Ed Dueling protests spark state of emergency in Virginia.

[Emily's Cat]

I would have thought condemning Nazis would be the easiest thing in the world for most of the poster here, and yet what we see for the most part is "yes, but..." posts.

Of ffs! Nobody here supports nazis! Nobody here supports racist thugs! But you don't get to excuse violent behavior by non-nazis because it's directed at people you dislike! You don't get to selectively apply the rule of law as you see fit based on your own personal preferences!

 

[Emily's Cat]

Because I work in law enforcement (not in the US mind you), and I have never arrested any people like that, despite encontering lots of them.

Okay, now I'm genuinely outraged. You work in law enforcement, and you're encouraging the selective application of law based on your own bias?

 

[Emily's Cat]

I'm not the one who used the counter protester having a "flamethrower" as a defense of the Nazi wielding the gun. In fact, I spoke out against that.

Nobody defended the Nazi wielding the gun! At the very worst, the suggestion has been made that he might have a plausible defense that it was defensive, but nobody gave that much weight!

 

[caveman1917]

Of ffs! Nobody here supports nazis! Nobody here supports racist thugs!

Some do.

But you don't get to excuse violent behavior by non-nazis because it's directed at people you dislike!

Yes, very true.

You don't get to selectively apply the rule of law as you see fit based on your own personal preferences!

Yes, very true. Btw, have you noticed that this "rule of law" is exactly what the Nazis used for doing all that stuff that they did (the Holocaust etc)?

 

[Emily's Cat]

I have been thinking that the best response to the Nazi rally would have been to rent a calliope or two, and play circus music wherever they go. I'll bet "Marching Through Georgia" would sound mighty fine on a calliope.

I will admit, it wasn't my idea. A couple of years ago during the South Carolina confederate flag business, a guy with a sousaphone followed the racists there down the street, playing a goofy tune. That's really the correct response to Nazis. Upchurch....? We need you!

Circus music for the win. Maybe throw in a bit of the screechy 'Psycho' music for good measure. Also, numerous loud laugh tracks. And hand out balloons and peanuts. Bring some small fire extinguishers for the torches .

 

[ponderingturtle]

Of ffs! Nobody here supports nazis!

But a lot of people here are against characterizing people as nazis for simply going to a white nationalist protest to promote the white race organized by nazis.

I am sure if the KKK protest at the same spot a few months ago had violence we would be hearing many people defending the people at the KKK rally too.

 

[Emily's Cat]

You also fail to see the false equivalency created by using the one to excuse the other, which is what happened in this thread.

You fail to see that nobody excused the other.

 

[ponderingturtle]

You fail to see that nobody excused the other.

The narrative is that the alt right is not violent and when ever they kill a bunch of people it is a lone wolf nut. But the antifa is organized and oppressive.

 

[Emily's Cat]

The difference is that one is defensive and the other offensive. One is showing "don't attack us, we've got a flamethrower to defend ourselves with" the other is a response showing "we can still attack if we want".

Holy hell, How the hell do you class a makeshift flamethrower as "defensive"? And how do you rationalize aiming fire at people as somehow being a pre-emptive offensive action?

 

[Emily's Cat]

Some do.

Who? Provide proof of your accusation or retract.

Yes, very true. Btw, have you noticed that this "rule of law" is exactly what the Nazis used for doing all that stuff that they did (the Holocaust etc)?

Might be worth the half-second of thought to consider that the laws they were using are not the same laws that are in effect in the US! And then maybe go ahead and give some thought to someone else doing something different at some other time in some other place doesn't justify abandoning law and order here and now.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Holy hell, How the hell do you class a makeshift flamethrower as "defensive"? And how do you rationalize aiming fire at people as somehow being a pre-emptive offensive action?

How the hell do people think turning your own body into a flame thrower can be entertainment? That is a dangerous weapon and needs to be illegal.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Might be worth the half-second of thought to consider that the laws they were using are not the same laws that are in effect in the US! And then maybe go ahead and give some thought to someone else doing something different at some other time in some other place doesn't justify abandoning law and order here and now.

The question is what percentage of the cops are on the side of the nazis. There are certainly far more cops on their side than on the antifa side.

 

[caveman1917]

Who? Provide proof of your accusation or retract.

For one, that guy who claimed that the EDL was only violent because Antifa opposed them.

Might be worth the half-second of thought to consider that the laws they were using are not the same laws that are in effect in the US! And then maybe go ahead and give some thought to someone else doing something different at some other time in some other place doesn't justify abandoning law and order here and now.

Wait a second. Didn't you just say "You don't get to selectively apply the rule of law as you see fit based on your own personal preferences!"? Are you now saying it does depend on your own personal preferences (in this case, your personal preference for the current laws of the US vs the laws in Nazi Germany)?

 

[Belz...]

For one, that guy who claimed that the EDL was only violent because Antifa opposed them.

"That guy" is not a citation. Furthermore, what you're just described is not supporting Nazis. So you, in fact, have not supported your claim.

 

[caveman1917]

"That guy" is not a citation.

True.

Furthermore, what you're just described is not supporting Nazis.

It is though.

So you, in fact, have not supported your claim.

I suppose.

 

[The Don]

Of ffs! Nobody here supports nazis! Nobody here supports racist thugs! But you don't get to excuse violent behavior by non-nazis because it's directed at people you dislike! You don't get to selectively apply the rule of law as you see fit based on your own personal preferences!

Well a small number of people here do support Nazis, and a larger number are willing to act as apologists for racists and white supremacists - as do the vast majority of GOP representatives, and so I presume GOP voters and supporters too.

 

[quadraginta]

Holy hell, How the hell do you class a makeshift flamethrower as "defensive"?

Because an aerosol can and a match is not a flame thrower.

And how do you rationalize aiming fire at people as somehow being a pre-emptive offensive action?

Sounds like defense to me. When they are pointing a gun at you.

The max range of an aerosol can is around three or four feet. Nobody farther away than that need feel threatened. If they need to feel threatened at all.

How far away do you need to get from the guy pointing a gun at you before it is no longer a threat?

 

[sir drinks-a-lot]

Because an aerosol can and a match is not a flame thrower.

You're right, it's a makeshift flamethrower!

 

[ponderingturtle]

You're right, it's a makeshift flamethrower!

In the sense that a spitball shot from a straw is a makeshift gun.

Flamethrowers mostly killed with carbon monoxide, that is why they are great against bunkers, they eat up all the air and everyone inside dies. It is not about burning people with the fire.

 

[Meadmaker]

Because an aerosol can and a match is not a flame thrower.




Sounds like defense to me. When they are pointing a gun at you.

The max range of an aerosol can is around three or four feet. Nobody farther away than that need feel threatened. If they need to feel threatened at all.

How far away do you need to get from the guy pointing a gun at you before it is no longer a threat?

Hmmmm.....wait. A guy is pointing a gun at you, and you pick up an aerosol can and a match to defend yourself?

Sounds like a good way to win a Darwin Award.

It's also not what happened in the video.