♫ If you have a racist friend, now is the time to heave a serious talk with them about it. https://www.splcenter.org/20150126/speak-responding-everyday-bigotry
#Antifa is *so* important right now.
But also, white folks have connections to soft fascists - people who are kinda racist and would quietly accept whatever horrors happened. Those people - our friends, neighbours and family - need to be addressed too. These people operate very strongly on consensus, so it's up to us to make sure there is NOT a racist consensus in their lives. We can't just roll our eyes or change the subject. It's too dangerous right now.
Fortunately, it's possible to do very gentle anti-racist interventions that won't cause a scene (or make your racist relative defensive, which is also not helpful). The SPLC has a guide: https://www.splcenter.org/20150126/speak-responding-everyday-bigotry
You can be very subtle and still be effective. This is a way to address bigotry in a quiet, non-confrontational, but effective manner. Now is the time to start on this.
@celesteh Excellent point. I feel all the media attention and outrage has only stoked the flames. A gentle, rationale response has always been more effective in my experience. Of course there are limits but provided they are acting within the law, as horrible as they are, we would only be compromising our own values by responding with hate and violence too.
@tomgg What response to use should be judged only in terms of how effective it's likely to be. If people are literally in torch-carrying mobs, it in no way compromises anyone's values to resist as vigorously as possible.
@celesteh I understand your point. I'm not sure the violent 'resistance' is effective though. My approach is to respect all humans and to understand their position first (however horrible). Only then do I think we can start to change their minds. Unfortunately I suspect the media attention has only empowered the awful alt-right groups. Bannon is quoted saying so.
@tomgg The people who are in racist mobs are authoritarians and their minds won't be changed by argument, only by the appearance of consensus. Vigorously opposing them disrupts that appearance.
Then there are our racist friends and family members. We have a connection with them, so just talking to them can work. This text can help: https://www.splcenter.org/20150126/speak-responding-everyday-bigotry
In both cases, it's not reason that wins, but showing they're outnumbered, even (and especially) within their own milieu.
@celesteh thank you - I'm seeing a different perspective on the issue thanks to your toots. I'm not as confident as you that consensus is what is needed. I feel that these people see themselves as marginalized minorities (I know it sounds absurd but that's how their media presents it). Censorship, white guilt, prejudice in main stream media etc. I don't agree with them at all - but CNN and left wing media groups telling them they are wrong only fires up the cause.
@tomgg The vast majority of my claims are based on this (free) ebook: https://theauthoritarians.org/
It seems supported by some more recent research involving anti-racist twitter robots.
But, I mean, also, the Black Shirts in the UK were defeated by violent resistance, as were the silver shirts in the US. Teamsters take weapons to picket lines for strong historical reasons. The violent aspects of effective resistance aren't taught in school.
@tomgg But also, yes, uncritical media attention where they write profiles of Nazis and talk about how well dressed they are and feel their movement is growing totally does help, because it, again, builds an impression of consensus. Media that described them as pathetic, unpopular, outnumbered and wrong would probably have a different effect and I hope we get an opportunity to compare shortly....