Thank you for this calm, insightful piece. We all need help in learning to talk with each other more effectively. I believe humans are kind, caring people at heart. And yet, movements like Charlottesville are real and purposeful in projecting hate. Thank you for clarifying that. Misinformation can be dangerous. These are dangerous times, and we can effectively put our energy into calmly connecting rather than reacting. I needed this reminder.
After having it out with my “Kirk loving/Great replacement” touting son in law I was repulsed to the point of saying I couldn’t be around him. Then I watched the Khan documentary & was humbled. If she can do it hopefully so can I!
Hamas supporters also display anti-Semitism; they are far more numerous and exhibit more aggressive behavior at their events. Should they be considered as unacceptable as neo-Nazis?
If there were organized militia groups in America openly supporting Hamas and carrying out violence, then yes — that would be as unacceptable as neo-Nazis. But that’s not what we’re seeing. What we do see are people who oppose children being killed in Palestine and who call for human rights. That’s very different from endorsing Hamas, which is a terrorist organization.
What you’re repeating is a talking point that tries to erase the distinction between supporting Palestinians and supporting Hamas. I don’t know anyone who supports Hamas. I do know people who want peace and don’t want to see innocent lives lost. And remember: Palestine as a people existed before the state of Israel.
So the real question isn’t about fringe slogans at rallies — it’s about organized power. Neo-Nazis and MAGA are organized political movements with real influence. That’s not remotely the same thing as Americans who simply oppose civilian deaths in Gaza.
Trying to equate the presence of a police force with violence is clearly manipulative. In completely democratic New York City, there is a people's militia that helps combat crime; the existence of such a militia complies with the Constitution and the law. The drug mafia and Antifa don't have a legal militia, but they have non-declared militarized detachments and practice violence.
Violence and unrest (like the Portland police station takeover) using undeclared units is more dangerous than the open existence of a legitimate militia that does not demonstrate violence.
I hear what you’re saying, and I understand the distinction you’re trying to make. But what you’re describing sounds like an attempt to normalize certain militia groups while framing others as illegitimate — and that’s part of the problem. There isn’t a political figure in power building policy around Antifa or anarchists, but there are elected officials who openly align with MAGA-connected militias.
Those groups have repeatedly backed white-supremacist and neo-Nazi narratives — and I think we can all agree that anyone who believes Nazism or racial superiority is “okay” is morally wrong.
Can I ask where you get most of your information on this? Because what you’re describing sounds like a common narrative designed to make one form of extremism look like civic duty and the other like chaos.
Thank you for this calm, insightful piece. We all need help in learning to talk with each other more effectively. I believe humans are kind, caring people at heart. And yet, movements like Charlottesville are real and purposeful in projecting hate. Thank you for clarifying that. Misinformation can be dangerous. These are dangerous times, and we can effectively put our energy into calmly connecting rather than reacting. I needed this reminder.
After having it out with my “Kirk loving/Great replacement” touting son in law I was repulsed to the point of saying I couldn’t be around him. Then I watched the Khan documentary & was humbled. If she can do it hopefully so can I!
Excellent, thought provoking, piece. I've subscribed and will be watching the movie.
So darn fond of you, Mr Irby!
His creepy voice tells who he is.
Hamas supporters also display anti-Semitism; they are far more numerous and exhibit more aggressive behavior at their events. Should they be considered as unacceptable as neo-Nazis?
If there were organized militia groups in America openly supporting Hamas and carrying out violence, then yes — that would be as unacceptable as neo-Nazis. But that’s not what we’re seeing. What we do see are people who oppose children being killed in Palestine and who call for human rights. That’s very different from endorsing Hamas, which is a terrorist organization.
What you’re repeating is a talking point that tries to erase the distinction between supporting Palestinians and supporting Hamas. I don’t know anyone who supports Hamas. I do know people who want peace and don’t want to see innocent lives lost. And remember: Palestine as a people existed before the state of Israel.
So the real question isn’t about fringe slogans at rallies — it’s about organized power. Neo-Nazis and MAGA are organized political movements with real influence. That’s not remotely the same thing as Americans who simply oppose civilian deaths in Gaza.
Trying to equate the presence of a police force with violence is clearly manipulative. In completely democratic New York City, there is a people's militia that helps combat crime; the existence of such a militia complies with the Constitution and the law. The drug mafia and Antifa don't have a legal militia, but they have non-declared militarized detachments and practice violence.
Violence and unrest (like the Portland police station takeover) using undeclared units is more dangerous than the open existence of a legitimate militia that does not demonstrate violence.
I hear what you’re saying, and I understand the distinction you’re trying to make. But what you’re describing sounds like an attempt to normalize certain militia groups while framing others as illegitimate — and that’s part of the problem. There isn’t a political figure in power building policy around Antifa or anarchists, but there are elected officials who openly align with MAGA-connected militias.
Those groups have repeatedly backed white-supremacist and neo-Nazi narratives — and I think we can all agree that anyone who believes Nazism or racial superiority is “okay” is morally wrong.
Can I ask where you get most of your information on this? Because what you’re describing sounds like a common narrative designed to make one form of extremism look like civic duty and the other like chaos.