From the comments:
> Archer, please take this as sincere advice. You give the outward appearance of at least negligibly siding with the Nazis, as you vocally and passionately defend the right for Nazis to speak, organize, and presumably arm themselves too.
> That's a very bad look that you might want to reconsider if you don't want to lose a whole bunch of friends.
> "Doesn't necessarily mean I'm a Nazi" really doesn't cut it as you defend their right to organize and recruit.
Yes, I'm aware that taking unpopular positions causes me to lose some readers and friends.
However, I make an effort to advocate for what I believe is right, irrespective of what my peers think.
For example, in the Bay Area, railing against progressive ideology and pointing out the hypocrisy and failings of Democrats isn't a recipe for popularity.
I've also lost friends for defending the rights of immigrants, pedophiles, and sex workers, among other things.
From my perspective, if people de-friend me because of something I've said in defense of a cause that is just, then it is their failing, not mine. If you want to reach me, you have to make good arguments, and present solid evidence. I try to be unmoved by slurs and threats of ostracism. (Though I am human, and even unjust accusations by people I thought were friends do sting.)
I can understand how some of my newer readers might be suspicious of my motives, but you've known me for years. We've even worked together.
Have you known me to say anything unkind about someone on the basis of their religion or race? Or been anything but welcoming to people of other races?
Would a Nazi advocate for the right of all people of all countries to immigrate to the US, to be free to live and work here as equals of US citizens? Yet I've made that case many times. Do Nazis constantly rail against the state, warning of accumulations of excessive state power? Are Nazis typically pro-gay marriage? Oppose executive orders? Denounce the US government for turning away Jews during WWII?
So, it didn't occur to me to denounce Nazis because it seems so obvious to me that it's an evil ideology. I also assumed that my lack of sympathy for Nazi ideology was obvious, given the other positions I've taken.
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> Without a condemnation of Nazis, making a philosophical defense of them (but not Islamic extremists) reads like nothing other than an excuse to support white supremacists.
Just so that it's perfectly clear, I support the free speech rights of ISIS members as much as I do Nazis. However, I don't comment often about Middle Eastern issues because I don't know much about that region of the world. And ISIS only has sporadic, and marginal influence on my life in the US.
Whereas I know a lot more about Republicans. My parents are staunch Republicans. I grew up in the most Republican state in the US. Republicans control the US government about half the time. The current president is Republican. So I'm much more confident about my opinions about Republicans than I am about my opinions of ISIS.
And while my Trump-supporting Mom and I disagree on many issues--sex work, religion, drugs, and immigration to name a few--to accuse her of being a Nazi is ridiculous.
> Archer, please take this as sincere advice. You give the outward appearance of at least negligibly siding with the Nazis, as you vocally and passionately defend the right for Nazis to speak, organize, and presumably arm themselves too.
> That's a very bad look that you might want to reconsider if you don't want to lose a whole bunch of friends.
> "Doesn't necessarily mean I'm a Nazi" really doesn't cut it as you defend their right to organize and recruit.
Yes, I'm aware that taking unpopular positions causes me to lose some readers and friends.
However, I make an effort to advocate for what I believe is right, irrespective of what my peers think.
For example, in the Bay Area, railing against progressive ideology and pointing out the hypocrisy and failings of Democrats isn't a recipe for popularity.
I've also lost friends for defending the rights of immigrants, pedophiles, and sex workers, among other things.
From my perspective, if people de-friend me because of something I've said in defense of a cause that is just, then it is their failing, not mine. If you want to reach me, you have to make good arguments, and present solid evidence. I try to be unmoved by slurs and threats of ostracism. (Though I am human, and even unjust accusations by people I thought were friends do sting.)
I can understand how some of my newer readers might be suspicious of my motives, but you've known me for years. We've even worked together.
Have you known me to say anything unkind about someone on the basis of their religion or race? Or been anything but welcoming to people of other races?
Would a Nazi advocate for the right of all people of all countries to immigrate to the US, to be free to live and work here as equals of US citizens? Yet I've made that case many times. Do Nazis constantly rail against the state, warning of accumulations of excessive state power? Are Nazis typically pro-gay marriage? Oppose executive orders? Denounce the US government for turning away Jews during WWII?
So, it didn't occur to me to denounce Nazis because it seems so obvious to me that it's an evil ideology. I also assumed that my lack of sympathy for Nazi ideology was obvious, given the other positions I've taken.
----
> Without a condemnation of Nazis, making a philosophical defense of them (but not Islamic extremists) reads like nothing other than an excuse to support white supremacists.
Just so that it's perfectly clear, I support the free speech rights of ISIS members as much as I do Nazis. However, I don't comment often about Middle Eastern issues because I don't know much about that region of the world. And ISIS only has sporadic, and marginal influence on my life in the US.
Whereas I know a lot more about Republicans. My parents are staunch Republicans. I grew up in the most Republican state in the US. Republicans control the US government about half the time. The current president is Republican. So I'm much more confident about my opinions about Republicans than I am about my opinions of ISIS.
And while my Trump-supporting Mom and I disagree on many issues--sex work, religion, drugs, and immigration to name a few--to accuse her of being a Nazi is ridiculous.