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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow Civil Should We Be In The Face of Institutionalized Hatred?
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2018/06/24/how-civil-should-we-be-in-the-face-of-institutionalized-hatred/How Civil Should We Be In The Face of Institutionalized Hatred?
by David Atkins
June 24, 2018
The civility police have been hyperactive this weekend, monitoring and tut-tutting the response to Trumps deplorable policy of family separation and other outrages. We are told that comparing actual fascist politics to Nazis is bad form (even though Mike Godwin of Godwins Law approves). Both David Axelrod and the Washington Post are clutching their pearls over Sarah Sanders being asked to leave a restaurant.
Its very important to certain parts of the liberal intelligentsia that we treat Trumpists and their fellow travelers with kid gloves out of respect for the norms, or some other such TipnRonnie Sorkinist nostalgic daydreams.
Meanwhile, heres what Trump actually did today:
We cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country, Mr. Trump tweeted while on the way to his golf course in Virginia. When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came.
It was another twist in an already head-spinning series of developments on immigration after the president reversed a policy last week that had resulted in the separation of more than 2,300 children from their families.
The President of the United States, upset that his policy of ripping babies out of the arms of mothers seeking asylum was rejected, argued for extrajudicial deportations today. This is the same administration that has been dehumanizing immigrants, comparing children to gang members and insisting they will become future criminals, and seeking to denaturalize citizens by finding fault with their paperwork.
To paraphrase the old Holocaust era chestnut, first they came for the Muslim immigrants. Then they came for the Hispanic immigrants. Then they came for the children of the immigrants. Then they came for the naturalized citizens. Now the President wants to cleanse the country of non-white immigrants using extrajudicial means.
Just how far will this go until well-heeled tone police start to realize that resistance means, well, actually resisting rather that sighing loudly over brunch, typing a few words of disappointment onto social media, and then lecturing the young that they should vote in greater numbers?
Passion begets passion, enthusiasm begets enthusiasm, and the future belongs to those who do more than just talking about putting up a fight against authoritarian fascism. It belongs to those who actually do something about it.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)would have been entirely different
GetRidOfThem
(869 posts)He was grappling with the ethics of "doing something" about Hitler. He came down to the conclusion that an assassination is necessitated. As we all know, also from the movie, it did not go over well, and the coup failed.
But the ethical question was raised by him and his co-conspirators: At what point does taking a life save lives?
This is similar go the civility question: At what point to we pass the threshold where we can no longer respond with civility?
Does shaming minions of the current administration serve a real purpose, or does it just provide emotional satisfaction to the shamer?
I think the answer is: Do the right thing, which is what is most effective in bringing change? Shaming might or might not do it. If it alienates further and brings no change, it is not the ethical path. If it produces a change in behavior, it is the ethical route.
My speculation is that some of the minions feel the pain of being shamed, and it could cause people to peel away (I am speculating here: Hope Hicks?). I do not think shaming Agent Orange will ever work, since he knows no shame.
Glorfindel
(9,750 posts)n/t
NY_20th
(1,028 posts)are the same people who have been excusing Trump's behavior for the past three years.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)Trump and the Republicans got here because of bothsidesim in the centrist media - places like WaPo and NYT with many smart liberal journalists but with fear of offending the right. Paul Krugman has been writing about media bothsidesism since 1999.
So the people complaining the loudest HAVE been excusing Trump for three years. But they have also been excusing GWB, Rove, torturers, govt destruction by billionaires, Paul Ryan, Gorsuch, Judicial Watch, and Mitch McConnell for two decades.
They created Trump.
(Jay Rosen, George Lakoff, and Paul Krugman have written the best explanations of these journalists.)
NY_20th
(1,028 posts)peggysue2
(10,853 posts)the Sarah Huckabee shunning at the Red Hen. This came, of course, on he heels of Neilson and Miller being shamed over their Mexican dinners.
My reply?
Where are the Babies? Where are the Girls?
If Sanders and her cohorts are going to lie, obfuscate and excuse the Trumpster's repugnant and illegal proclamations--throw 'em out, forget due process--then they should start eating at home, preferably with the blinds drawn.
You sit with evil, defend it, give it comfort and quarter, then you deserve to be shunned in the public square. Shaming over disgusting behavior and repellent public policy is a viable form of protest.
The Washington Post claims these people should be allowed to eat in peace.
My reply?
Where are the Babies? Where are the Girls?
BarbD
(1,195 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,776 posts)Republicans are fine ones to talk.
Trek4Truth
(515 posts)deplorable if need be. But there is one thing for certain. I am not keeping my mouth shut.
Iggo
(47,599 posts)YessirAtsaFact
(2,064 posts)Insane conspiracy theories and baseless personal attacks, we can think about it.
The right started this and is responsible for 90% of the lowering of public discourse.
Decades of nonstop hate on am radio, the never ending demonization of Democrats and Faux Noise hate-blabbing are why Americans could vote for a lowlife like The OrangeTurd.
If the RWNJ were capable of feeling shame, they would be too ashamed to complain.
But hate filled media bring out the worst in people.
kimbutgar
(21,285 posts)Not those weak lefties!
Who are those Twitler supporters going to bully if we hit back?
catbyte
(34,546 posts)[IMG][/IMG]
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Lucky Luciano
(11,267 posts)NoMoreRepugs
(9,522 posts)Let's use the preemptive doctrine of neutralizing potential threats or enemies that may intend to harm the country. It must be the right thing to do....after all, conservatives created it didn't they???
BigmanPigman
(51,674 posts)public ways. Optics is important but so is getting everyone to do it with consistency and across the country. We need to resist with civil disobedience and boycott GOP companies too.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)They might even not charge them in gratitude for bringing business their way.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)why be nice to those that prefer children be caged and calling white supremacists "nice people". Why be nice to the propaganda mouthpiece that lies, lies, lies just like her boss.
They are Nazis, with the refinements to fit our era and technology
https://www.brainz.org/10-most-evil-propaganda-techniques-used-nazis/