For those of you who saw the latest version of Borat there's a scene in there where he attends a gun rally at the WA State capitol, where he is singing a very provocative song, (journalists, whatcha gonna do? Chop off their heads like the Saudis do...) dressed as a hayseed in a cowboy hat and overalls, provoking a predictable response from hayseeds with weapons of war, who rush the stage and attempt to murder him before he escapes in an ambulance.
Now, two weeks in a row, groups of Proud Boys (Fascists) with weapons of war and antifascists have squared off in same spot and an Anti-Fascist has gotten shot.
Yesterday, the City declared the protests and counter protests a riot after two Anti-Fascist got shot.
I really wonder if this isn't just a pre-scripted game and the outcome has already been pre-determined and all of the players are dupes furthering the agendas of monied interests.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/1-person-shot-in-olympia-during-clashes-between-pro-trump-demonstrators-and-counter-protesters/



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2020 07:45PM by schrodingerscat.

Which is better, fascism or anti-fascism ?

Dave the Atheist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Which is better, fascism or anti-fascism ?

===============================

These are psychologically identical.
Only their hallowed book differs.

psychologically identical ?
explain

(Consider also from the historical perspective e.g. Brownshirts, the Weathermen)

If observe those of the far-left and the far-right, these are indistinguishable:

-Righteous conviction
-Absolute certainty
-Identifying self as "good"
-The "bad" is localized in an external identified "other"
-Belonging to the group strengthens the sense of "me"
-Identification, scapegoating, and ejection of heretics
-Psychologically strengthened by working in packs
-Difficulty standing alone and apart (without the group)
-Willing even to violence -- in a group
-Opposing the group strengthens it


These are both, psychologically, conservatives.
One pack is conservative leftist.
One pack is conservative rightist.

...sounds like U. of Texas v. Texas A&M...

My SO is UT, seems the propensity is (at times) not restricted towards A&M only ;-)

Dr. No Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> (Consider also from the historical perspective
> e.g. Brownshirts, the Weathermen)
>
> If observe those of the far-left and the
> far-right, these are indistinguishable:
>
> -Righteous conviction
> -Absolute certainty
> -Identifying self as "good"
> -The "bad" is localized in an external identified
> "other"
> -Belonging to the group strengthens the sense of
> "me"
> -Identification, scapegoating, and ejection of
> heretics
> -Psychologically strengthened by working in packs
> -Difficulty standing alone and apart (without the
> group)
> -Willing even to violence -- in a group
> -Opposing the group strengthens it
>
>
> These are both, psychologically, conservatives.
> One pack is conservative leftist.
> One pack is conservative rightist.


"Ethics too, are nothing but reverence for life. This is what gives me the fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, promoting and enhancing life and that destroying, injuring and limiting life are evil."
Albert Schweitzer, Civilization and Ethics 1949

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Schweitzer#Reverence_for_life

It seems to me that fascists are only for maintaining, promoting and enhancing white lives, which they think means, destroy, injure and limit any other life form.

The opposite of that is egalitarianism, maintaining, promoting and enhancing all lives, including white lives.
But there is no 'reverence for life' to be found on either side of the street, in fascism or anti-fascism.
I am not in the middle of the street, I am on the outskirts of town, looking in and seeing my fellow humans fighting pitched battles shooting each other, which is the complete opposite of 'reverence for life'.

There is only, destroying, injuring and limiting life, which is pure evil, IMO, and in Albert Schweitzer's.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2020 07:25PM by schrodingerscat.

You isolated the pure essence of it.

The problem is when the idea -- any idea -- becomes more important than life.

Consider the Cultural Revolution -- what was it, twenty million dead?

Dr. No Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You isolated the pure essence of it.
>
> The problem is when the idea -- any idea --
> becomes more important than life.
>
> Consider the Cultural Revolution -- what was it,
> twenty million dead?

What was the idea that was more important than life itself, socialism?

I don't think socialism is a bad idea (as proven by most socialist countries , but communism has been a terrible idea.

The bad idea isn't communism itself, but totalitarianism, which it always becomes due to lack of checks and balances.

Not the Cultural Revolution. The huge loss of life was in the Great Leap Forward of the early 1950s.

ETA: Both were terrible "ideas" and terrible events.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2020 08:48PM by Lot's Wife.

Dave the Atheist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Which is better, fascism or anti-fascism ?

If you have to ask, it begs the question, which side most closely represents you?

The pattern has become clear: "Armed MAGA fanatics spread politics of violence around the country with shooting in Olympia"