Over the last few months I have run this question past a few friends who at one time or another had their ears to the ground…Is there a new radicalization coming to the left that my gut is sensing? I got a couple of mild maybes…and some nos.
But given the events of the last few days…the rumors around protests at the upcoming conventions…we’ll see how 2016 ends.
I would say somewhat, or it might be that it’s just louder or with more influence than in the past. It’s not really an either or kind of thing. There are several trends I see that are troubling to me.
Personally I like to watch out for control freaks. I do not think there is a place for national standards for school lunches for example. I have no problem with recommendations or the requirement to show nutrition facts. When it crosses the line into dictating what people can eat or tying funds to it though, that has to stop. I also really do feel some contempt for the second amendment. Do people really think they can magically stop gun violence by going after guns? It is better to focus on the background checks and such, which even the conservatives I know support. Now we see the “pornography is a health crisis” nonsense, talking as if it’s directly responsible for sexual predators. This goes to the “common sense” nonsense the far right likes to invoke when trying to restrict freedoms. I lump attempts to dictate what schools can serve for lunch right along with that far right nonsense. I will speak out against control-freakish nonsense no matter where it comes from. Likewise legislating what fast-food restaurants can serve children is ridiculous. I absolutely see that as the radical left when it comes to abusing the law to exert that kind of control.
I’m also not a fan of what I see as a gleeful campaign to snub a popular vote “because it’s just not fair.” That is absolutely ridiculous. On the subject of Hillary Clinton, it’s not like she had a gazillion other candidates fighting her either as was the case with Donald Trump. The blame I’ve seen thrown at “the press” for supposedly influencing the Democratic primary reminds me of the kind of nonsense some on the far right like to pull when they don’t get their way. If the Republican party hadn’t reaped the level of anger and disrespect it has been sowing for my entire adult life with its mob of primary candidates and their constant attacks on each other, they could have stopped Trump before it was too late. They were too busy going at each others’ throats, clearing the way for Trump to attract the fringe of conservatives who revel in collective blame and often outright racism (there is a difference, as disgusting as both are). Like it or not, trying to get someone chosen as the candidate in direct opposition to the results of the votes is an open call for authoritarian governance, and if you so happen to agree with the ones appointed that doesn’t magically make it okay. That is scary and should absolutely be condemned. It is bizarre seeing some condemn the existence of superdelegates for being able to go against a popular vote while later calling for Hillary Clinton to be denied the nomination despite the way the votes fell.
Going back to the left though, anyone should condemn attempts to “shut them down” in response to an opponents’ rally. I recall a statement saying that in California where a ‘counterprotest’ against a bigoted group openly disrupted them and considered it a success that they shut it down. That is not how freedom works. Freedom does not mean rampaging into a Trump rally and screaming over the person speaking. Freedom does not mean inciting violence from a hate group to shut down their rally. If anything, that is an outright attack on free speech. Freedom to protest does not mean freedom to trespass and disrupt others. It was shocking it took weeks for some of that to be called for what it was: rioting. Trump shouldn’t have called for violence against the people pushing in, but that doesn’t make the people outright attempting to disrupt the free speech of others right either.
I also do not like the name Black Lives Matter. That should have been condemned right from the beginning. ALL lives matter. Sometimes even politicians I do not agree with have a point. I absolutely agree with Rudy Giuliani that naming a movement “Black Lives Matter” is inherently racist. All lives matter, and what of the police that risk their lives? Moreover the outrage is just as guilty of prejudice as those on the far right often are. Immediately there is an outcry when a black person is killed by law enforcement. The fact is though, if that individual was disregarding instructions or was moving to attack the officer I think deadly force absolutely is justified. It doesn’t matter what their ethnicity is. To be sure, there are shocking incidents and there are real problems sometimes, but standing up and protesting when even criminals get killed by police is just disgusting. Police should not have to fear for honestly defending themselves. They should not have to risk their lives holding back when they are under attack. The moment you attack someone, the blame is on yourself. Going back to the topic though, absolutely I think it is radical to automatically blame the police. I also think it is lunacy to reject independent findings when police are cleared. Mob mentality is not justice. And I also agree where is the outrage of people killing each other? Why do unfortunate incidents of police shooting people, sometimes outright criminals that were not cooperating, spark mass protests and yet the sadly every day occurrences of violence are not ignored? It’s not fair to blame culture or an entire ethnic group of people collectively, but it’s also not realistic to ignore a very real crisis.
Wrapping back around to the radicalization topic though, the thing that troubles me is the notion that it’s okay to “shut down” others for disagreeing. People being slammed on social media for merely stating opinions that aren’t even bigoted is a problem. People instantly losing their jobs all because they said something that isn’t in good taste is worrying. It’s bizarre seeing “the r word” condemned to the point where a kid can get yanked out of glass for the mere mention of it. My sister’s kids said they aren’t even allowed to acknowledge any limitations at all for mentally disabled people. They are supposed to just act as if they have the same abilities as everyone else. Obviously genuine cruelty is wrong, but I’ve seen the word “ableist” come up and it’s just downright ridiculous. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging reality. Pretending reality isn’t reality is ridiculous. It should not be a controversy to acknowledge that transgender people were physically born of the opposite gender. People should not be expected to outright pretend otherwise lest they get massively ridiculed or at times even harassed over it. I’m not just talking about the outright bigots that push for legislation specifically designed to deny transgender people any recognition whatsoever. I’m talking just taking a survey and noting the difference and people acting as if it’s some affront a transperson isn’t simply grouped with the gender they identify with even in the case of research surveys. It is alarming to me to see such an open assault on simple objective reality. I avoid the site Tumblr because I just don’t like the site’s design, but when it’s to the point that any dissent results in mass bots reporting people to try and shut them down and shut them up, it’s just scary.
People should not be afraid to speak their mind all because it contradicts popular opinion. Even worse, people who aren’t even malicious being targeted for not towing an ever-increasingly extremist line being harassed or shut down and lumped with outright bigots is downright scary. I used to mock accusations of “social justice warriors” and “feminists” as just a blanket defense for outright bigots and sexists. And, of course, many bigots/sexists absolutely do use those terms as excuses for their behavior. That said, I now acknowledge there really are people that take things to far, that really do try to ruin the careers or silence the social media accounts of people who dare to speak against them. I don’t know if that’s any sign of an actual extremist leftist political movement, but all of those little things are things that make me uncomfortable. As someone who openly identifies as liberal, I think it’s important to be able to disagree. The existence of a fringe on the right that is incredibly control-freakish and bigoted doesn’t excuse a movement from the left that seems to disrespect the right to free speech of others.
Even on this site I found it a bit alarming for there to be a call to remove voter power over Chris Abele’s position all because people disagree with him on some issues. He lost my vote last election over his campaign’s unapologetic voter record shaming campaign, but I certainly wouldn’t want to call for votes to not matter all because I didn’t vote for him.
All that said, when I was at UWM there was a very real outright communist propaganda machine at work. I got messed up in the head real bad for a year or so until one by one the crazy claims started evaporating and I saw they were just as unhinged as the far right. Examples: Nike secret police, President Bush having a campaign to block by block enforce Christianity, that he wouldn’t step down at the end of his second term, that the WHO created HIV, among other nonsense. The one thing they got right was predicting the invasion of Iraq. I’ve never seen that crazy movement have traction the way the far right has though, where a very frightening percentage of Republicans actually think President Obama is Muslim.
Control-freakishness and extremism are not bound to any one political viewpoint though. It’s important to recognize that and speak out against it when it crops up. Sure, school lunch and Happy Meals may not be high up there on the list of grievances, but the fact that people even think it’s okay to legislate controls over those things should be a warning sign.
There are a few cringe-worthy typos in that wall of text that I missed, but the one saying “glass” instead of “class” was particularly bad. I was talking about saying “the r word” being treated as bad as “the n word” nowadays, even ignoring the intent of the person saying the word.
Nice thought, but a better one may be for Israel to become a secular state, with Jerusalem as its capital, and religious freedom for all. That way perhaps both religions could have their holy sites, as in America, and with maybe less conflict, as both Israel and Palestine would have statehood. That could be an example for all the muslim sects to secularize govenment and separate from religious dominance of government law.
Looks like I posted under the wrong topic. But having read BofCudahy’s remarks about the left overstepping our Democracy, I must agree whole heartedly. Many times I’ve been accused of being a bigot or a racest for not agreeing with a movement but I continue to do it because I am a liberal democrat first of all, and get upset when Bernie fans or any other heartburned leftests step over the line toward intolerance.
When leaders take positions such as the Mayor has it only strengthens my resolve. This tea party nut job is exactly what’s wrong with our country. Blatantly lying to his constituents to further his message and using such phrases as angry population show there are no limits or boundaries with these clowns. A little bit of research and by taking the mayors advice and checking out the Black Lives Matter websites and one will conclude the mayor is full of #%€£.
Please share the following letter.
A word from the Mayor of West Bend:
July 12, 2016
“My entire life, I have respected police officers, sheriff deputies and other law enforcement professionals. As a child, I looked up to them and as an adult I value their important and necessary role in society.
Their profession requires a certain amount of danger and risk which most of us do not encounter where we work. In the past I felt as though that risk was a known entity, that upon entering the public safety arena it was well known danger was part of the job. Those who could accept that risk went on to honorable careers. Those who could not, chose another field of work. I felt these men and women signed up for the job, knowing full well the risks involved.
I felt that way until recently when the risks changed significantly. Unfortunately, it appears as though the new job description of a law enforcement officer must now include shouldering the burden of being singled out, labeled a racist, and worst of all accept the role of being hunted down simply for wearing the uniform. Thank you to those who, in spite of this, continue to serve.
Today’s societal condition reminds me of Vietnam Veterans coming home after serving our country. Many arrived and were welcomed with violence and hate. Today, just as then we need strong leaders who have the dignity and grace to cut through political party affiliations and speak simply, as Americans. Fortunately, veterans have regained their rightful place as the best of the best and are revered and respected, just as they should be. That change in attitude took leadership.
Once again, we find ourselves looking for leaders and what a shame it is to see those at the highest levels of government refusing to engage properly. It is not an accident neither our President nor Secretary Clinton can bring themselves to condemn recent actions. It is not an accident the Black Lives Matter organization does not speak of strengthening the family, promoting personal responsibility or championing change through education (Please see blacklivesmatter.com to view their agenda for yourselves).
None of these are accidents, rather, they are an integral part of the lifeblood of the far left wing. Politicians supporting these motives cannot afford to allow others to know the benefits of a unified family, to discover the value of a great education or the joy of financial freedom. They know once a suppressed population is freed it will embrace principles of a limited government and will have achieved the American Dream, offering more opportunity to their children than they had themselves. The far left knows this would eliminate the need for politicians like these who rely on vulnerable and angry populations for their very existence.
As Americans, our goal should be to help each person realize they are intelligent, significant and important members of society. All lives have meaning and our leaders should invest in teaching those in need how to achieve their full potential, whatever that potential may be. It is infinitely inspirational to hear stories of those who fought against incredible odds and now enjoy a life of self-sufficiency. To lead in this manner is not racist. To lead in this manner takes courage, courage our present day leaders don’t have.
I am willing to respectfully debate dozens of topics with those whom I have political differences in order to strengthen my own beliefs and understand more fully the positions of others. However, the support of racist acts by our President and Secretary Clinton only serve to re-segregate our country and undermine the progress made over the past decades. There is no debating the dishonor of their inaction.
I ask the citizens of West Bend and Washington County to be courageous leaders and do two things. First, when you see a man or woman in uniform, sincerely thank them. Second, regardless of where you view yourself politically, don’t fall victim to the narrative of hate. Let’s knock off the idea that hate ever cured anything, it hasn’t.
Remember we are Americans, the leaders of the world. Let’s act like it.
Kraig K. Sadownikow
Mayor”
City of West Bend
“This Tea Party nut job is exactly what’s wrong with our country.”
WB, if you will excuse the expression, Right on!”
Eloquent and thoughtful remarks by the Mayor of West Bend. We are lucky to have mature and capable people like this in leadership positions in our county
Furthering dissent being encouraged, almost demanded by this white supremacist apologist between government employees, i.e. civil servants with guns and arrest power, and the general population they are supposed to serve and protect.
Class warfare fascist propaganda and nothing else. Yes, I’d agree people like this are very capable at lying and bringing about the fear driven prophecies they strive to produce.
Thanks for clearly defining yourself, WaCo. All your shirts being brown then?
The groundswell of activism against the Clintonista neocon wing of the oligarchy is hardly radicalization. It is a simple demand for the Democratic national leadership to actual begin following small ‘d’ platform principles forever being claimed as reality but that have been nothing but unadulterated lip service.
If demanding some group to do what they profess to be doing is radicalization, it is a scare tactic from left leadership to retain their power. Describe we the people as angry or uncivil and power has an excuse to sic the militarized police on them, same as with “blue lives matter,” propaganda to keep the slaves in line on the capitalist plantations. Bend over or we’ll bend you over, who told you that you have any rights?