Freedom of Speech (did I miss something?)

[Archon_Wing]

The only 2 sides here are fascists and those that oppose fascism. Just because a group calls itself antifa doesn't mean everyone that is anti-fascist has to answer for them, as they do not hold a monopoly on opposing fascism. just as Athiests don't have anything in common besides the lack of believing in a God. In the end, these neo-fascists should be condemned even if not everyone opposing them was squeaky clean. So "alt-left" doesn't mean too much, as the range of people that oppose fascism can be quite huge and not all of them are delightful; the allegations of hypocrisy don't work, and Trump not outright condemning these White Nationalists is not analogous to "anti-fascists" not condemning Antifa or whatnot. OTOH it is funny we have the "both sides are the same" breeding extemenism somehow. Honestly, I have come to realize that's been a really bad thing to say on many issues as people really stop caring and think everything is the same when it often is. But then sometimes it isn't. I guess in an effort to not offend anyone, you offend everyone?

And I'm not entirely opposed to violence either-- certainly if one of these neo-fascists decides to heckle people then they do deserve what's coming to them should others defend themselves, or..... others defending those that can't. If say FIT were to get in a fight with a Neo-fascist (purely hypothetical!), I would most likely take his side in most scenarios. But when you see stuff like Antifa coming to an abandoned rally and bascially look for a fight, that's just a bit hard to sympathize with. I mean in previous riots they broke people's stuff that had nothing to do with the target of their scorn.

Good insight. I'm not a pacifist either, when it comes to defending yourself from *real* physical violence. But, the current campus illogic is that the bad people (choose your totalitarian extremism) use hurtful words, and hurting the psyche is akin to throwing a punch, so you are justified in your physical retribution.

I guess it is a part of this time of intellectual deconstruction where our youth are torn between nihilism (belief in nothing) and existential totalitarianism( choose your cause, then beat people to death with it). Perceived threats, from men, environmental, xenophobia, etc. result in class being converted to masses by use of compelling propaganda.

Right-wing and left-wing politics are commonly thought of as being opposed, but I feel they represent different expressions of the same ideological spectrum and often function according to the same series of fundamental epistemic and anthropological falsities.

Whichever the lie, is it any less tragic that our children are at each other's throats, rather than looking to find common ground? The antifa vs neonazi clash is as ignorant an extremism as is possible if the face of the blood and body count left in the twentieth century by their representative bankrupt totalitarian ideologies. Unless you are utterly ignorant to the point of Guinness book of world records levels, or pathologically evil, you wouldn't find any shred of credibility in those agonizing pathways to annihilation.

Rather, I see the two sides being creative builders, verses various malevolent destroyers. Which would you rather to be the legacy of our children?

Well, it'd be definitely awful to punch someone over a disagreement. Maybe it's the influence of the internet? I mean I've had a few dipshits threaten to beat me up over an argument (even here lol!) though naturally it's as silly as it sounds. Although as you'd expect I'd imagine it's always the people that have never experienced actual violence that are the ones that encourage it casually, and usually when it does happens it turns out to not be as cool as it is on TV. Even if you were "right"

But the main thing I have is that all this seems to be an excuse. As in sort of a pretext for violence as opposed to any real disagreement. It's like people are pissed so they just need any excuse to go fuck shit up. The entire alt-right seems to be based around this with their war on the "establishment". Of course, a lot of well-meaning revolutionaries have learned the hard way (even as of late) that destroying everything doesn't always solve the problems. Arab Spring, French Revolution, etc. And really, the most telling part, is that the pro-statue demonstrators weren't mostly there to talk about the statue either. I mean that's the same as me saying "Someone stole Jews will not replace us! Blood and Soil! Oh, I'm here to protest my cookie being stolen. Oh and Jews! " But then again you see that shit over even something like sports. So it's not surprising.

It is perhaps true that the extremes have more in common with each other, and the respect for human life and dignity is probably the standard of which to judge.

That being said, I do think the NeoNazis and Racial Nationalists are only held back because of legal and societal obstacles as it is just not inherently peaceful and the recent normalization of it could worsen. But at least people are aware of this to some degree. I think the debate comes down to rather our current system of laws as well as the morality of our present society is able to resist this kind of nonsense. Though exactly where is this level nis a point is a contention