Comment by SwellJoe
9 years ago
The problem with discussing Neo-Nazis in terms of free speech is that violence is their core value. They are explicitly, and not even secretly, organizing for the violent overthrow of the US government to impose a white ethno-state. If the President helps them along, all the better from their perspective, but they are not organizing to give speeches, they are organizing and training to commit mass murder.
The problem with that is where you draw the line, as most will simply learn which words not to utter and will signal their support in other ways.
Sure, that's a discussion worth having. But, I think it should be in terms of how we end white supremacist violence, and not in terms of how we defend white supremacists up to the point where they commit violence.
I'm not suggesting white supremacists don't, or shouldn't, have freedom of speech. But, unless you're also suggesting that Al Qaeda, Daesh, ISIS, whatever, should be able to hold recruiting rallies across the US as long as they aren't commiting violence at the rally, I think we probably agree that there are and should be limits to free speech if the speech is an incitement to violence.
Neo-Nazi groups are organizing and training for the violent overthrow of the US government to institute a white ethno-state. Right wing extremists are responsible for more terrorist attacks in the US than any other group (including Muslim extremists). Without acknowledging the violent nature of these organizations, we can't have a useful discussion about where the line is drawn.
That Al Qaeda can't get a permit for a rally tells us there is a line. So, why do we let Nazis step way past that line over and over?
> Neo-Nazi groups are organizing and training for the violent overthrow of the US government to institute a white ethno-state.
Is this actually happening? Asking genuinely as a Brit who's vaguely aware of the militia movement but not of any militant Nazi training camp regime.
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That's not the problem, that's the point. Sadly, those words inspire and convince some people. Words are how they recruit. I fail to see how how people fail to see this. Limiting the spread of such hateful ideologies is, IMO, a good thing. The government cannot take action to limit their speech in the US because of the first amendment. Which is probably, on balance, a good thing. Thus, it is up to citizens to to both condemn and take (peaceful) action -- such as not doing business with them -- to limit the spread of hateful ideologies.
> violence is their core value.
There are many groups which are accused of having violence as their core value.
e.g. The Nazi attacks on the Jews, who were alleged to be dedicated to the destruction of the Aryan race. That allegation was used as justification for "self defense", and attacking all Jewish people.
I understand where you're coming from, but we've seen what happens when people start picking and choosing which speech is allowed, and which is forbidden. The end result is the violence and genocide that they claim to hate.
Really? You're now saying people who oppose literal, self-proclaimed, Nazis, are just like Nazis. That takes incredible mental acrobatics.
What takes incredible mental acrobatics is the ability to read what I said, and not understand simple English.
You apparently believe that it's OK to suppress the speech of "bad people". My point is that such suppression is, in fact, similar to all oppressive regimes.
The reason the Nazis were bad is not just the genocide they committed, but the reasons behind the genocide. The idea that we can "get" the bad people has been used to justify all kinds of atrocities, world-wide.
Anyone who honestly opposes the "bad people" like Nazies should denounce their tactics. All of their tactics. Not just the violence, but the underlying idea that there are "bad people", who deserve all possible punishment, no matter how nasty or evil.
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