and I, who are white, will be adopting a child of a different race (we put on the form we are open to any race, and the numbers game will likely have it shake out that way), and we struggle daily with how we are going to prepare the kid to live in a world full of that much hate.
The people in this thread who have minimized the ideology and actions of white supremacists should be utterly ashamed of themselves. While I am an advocate of free speech, this egregious display of hatred might be called the ‘‘worst case consequence’’ of our first amendment rights as currently framed. The constitution prevailed, they got to hold their shitty protest, and people died. They are not victims of oppression, they are human scum.
I’ve made great efforts to try to understand the motives of Trump supporters and give them a benefit of a doubt, but there is absolutely no excuse at this point. Your President just failed to condemn white supremacy. Do you fucking understand this? He took a lukewarm approach toward people openly and proudly advocating genocide.
This is an academic argument that I see from time to time, but I don’t think it holds water. I don’t really see how the rhetoric of one group violently dominating others gets ‘lampooned’. It’s a joke only to the people who aren’t the ones who have to bear the cost of the violence. To those who are the subject of hatred, it’s just not a laughing matter at all. They’re not interested in watching an SNL skit about it. They just want it to stop so they can go on chasing the elusive ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and equal protection under the law.
I disagree. Look at the reaction to Thatcher’s Poll tax for an example. The sustained derision was started and maintained at the lowest levels, and migrated upwards.
Sure it does. If it is public knowledge that Jane Bloggs is a racist, are you more or less likely do do business with her? Employ her? Socialise with her?
I didn’t say started at the highes levels. The highest levels here has not vigorously come out against this. And since the Nazi supporters themselves are saying this is Trump’s promise made real, there is even a greater need for him to come forward.
James Alex Fields, photographed hours before he drove into a crowd and killed at least one, wielding a white supremacist group’s shield in a crowd with other white supremacists in preparation for the white supremacist rally.
Yes, it’s reasonable at this point to assert that the white supremacists are responsible for the vast majority of yesterday’s violence.
I remember the tired requests from John McCain, when he was running for president, to please knock off the “he’s a muslim!”, etc. I wish we were seeing some equivalent now.
ETA: re: not seeing condemnation from the top.
Yes, all the peaceful Nazis peacefully assembled (from all over the country, it seems) were attacked by Antifas who sprang up in Charlottesville with a bigger crowd. And this poor youg guy was just trying to get away when he accidentally plowed into the crowd. Give me an effin’ break.
I am Jewish. Dozens of my relatives were killed in the Holocaust. You’re an idiot.
Yes, let’s let the govt run amok disregarding people’s rights.
That is excellent and always works out well.
What could go wrong?
Does “fascist apologist” cover the folks who wish for the police to act as jury and executioner for their fellow citizens?
Or is that a different flavor of asshole?
I guess this should put the whole “false flag” thing to bed. There are pictures of the driver with the “Vanguard America” group, who, as you can imagine are not nice.
One does not have to support Nazis to be opposed to the gov engaging in summary executions of its citizens.
One can be opposed to both simultaneously afaict.
I beat you by 29 minutes and 5 posts.
In the context of this thread what you said then makes you look like a useful idiot. Read the OP again and be aware that you are at least grossly mistaken about what you are defending here.
I am defending the right of people to have any political view at all. I am also defending the right of people to demonstrate for any political view without being violently attacked. No matter how misguided or vile the political view is. That is an absolute. And that also includes leftists waving red flags and hammer/sickle regalia, symbols under which a few more of my relatives were killed.
If those opposed to the Nazis held this view, the Nazis would not get what they wanted - enormous exposure that will only, unfortunately, help them in their recruitment.