Mounce: Nazis are Bad!

[TexasTowelie]

By Dr. Gary Mounce


“Nazis are bad,” as President Obama said recently. “Nazi” means the ideas of fascism, including, but not limited to: authoritarianism, adoring one man (Hitler, et. al.), racism, White supremacy, anti-Jewish, anti-Black attitudes/actions.

Especially important, here on the U.S.-Mexican border, Nazi ideas would include scathing, anti-Mexican prejudices and/or deeply felt anti-Latino attitudes. Most concerned, educated citizens realize this reality. But proto-nazism or crypto-fascism still exist in the world, in the U.S., even here, on the border.

Case in point: a recent poll was commissioned by local television station, Telemundo, conducted by the prestigious polling firm, Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy. Ms Dalila Garza reported the results (9 Sep 18, Rio Grande Guardian). Among those results: “Texas Hispanics (69 percent) Oppose the Border Wall.” The station maintains a campaign to promote civic engagement: “Tu Voz en Español se Eschucha Mas Votando” (Your Spanish Voice is Heard Louder by Voting). As many (68 percent) agreed: “Undocumented Workers Help the U.S. Economy.” By a margin of two to one, they support NAFTA, the current trade agreement with Mexico.

The data don’t lie. Yet, there was push-back, nasty comments on Facebook and to the editor of the RGG. A few (including some Hispanics) responded in negative ways: “What can you expect? It’s only Telemundo,” or “Tele-mintirosos. . . puro pinchefaker polls,” and some with the classy “F-word,” etc. Sad, the vast number of viewers (Telemundo) or readers (Rio Grande Guardian)who agree with the polls didn’t bother to respond. How to explain the denials, in face of evidence? One partial explanation is self-loathing by members of an ethnic minority group or “internalized racism.” That condition is one of racist attitudes toward members of one’s own ethnic group, including one’s self!

Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/mounce-nazis-are-bad/