# "Unite the Right" white nationalist march: Ugliness on full display. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 12, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444 "2017-08-12T15:06:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/81 "2017-08-12T20:58:37Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Jesus, dude. Any hope for the fate of this country remains with the cooler heads prevailing, not an escalation of violence. I know. I have to stop watching the live reports. But I have spent my whole life fighting these fucks, and I’m not about to stop now. **Shodan** , I apologize for my intemperate outburst. It was totally uncalled for. I’m going to go pour myself a drink and think happy thoughts. Maybe of kittens. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/82 "2017-08-12T21:01:29Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Fuck their racist grievances and the horse Gen. R.E.Lee rode in on. That’s Traveler. The horse, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/83 "2017-08-12T21:02:20Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > It looks like ‘‘OK’’ to me. I think I’m being put on. It’s the O KKK symbol. It’s link to white supremacy movements is also a 4chan originated hoax according to the ADL. [https://www.adl.org/blog/no-the-ok-gesture-is-not-a-hate-symbol](https://www.adl.org/blog/no-the-ok-gesture-is-not-a-hate-symbol) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/84 "2017-08-12T21:03:23Z")
Listen, there’s no evidence Traveler was a racist. People really need to stop beating this… #sorrynotsorry ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/85 "2017-08-12T21:03:25Z")
At first I was taking a wait-and-see approach. Maybe it was just a scared driver who didn’t know nuthing from nuthing. But then I watched this: [https://twitter.com/brennanmgilmore/status/896434516260212737](https://twitter.com/brennanmgilmore/status/896434516260212737). I have no doubt that the guy knew exactly what he was doing. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/86 "2017-08-12T21:06:32Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > At first I was taking a wait-and-see approach. Maybe it was just a scared driver who didn’t know nuthing from nuthing. > > But then I watched this: [x.com](https://twitter.com/brennanmgilmore/status/896434516260212737). > > I have no doubt that the guy knew exactly what he was doing. You’re right. I can’t fathom how that was not intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/87 "2017-08-12T21:09:21Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > It’s the O KKK symbol. It’s link to white supremacy movements is also a 4chan originated hoax according to the ADL. > > [You are being redirected...](https://www.adl.org/blog/no-the-ok-gesture-is-not-a-hate-symbol) Except now it apparently has been ironically co-opted by white supremacists. Oh, internets. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/88 "2017-08-12T21:10:23Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > You know, Hitler has become such a punchline and such an internet Hail Mary I think maybe we’ve become desensitized to what the swastika actually represents. It represents the extermination of millions of people based solely on their race. There is no conceivably more monstrous symbol to proudly stand behind. That is precisely the danger of Godwinization that people have been warning about for a long time. By crying Hitler-wolf for over half a century, warnings about Nazism, fascism and the swastika now have no punch whatsoever. It’s been rendered nearly meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/89 "2017-08-12T21:11:44Z")
Here’s how a sociopath consoles a hurting nation with words of compassionate dignity: > [@Donald J. Trump](#): > > Am in Bedminster for meetings & press conference on V.A. & all that we have done, and are doing, to make it better-but Charlottesville sad! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/90 "2017-08-12T21:14:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > That is precisely the danger of Godwinization that people have been warning about for a long time. By crying Hitler-wolf for over half a century, warnings about Nazism, fascism and the swastika now have no punch whatsoever. It’s been rendered nearly meaningless. This is a weak whine. Yes, some people on any side will always exaggerate, and always have, and always will, and it’s fine to criticize such exaggeration and hyperbole. But it doesn’t excuse you or anyone from not opposing actual white supremacism and related ideologies just because you thought there were too many such exaggerated accusations in the past. It’s just an excuse and rationalization to ignore actual, real white supremacism. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/91 "2017-08-12T21:18:44Z")
Dudes matching around with Hitler quotes on their t-shirts and carrying swaztika flags. “Oh you guys call everyone nazis.” ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/92 "2017-08-12T21:26:17Z")
I didn’t mean to call out any particular ideology with that observation. While there’s certainly a problem with Godwinization, on the flip side Hitler has become such a common trope in pop culture that it is frequently a joke. I’m not saying making fun of Nazis is horrible and awful and should be banned, I’m just saying it’s the first time I’ve seen an _actual Nazi_ in broad daylight. The realization that this movement is not just a punch line or an internet talking point, but about actual living people who approve of the genocide of millions, was personally jarring. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/93 "2017-08-12T21:30:37Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Here’s how a sociopath consoles a hurting nation with words of compassionate dignity: I didn’t watch the original statement as i hate listening to Trump but CNN just replayed a portion and the fucker managed to brag about the unemployment rate. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/94 "2017-08-12T21:31:31Z")
Several years ago there was a Neo-Nazi demonstration on the steps of the state capitol building here in Topeka, Kansas. There was TONS of law enforcement, and lots of fencing that kept different groups apart from each other. At least three different counter protests, but one of those was the Westboro Baptist Church and they don’t count. I attended the NAACP rally, which was across the street from the capitol. On a hot summer day we couldn’t even take water bottles into the enclosure, and now I know why, after watching the video from Virginia. It seems to me that local law enforcement didn’t do a good enough job. They knew the potential problems but didn’t keep different groups apart. But I’d be glad to be proved wrong. If protesters of any ilk were carrying firearms they should have been arrested on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Amara\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7993a0/32.png) [@Amara\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amara_1)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/95 "2017-08-12T21:42:03Z")
This is how it should have been done; from the President of the United States in 1978: > [@](#): > > I must respect the decision of the Supreme Court allowing this group (the Nazis) to express their views, even when those views are despicable and ugly as they are in this case. But if such views must be expressed, I am pleased they will not go unanswered. That is why I want to voice my complete solidarity with those citizens of Skokie and Chicago who will gather Sunday in a peaceful demonstration of their abhorrence of Nazism It’s unequivocal both in supporting free speech as well as being clearly against Nazism. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/96 "2017-08-12T21:42:59Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > If protesters of any ilk were carrying firearms they should have been arrested on the spot. Is it illegal to bring a weapon to a protest? I agree the police force seems to have been unprepared for the ensuing shitstorm, but I don’t think you can arrest someone just because they have a gun, assuming they are carrying the gun legally. This country is crazy protective of gun rights. OTOH, maybe guns were banned from campus? Is the park actually on campus, or just near it? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/97 "2017-08-12T21:44:50Z")
I haven’t seen a duck in a long time. Maybe it’s time to update the “If it looks like a duck…” phrase for the modern times we live in. > [@](#): > > If it looks like a Nazi, talks like a Nazi and is chanting Nazi slogans, then it probably is a Nazi. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/98 "2017-08-12T21:49:06Z")
I did just hear on CNN that Virginia is an “open carry” state, so I guess calling for the arrests had no standing. IANAL but in open carry places are exceptions made for rallys like this? After all, there are places, like schools, churches, hospitals and so on, where firearms can be prohibited. Maybe we should all just take a deep breath in this thread and calm down. I hate to see Dopers snarling at each other. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/99 "2017-08-12T21:50:30Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Is it illegal to bring a weapon to a protest? > > I agree the police force seems to have been unprepared for the ensuing shitstorm, but I don’t think you can arrest someone just because they have a gun, assuming they are carrying the gun legally. This country is crazy protective of gun rights. > > OTOH, maybe guns were banned from campus? Is the park actually on campus, or just near it? It’s about a mile from the campus. Emancipation, formerly Lee, park is one block over from the downtown pedestrian mall. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444/100 "2017-08-12T21:51:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I didn’t watch the original statement as i hate listening to Trump but CNN just replayed a portion and the fucker managed to brag about the unemployment rate. It was [a Tweet](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896431205549318144). I realized after my post had timed out that I should have added a link, just to make it clear that I wasn’t making a parody joke at the President’s expense to make him look bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unite-the-right-white-nationalist-march-ugliness-on-full-display/793444.md?page=6)