# What should be done in response to the White Power gesture being flashed on camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895 "2019-12-15T16:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/101 "2019-12-16T03:40:49Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You should come hang out with me at the Army Navy Country Club sometime and listen to the retired O-6s _still_ talk about Obama. It’s pretty clear that some of the comments I have heard are not based on high-minded policy differences. And I doubt they picked up those views upon retirement. Are all white racists the same as “white supremacists”? When I hear about “white national extremists” or “white supremacists”, I picture people like the neo-nazi mentioned in about 5 of Ascenray’s 8 links. That’s what I think of, and that’s why I wouldn’t say those types of people present a pervasive problem in the military. If we’re just talking about “racists”… that’s an entire different argument. There are a shit ton of racists. All kinds and all manner of racists. I would agree that “racism” is a pervasive problem in the military. Along with sexism. Maybe we’re just disagreeing about the degree of racism that makes a person a supremacist? I guess I don’t really know where that line should be. Or if there should be a line at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/102 "2019-12-16T04:00:35Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > This, except I didn’t know about the european part either. When did this happen exactly? > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Here in Peru it means “you’re gay”, especially if the middle-ring-pinky fingers are pointing down. “Go take it in the Ass” in Brazil. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/103 "2019-12-16T04:05:25Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > It’s very likely the students who did it will get expelled and I don’t have a problem with that (unless they can convince their superiors they were playing a different game. ) I watched this live and thought this very thing. I wondered how his parents, and whoever got him his appointment to the academy are going to feel about this. What an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![steepone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@steepone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steepone)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/104 "2019-12-16T04:55:49Z")
> [@justanothermike](#): > > The problem isn’t the people doing it. The problem is the outrage culture and ridiculousness that pervades our society where people are constantly looking for reasons to be offended so that they can be the savior and do-gooder to show how righteous they are by their outrage afterward. How easily people are manipulated by the media. It’s sad. Likely just a kid doing what kids do, playing a game whereby he now owes a punch to millions of people by being a goofball and having fun, and people want so badly to be trolled so they can get offended that it’s now a deal. 4chan proved how ridiculous people are in their reaction to things and for some reason people want to keep proving it over and over again. It wasn’t likely even trolling, you all just want to be trolled to have something to be offended at in order to be “better than”. I don’t think he should be punished, I think those that are reaching so far that they can be offended should be if they could be. This, this sign has been used for decades and I’ve never known it to mean white power, it has always just meant OK to me Just because someone somewhere decided they are offended by it is no cause to punish people who use it ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/105 "2019-12-16T05:23:31Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > The quoted statistic was, “About 22 percent of service members who participated in the survey last fall said they have seen **signs of white nationalism or racist ideology** within the armed forces”. So what percentage of that is actually white nationalism and not just racism? So if 1% of those who participated in the survey said they witnessed signs of white nationalism in the military and 21% witnessed racism, that’s 22 percent of saw one or the other. Was it two different questions? Or was it one question that just said, “Have you witnessed racism or white supremacy in the military? Because it it’s the latter, then white nationalism could be as low as 0% and there are just 22% who witnessed some form of racism. I’ve snipped your very long post so I can respond to the part directed at me. I think you are really, really anxious to stretch a point, and I’m not sure why. Your comment to **Ascenray** downthread indicates you don’t know what the difference between racism and white supremacy is. Why you wouldn’t you learn the difference before speculating that “only” 1% saw white nationalism and 21% saw racism if you didn’t know the difference? Maybe you erroneously thought my post was anti-US military and got defensive. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: I have tremendous respect for our military and want to see those trying to use its training for their own despicable white nationalist ends out of there. I want it almost as badly as military leadership does. Even if you’re baseless speculation is accurate, which I doubt, 1% is still a hefty number when you consider white supremacist and white nationalist groups encourage members to infiltrate the military and specifically seek people with military training for leadership positions. The FBI realized this was an issue back in 2008, [as Stars and Stripes reported](https://www.stripes.com/news/neo-nazis-excluded-from-military-service-by-policy-but-concerns-persist-1.483558): > [@](#): > > A 2008 FBI assessment titled “White Supremacist Recruitment of Military Personnel since 9/11” found just over 200 identifiable neo-Nazis with military training. > > Military experience “ranging from failure at basic training to success in special operations forces” was evident throughout the white supremacist movement, the report said. > > “FBI reporting indicates extremist leaders have historically favored recruiting active and former military personnel for their knowledge of firearms, explosives, and tactical skills and their access to weapons and intelligence in preparation for an anticipated war against the federal government, Jews, and people of color,” the report added. and military leadership recognizes it today. In fact, the army just got rid of an acronym that has long been used by the Army Black Knights: > [@](#): > > Athletic director Mike Buddie said head football coach Jeff Monken addressed the team in September after learning about the phrase’s roots and told them it would immediately be removed from the program. According to Buddie, Monken was “mortified” and planned to use the instance as a “teaching moment” for his players. > > “It’s embarrassing, quite frankly,” said Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the superintendent of the United States Military Academy. “… We take stuff like this very, very seriously. Once I found out about this goofiness, I asked one of our most senior colonels to investigate.” If you prefer to think Monken and Gen. Williams are over-reacting or too sensitive, do let them know. And if you want to play around with percentages, be my guest. Meanwhile, if you truly care about the military, as I do, then you’ll stop trying to argue the issue doesn’t exist and will see white supremacy in its ranks as military leaders do: a threat that is bad for the military and bad for the USA. Let’s get 'em out of there. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/106 "2019-12-16T07:04:05Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Maybe we’re just disagreeing about the degree of racism that makes a person a supremacist? I guess I don’t really know where that line should be. Or if there should be a line at all. It honestly never occurred to me that we would be talking past each other on the basis of whether there are racists would notdare make a fairly covert signal. I mean, it isn’t like they are doing a Nazi salute in the pictures. Now, once again, the gesture is ambiguous and I can see that is could be innocent horseplay or racist horseplay. As I said before, an investigation is in order before declaring anyone guilty — but I’m sure not going to declare anyone innocent at this stage either. Let me use another example. The number 88 is associated with neo-Nazis. It is possible that if you see the number 88 dropped in to a conversation, it could be a subtle signal to those communicating on the same wavelength. Or, the person could be a big Dez Bryant fan. But just because 88 is a popular number for wide receivers going back generations, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a nefarious meaning in some contexts. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/107 "2019-12-16T08:27:49Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > I’ve snipped your very long post so I can respond to the part directed at me. I think you are really, really anxious to stretch a point, and I’m not sure why. Your comment to **Ascenray** downthread indicates you don’t know what the difference between racism and white supremacy is. Why you wouldn’t you learn the difference before speculating that “only” 1% saw white nationalism and 21% saw racism if you didn’t know the difference? Maybe you erroneously thought my post was anti-US military and got defensive. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: I have tremendous respect for our military and want to see those trying to use its training for their own despicable white nationalist ends out of there. I want it almost as badly as military leadership does. > > Even if you’re baseless speculation is accurate, which I doubt, 1% is still a hefty number when you consider white supremacist and white nationalist groups encourage members to infiltrate the military and specifically seek people with military training for leadership positions. The FBI realized this was an issue back in 2008… I don’t think I’ve made myself clear. Firstly, I know the difference between racism and “white supremacy”. My comment to ravenman was based on his statement about the retired military personnel at his country club expressing racist views. I wanted to make sure we are all on the same page with respect to what a white supremacists is. If someone believes that every white racist is, by definition, a white supremacists then that pretty much ends the discussion. My stance is not that there are no racists in the military, but that “white supremacists” are not a “pervasive problem” in the military. I didn’t state that I don’t know the difference between the two, just that I don’t really know where people are drawing the line, nor do I have a hard belief on where that line _should_ be drawn. I find it important in a discussion like this to ensure we are all working off the same distinction. Secondly, I am not being defensive. I don’t view any of these comments as anti-military. Finally, I don’t think you understand my point about that statistic. The question lumps racism and white supremacy together. I wasn’t “speculating” on what the actual percentage might be. I was trying to point out the fact that the statistic is meaningless. If I conducted a survey asking participants if they travelled to either Florida or Europe last year, and 22% answered YES, that doesn’t actually suggest 22% of the people traveled to the Europe. It isn’t improper of me to point that out. It’s a lazy, and possibly intentionally loaded, survey question. And it isn’t just white supremacists and neo-nazi groups looking to recruit veterans and infiltrate the military. Street gangs and cartels are doing the same thing. I am not denying these things. I just disagree about how “pervasive” this problem is in the military. The Pentagon seems to agree with me based on the statement in Ascenry’s cite. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/108 "2019-12-16T08:39:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > It honestly never occurred to me that we would be talking past each other on the basis of whether there are racists would notdare make a fairly covert signal. I mean, it isn’t like they are doing a Nazi salute in the pictures. > > Now, once again, the gesture is ambiguous and I can see that is could be innocent horseplay or racist horseplay. As I said before, an investigation is in order before declaring anyone guilty — but I’m sure not going to declare anyone innocent at this stage either. > > Let me use another example. The number 88 is associated with neo-Nazis. It is possible that if you see the number 88 dropped in to a conversation, it could be a subtle signal to those communicating on the same wavelength. Or, the person could be a big Dez Bryant fan. > > But just because 88 is a popular number for wide receivers going back generations, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a nefarious meaning in some contexts. But not every racist is a fan of Hitler. If someone made a racist comment, I wouldn’t automatically assume they are a white supremacists. If they were signalling with discreet 88s and the like, then yes, I would consider them white supremacists. I’ve met the former in the military. I’ve not seen the latter. You said that the retired O6s at your country club made comments about Obama that were not based on his politics. That alone does not strike me as prime evidence the speaker is a white supremacists or a neo-nazi. I’d think they were racist, sure, but not necessarily a neo-nazi. Do you disagree with that? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/109 "2019-12-16T08:51:57Z")
> [@](#): > > If you prefer to think Monken and Gen. Williams are over-reacting or too sensitive, do let them know. No, I don’t think they were over-reacting. Calling it “Goofiness” and having it removed is by no means an over reaction. But did you intentionally leave out the fact that: “A two-month investigation by the military found that the motto as used without knowledge of its origin and had nothing to do “with the views or beliefs of white supremacist groups or any other disreputable organizations with which they might also be associated,” according to an executive summary of the investigation’s final report.” > **[Army Football Motto Had White Supremacist Origins](https://www.athleticbusiness.com/operations/legal/article/15158459/army-football-motto-had-white-supremacist-origins)** > > The Army football team will be coming up with a new team motto after it was brought to administrators’ attention that its current motto originated with white supremacist gangs. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/110 "2019-12-16T12:29:40Z")
I would expect West Point to have a freshman talk, orienting cadets to the rules of conduct they are held to while in and out of uniform. By now, I would also expect this talk to specifically address this hand gesture. There is no reason any of these students should ignorant about its connotations. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/111 "2019-12-16T12:36:28Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I would expect West Point to have a freshman talk, orienting cadets to the rules of conduct they are held to while in and out of uniform. By now, I would also expect this talk to specifically address this hand gesture. There is no reason any of these students should ignorant about its connotations. I wonder how the “THEY ARE JUST PLAYING A GAME!!” contingent would feel if West Point and similar institutions decide to prohibit cadets from playing this game while in uniform. I would be OK with this since the hand gesture would then officially become a stupid game with a stupid prize. Rather than just a stupid game. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/112 "2019-12-16T13:33:29Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I wonder how the “THEY ARE JUST PLAYING A GAME!!” contingent would feel if West Point and similar institutions decide to prohibit cadets from playing this game while in uniform. I would be OK with this since the hand gesture would then officially become a stupid game with a stupid prize. Rather than just a stupid game. Personally, I’d be perfectly okay with that. In fact, I hope they do. It was childish and unprofessional _way_ before it was ever controversial. While I agree that “there is no reason any[one]… should [be] ignorant” about it’s potential for controversy and of the way it could be perceived by others, the fact is, many people _are_–new and old soldiers alike. The incident was brought up at work today and there were several soldiers who commented, “Wait, what!? People think it’s racist!?”. This came from a senior NCO with almost 17 years in the Army. There are others, still, who simply brush aside any insinuation that the gesture has or could have anything to do with White Power, and believe that such a perception is an issue for the offended to deal with, not for _them_ to care about. So, it’s more than possible for soldiers–especially new cadets–to be either completely ignorant or completely apathetic to the potential White Power perceptions, connotations or interpretations of their gestures. I can’t explain how some people can be ignorant of this. I only know that they are. I predict that an Army wide, if not DOD-wide, policy letter will be coming soon. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/113 "2019-12-16T14:01:22Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Meanwhile, if you truly care about the military, as I do, then you’ll stop trying to argue the issue doesn’t exist and will see white supremacy in its ranks as military leaders do: a threat that is bad for the military and bad for the USA. I _do_ view the issue as military leaders do. I _am_ a leader in the military. I think our zero tolerance approach is working just fine, which is why I don’t think there is a “pervasive problem”. If someone is identified as having extremist views, they are punished and kicked out. If those views involved criminal activity, they are arrested and prosecuted. An Army private with far-right extremist views was arrested for [“distributing information related to explosives”](https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-military-struggles-weed-out-members-far-right-ties) in Kansas a few months ago. These incidents are few and far between and do not constitute a pervasive problem. Speaking for the Pentagon, Jessica Maxwell states, “Out standards are clear; participation in extremist activities has never been tolerated” and is a punishable offense. If the military were tolerant of white supremacists, if it ignored complaints or reports, or tried to sweep things under the rug to protect careers, or if it otherwise fostered these views among it’s personnel, then I would agree there is a pervasive problem. But this is not the case. When such people are discovered, they are dealt with. Offenders are not “reassigned” or moved. They are punished and removed from service. > [@](#): > > Let’s get 'em out of there. Agreed. And that is exactly the policy of the US Military. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/114 "2019-12-16T15:57:04Z")
Guys, you can be concerned when a white man tells you that you can be concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/115 "2019-12-16T19:11:36Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > You said that the retired O6s at your country club made comments about Obama that were not based on his politics. That alone does not strike me as prime evidence the speaker is a white supremacists or a neo-nazi. I’d think they were racist, sure, but not necessarily a neo-nazi. Do you disagree with that? Without putting much thought into it, I’d say neo Nazis generally support Hitler; but not all racists support Hitler. I’m having a hard time thinking of a useful distinction between someone who is racist and someone who is a white supremacist. Maybe to some, a white supremacist implies a connection to an organization… but I’m not sure that’s universally accepted. On first blush, if someone thinks blacks are bad, it seems a natural corollary to assume that they think whites are superior, so how does that not translate to white supremacy? To be clear, I see the point you are making, but my take is that we’re really splitting hairs on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/116 "2019-12-16T19:33:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Without putting much thought into it, I’d say neo Nazis generally support Hitler; but not all racists support Hitler. > > I’m having a hard time thinking of a useful distinction between someone who is racist and someone who is a white supremacist. Maybe to some, a white supremacist implies a connection to an organization… but I’m not sure that’s universally accepted. On first blush, if someone thinks blacks are bad, it seems a natural corollary to assume that they think whites are superior, so how does that not translate to white supremacy? > > To be clear, I see the point you are making, but my take is that we’re really splitting hairs on the matter. A white supremacist wants to use force of arms to eradicate, or at least subjugate and enslave, all non-white residents of the US.(Never met one in 20 years in the Navy, not withstanding Bear\_Nenno’s views on that organization] A racist can be someone who makes his juniors who happen to be non-white work twice as hard to get the same evaluation. (Have seen that behavior several times, and have seen it stamped out each time). Check out the ADL definition of White Supremacy. I don’t want to post a link, because this is a work computer. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/117 "2019-12-16T20:18:34Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > A white supremacist wants to use force of arms to eradicate, or at least subjugate and enslave, all non-white residents of the US… > > Check out the ADL definition of White Supremacy. Errrr… that’s not what’s on their website. > [@](#): > > White supremacy is a term used to characterize various belief systems central to which are **one or more** of the following key tenets: 1) whites should have dominance over people of other backgrounds, especially where they may co-exist; 2) whites should live by themselves in a whites-only society; 3) white people have their own “culture” that is superior to other cultures; 4) white people are genetically superior to other people. As a full-fledged ideology, white supremacy is far more encompassing than simple racism or bigotry. Most white supremacists today further believe that the white race is in danger of extinction due to a rising “flood” of non-whites, who are controlled and manipulated by Jews, and that imminent action is need to “save” the white race. Fair point that this definition is more than just passive bigotry. But it says nothing about eradication, and subjugation/enslavement is just number one of several definitions, and it doesn’t seem to entirely fit within the text posted. (E.g., a race can be “dominated” without being enslaved.) ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/118 "2019-12-16T20:44:10Z")
I see this, and the reaction to it, as strong incentive for white supremacists to highjack other hand gestures. It only takes few more before people start seeing racism everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/119 "2019-12-16T20:57:29Z")
I’m hoping “thumbs up” is next. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895/120 "2019-12-16T22:22:35Z")
Lord Jesus. It’s a perfectly innocent symbol that has been used for years and years. I don’t care if a relative handful of people started using it for their own shitty purposes. They don’t get to determine what a symbol means at large. I could say that the peace symbol now means you support human trafficking. How many of you would suddenly stop using it? Hopefully none, because that would only give me power over you. Screw that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-in-response-to-the-white-power-gesture-being-flashed-on-camera/844895.md?page=7)