Flame away, but I support the antifa.

[Coventina]

I'm not pro-violence in an overall sense, but I'm not a pacifist.

I think the forces of "White Nationalists" (Nazis), and other fascist movements have to be met with a show of strength, because that's all they understand.

I used to think that fascism in this country was limited to a few, small fringe groups. I now see that I was wrong, and that it is a disturbingly large movement that seems to be growing.

We who are not privileged to be White, Straight, Christian Men are targets of violence in our own homeland, a situation encouraged by our sitting president. That is not an acceptable situation.

Isn't one of DU's "official" avatars Malcolm X?

"By any means necessary."

[still_one]

1. If you are advocating violence, then perhaps you should find another place

[Coventina]

2. Not advocating violence. As I stated in my post.

But if advocating fighting back is prohibited by DU, they need to get rid of the Malcolm X avatar.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I saw an interesting theory on another board

Fascist governments like violent dissent because it provides a justification for a retrenchment on civil liberties. They also use it to delegitimize peaceful dissent. Nothing I said should be construed as suggesting I don't believe in vigorous self defense. Here is Malcolm X on the issue, " Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery. " If a NAZI hits you hit him or her back !

[Coventina]

5. Exactly. And, make no mistake, any peaceful dissent will be labeled as violence.

It's a no-win situation with fascists.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. We are doing a good job with the peaceful protests.

The one the weekend of the Inauguration was glorious.

[Coventina]

12. They learned quickly from that one. Look at what happened in Berkley.

Now their claim is that their rights are being trampled, and they show up to cause trouble.

It's being planned today in Kentucky.

[TheBlackAdder]

24. True. However, someone looking for a fight will find it. Trump will find his Reichstag Fire excuse.

.


We've all been in situations where we try to avoid conflict and someone else seems to provoke engagement.

Another key to Fascism is that, silence will allow their voice to spread, while gaining legitimacy.

Sooner or later, whether by shear numbers and strength or a perceived strategic advantage, they will ignite something.


It's inevitable. It actually starts to come down to who will be setting the terms for it.


.

[MedusaX]

4. When law, common sense, diplomacy, negotiation and protest fail to

Prohibit those in power from infringing upon the inalienable, constitutional, and any other legally established rights of the people....

Then it becomes necessary to defend those rights by any means necessary.

[HopeAgain]

7. We fight them without becoming them...

There are people on the left adopting the terminology, the hate, and the arrogance of the alt-right. Sure the beliefs are different, but does it really matter if the actions are the same?

I'm not flaming you, I watched the punching of Richard Spenser and laughed and shared it. But no, it is wrong and it is counter-productive.

I also believe violence is like a flame, it can spread out of control so quickly and then suddenly the wrong people are getting burned. Happens every time a demonstration isn't peaceful. Innocent bystanders lose property, get injured or in some parts of the world, get killed.

Maybe I am the naïve one, but if I'm going to stand for principles, I'm going to stand all the way...

[Coventina]

11. Read up on the history of the Netherlands in WWII

The Communists were the only ones speaking out about the fact that Netherlandish Jews were going to become targets. (The Nazi government denied this).

They encouraged strikes and peaceful resistance. It got them executed.

Guess what? It turned out they were right. The Netherlandish Jews ended up in concentration camps.

[HopeAgain]

16. So you think we are that close to Nazism?

Overstate things much?

Honestly, grow up.

[Coventina]

17. Steve Bannon is in the White House.

Never claim you weren't warned.

[KingCharlemagne]

21. Looks like this person is a hit-and-run poster, not interested in a dialog but

rather in merely slinging insults.

We all know that Trump would suspend the Constitution in a heartbeat (just like Hitler did with the Enabling Act) if he thought he could get away with it. He would prefer to rule by decree, relying upon his willing executioners and "good Germans" to make his decrees happen

[ck4829]

28. People said "grow up" to idea of Trump becoming the nominee, people said "grow up" in response

to him possibly winning the 'election', and now we're supposed to "grow up" again when we raise concerns after we see them at a rally calling for the deaths of liberals or having a meeting and asking when the killings can begin for Muslim Americans?

Can we afford to be fooled a third time?

[ck4829]

8. And let's not forget that we can't have an "Antifa" without a "Profa"

We've got the Nathan Damigo and Richard Spencer types with their calls for violence, direct violence like how we saw in Quebec or with Adam Purinton or in that coffee shop yesterday, stochastic terrorism... they really are the Dylann Roof and Adam Lanza Wannabes that is also known as the Alt Right, and it's disturbing that the Trump Administration, Republican Congress, and moderate Trump supporters aren't denouncing them. Is their silence complicity?

[Coventina]

9. Absolutely their silence is complicity.

Steve Bannon is in the White House.

Fascism is HERE, folks.

To not recognize it is to put your head in the sand.

[Canoe52]

10. My theory is - when you shine a light on them

the cockroachs run back into the darkness.

[bettyellen]

13. I do not. No violence.

[David__77]

14. I support confrontation.

...

[sarisataka]

15. I have no problem with

violence in response to violence. I cannot, however, support pre-emptive violence. A show of strength is fine but "they" have to take the first swing.

[cheapdate]

18. I'm not a pacifist either.

Antifa hasn't asked for my approval of its actions or tactics and I'm pretty sure they don't give a fuck.

Personally, I think direct violent or confrontational action -- if that's your cup of tea -- is fine as long as it's smart, well-planned, and targeted to have an impact.

I'd might add that even stupid and possibly counterproductive action is preferable to sitting around doing nothing, in my opinion.

[Gothmog]

19. The right wing obsession on Anti-Fa is really silly

[ck4829]

26. Especially with the Pro-fa (Adam Lanza and Dylann Roof Wannabes AKA the Alt Right) among their ranks

[Fantastic Anarchist]

20. I agree.

Support your local Antifa movement. Also join the anarchist inspired IWA (International Workers Association) and IWW (Industrial Workers of the World: One Big Union!).

We're trying to change the world a little bit at a time.

[KingCharlemagne]

22. You cannot have civil debates with a party (the fascists) who is

committed to your extermination.

[KG]

23. I regret I have but one recc. to give....

[dembotoz]

25. not so much a question of if, more a question of when

[Initech]

27. I don't support anyone whose goal is to interfere with peaceful protest.

If you show up with ski masks and crowbar and an intent to commit violence, doesn't matter which side you're on, you are a tool of fascism and adding more fuel for the police state.