'Debating' Nazis Is Dangerous | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

'Debating' Nazis Is Dangerous

Just punch them in the face.

803
'Debating' Nazis Is Dangerous
Wikimedia Commons

Let me start with what I think should be an uncontroversial point of view. There is no negotiating with fascism. There is no debating it. It simply needs to be resisted by any means possible.

However, it seems liberals haven't gotten the memo on that yet. Apparently, men like Richard Spencer who literally believe in genocide of black people should still not be victims of violence because of "liberal norms" and "free speech."

What liberals are not getting is that defending a Nazi's right to "free speech" is playing right into their game. Nazis and all other groups of fascists always hide behind the right to free speech until they grab power. It's a strategy that's been used time and time again.

In 1928, when the Nazis entered the Reichstag for the first time, their future Minister of Propaganda proudly declared, "We do not come as friend nor even as neutrals. We come as enemies: As the wolf bursts into the flock, so we come." He continued to write that democracy was "stupid" for even allowing them to enter the Parliament.

Seven years later, when the Nazis had completely taken over the government, he wrote, "we have declared openly that we used democratic methods only in order to gain the power and that, after assuming the power, we would deny to our adversaries without any consideration the means which were granted to us in the times of opposition."

Back then, it was a mistake to even allow Nazis to participate in democracy when they explicitly stated their intentions. And right now, men like Richard Spencer and Milo Yiannopoulos have also made their intentions very clear. We need to believe them.

Liberals often like to argue that even though Nazis are despicable, we should debate them to prove how awful they are. Sadly, liberals' debate skills will not defeat fascism. In fact, it only further legitimizes it by making Nazism seem like a legitimate opposing viewpoint rather than the destructive force it truly is.

Plus, debating Nazis fuels the central myth of fascism. Fascism functions by creating mythical "ubermensch" who almost manage to transcend humanity. This is often based around the white male body.

But the alt-right has created a new version of this myth. Sociologist Katherine Cross has discussed the rise of the "Trollermensch," which involves creating a "trolling" ethos that disregards empathy and compassion as weakness. Cross argues that this ethos is very appealing to young white men who feel powerless due to a changing world in which their relative power is decreasing. It is an ethos that men like Spencer and Yiannopoulos have used to recruit for the alt-right, often to great effect.

Debating with Nazis often helps reproduce this image. Alt-right trolls see their heroes as debating with "triggered snowflakes" and "cucks" who are too PC to handle the harsh truth of the world. The way to get around this is to not play their game at all.

When Richard Spencer was punched in the face at the Inauguration, as Cross points out, the facade was immediately broken. Spencer became completely terrified after being punched, even telling his followers that he now felt uncomfortable going out in public without bodyguards.

SEE ALSO:29 Questions I Have For The Protester Who Punched Neo Nazi Richard Spencer

This was no member of some "master race." This was a pathetic human being who was too scared to face the consequences of his rhetoric.

So to be clear, I will not be making space for Nazis to share their viewpoints. I will, however, do everything I can to make sure they are ostracized from every level of society.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14910
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2996
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1805
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments