this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2023
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“Here’s the thing,” Robinson said. “Whether you’re talking about Adolf Hitler, whether you’re talking about Chairman Mao, whether you’re talking about Stalin, whether you’re talking about Pol Pot, whether you’re talking about Castro in Cuba, or whether you’re talking about a dozen other despots all around the globe, it is time for us to get back and start reading some of those quotes.”

This is the Lieutenant Governor of a state (North Carolina) saying we can get gems from the quotes of genocidal maniacs. This is where we are now.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well, they are historical primary sources. Should be read, yes, not as go-to-advice for how to run society, but as a study in dictatorial manipulation tactics. Those who ignore history doomed to repeat it, etc.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The most relevant quote I could think of:

"Only one thing could have stopped our movement - if our adversaries had understood its principle and from the first day smashed with the utmost brutality the nucleus of our new movement." - Hitler

It's just a shame that those who need to hear it are too busy calling us bigots for "calling everyone you disagree with a Nazi" while actual literal Nazis are getting organised in the background....

It's almost like living in a satire, not sure if it's more absurd or scary.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

not sure if it’s more absurd

May I introduce you to my buddy Camus?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Appreciated, though at this point I can't think of any fiction that could top the deeply distressing absurdity that is our timeline..

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I don't know why Camus is so often thought of a fiction writer. He wrote some pretty serious philosophy as well. It's like calling Plato a writer of fiction.

I'm particularly a fan of The Rebel. His Letters to a German Friend are pretty interesting too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I suppose fiction was the wrong word to use, I guess I just mean I have enough real world shit of my own to deal with, I don't have room in my brain for philosophised shit too (however well written and thought out it might be) haha

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The best part is when you argue this, they will argue with nuance and equal footing. As if the basis of this movement is legitimately comparable to super liberal people that... Checks notes want human rights for others.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Then you point out that centrism clearly enables fascism, and their heads explode in rage (if only)..

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I used to be a centrist, and I guarantee you they genuinely do not get that this far-right fascism is NOT a legitimate political faction or worldview. They think it's legit simply because 100 million Republicans exist, and that us what they say, so it must be a legit political school of thought. But fascism, hate and genocide are not.

I guess we could try telling them that the right is not legitimate and that by treating them as if they are, they're enabling genocide, but who knows if that would register with them. You could play with it and suss out who is a genuine centrist and who is a fascist shill pretending to be, though.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is a feature of fascism, the gaslighting, I mean.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Oh, absolutely, none of this is accidental.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago

The new right wing astroturf group funded by the wealthy to control the news cycle. Just tiresome.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I think you mean “Hoes for Hitler.”

Moms for Mao?

Stupes for Stalin!

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I thought Klanned Karenhood was clever and apt.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

oooh that’s REALLY good.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Cunts for Castro

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's nice to hear them saying the quiet part out loud - and then doubling down on it.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

To me it's terrifying that it's escalated to the point where they are openly espouseing genocidal maniacs

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'd prefer them acknowledging how stupid these failed leaders were, and how we should never repeat this history.

There's nothing good or positive about someone who is debatably a fascist, says something fascist, and then confirm they endorse facisim.

There's no world I can think of where the above is true. Sure, you could say "but it's easier to punch Nazis!", which yes, should be the immediate response to learning someone is a fascist. But clearly if they're comfortable implying it, then doubling down, we're clearly not punching enough Nazis.

I much prefer a world where people are too afraid to espouse facisim, because they actually know its a terrible idealogy, and they will immediately lose all respect and social standing from anyone who hears about it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I find it interesting that they are now also trying to lump in other despots we know they wouldn't agree with, as though trying to gloss over and obfuscate their apparent ties to White Supremacist ideology.

Was there any mention of "reading their quotes" in a context of 'how can we learn from, and not repeat the mistakes of history'?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Was there any mention of “reading their quotes” in a context of ‘how can we learn from, and not repeat the mistakes of history’?

Not even as an afterthought.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m don’t support this guy, and he’s absolutely pandering, but in the context of what he actually said in that speech the meaning is the exact opposite of what the article and op are suggesting. Just watch the actual video and not just this out of context clip

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

But when they're also trying to ban books and water down history in schools I can't take them in for faith.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Has this guy ever tried reading Mein Kampf? My grandma had a copy when I was a kid (I don't think she was a nazi...) and I looked at it once out of curiosity. It read like incoherent nonsense to me at the time. I always figured it would have been more useful as fire kindling or compost for a garden.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Fact is, it's an important work for historical reasons. If you want to understand how Nazism works, and how it differs from Italian fascism, and be able to draw the lines that connect Nazis to historical German (and other nationalities) anti-Semitism, you need to read it.

If I had a copy, I wouldn't put it on display, but it is the kind of thing I can totally see being assigned in a college course on WW2 or some similar topic.

NB: I've only read a few excerpts for a class similar to the one I described above.

Also, I am against book burning in any circumstance. A book is never worth more as kindling, unless you're actually freezing and then it would be a hard choice.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree with everything except not burning a book to keep warm when freezing. Unless the book was "How to start a fire with other books when you are freezing".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah that bit was weird. Like, I'm gonna die to spare a copy of Mein Kampf? I'm sure there are others.

Now, maybe there's an argument to be had that I don't own a copy of that book and must have taken it from someone else, possibly intending to use it as kindling... But like, was I gonna burn something of more interest and possible use, or the damn Hitler book only the edgiest "history" fans and a few weird history nerds seem to actually like.

What were we talking about? Oh yeah. LegalAction wants us all to die to save copies of Mein Kampf, which will then be destroyed anyway without anyone to protect them. Kinda goofy opinion, that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Sure, I was only half joking. As an academic matter of understanding the history and recognition of early-to-mid 20th century German fascism, it's a useful learning tool. But, as a tome of intellectual philosophy (which is what nazis like Robinson seem to be implying it might be), it's little more than garbage.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

bonus hypocrisy points for being a book banning group to begin with

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

We should be reading them so we can recognize when fascists today are doing the same things.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

This guy is a christofasist and it is embarrassing my state elected him.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

So what i am hearing is that if libs read that stuff it’s unamerican but if they are reading it they are using it as a source book of authoritarianism of sorts.

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