As readers have no doubt noticed, I enjoy interacting with those whose views are radically opposed to mine. You could even say I share that with Charlie Kirk, but do it online instead of in public appearances.
It’s not easy. Most of those on the Right would rather engage in ad hominem sniping and then fleeing from any opportunity for discourse.
I try to steer them to the subject at hand by offering an easy-to-use template:
“Dave, I have to say you are stating falsehoods by claiming (_____) and (_______). These verifiable facts and evidence (_____) and (____) suggest you are quite mistaken.
So far, not one of them made use of it, except to make it about me or themselves.
I was pleasantly surprised when my estranged fellow Blogger Darrell commented at my “MAGA Martyrs” post. Something moved him to return to this blog shortly after Charlie Kirk was murdered. Maybe he expected my reaction to be celebratory?
I used to infuriate him whenever I’d point to the fact that Trump’s radical Right share the same tactic Hitler’s Nazis used in demonizing, scapegoating and smearing opponents by labeling them “communists”. Back then, Jews were all painted by the Fuhrer as communists. Today Democrats and progressives are demonized in exactly the same dishonest, and clearly fascist, manner.
True to form, after generously allowing my “seemingly obligatory statement” in condemnation of the murder and condolences to the family, Darrell took issue with the post as a “what about” story. OK, but the piece WAS titled “MAGA Martyrs” and was actually about that subject.
Yes,
instead of discussing the subject of the piece, good ol’ Darrell quickly made
it about me personally, as in being “part of the problem”. That’s what I get
for noting the similarities between Trump and Hitler, or MAGA with German
fascism.
So, he accused me of spewing “Nazi rhetoric”, by saying Nazis smear opponents as communists. Yes, they did, as do Trump and MAGA.
That’s pretty weird way to describe “Nazi rhetoric”. I would think, “Jews will not replace us!” is actual Nazi rhetoric. Falsely accusing opponents as communists and racist tropes about the “great replacement” also sink to the level of Nazi rhetoric.
But, hey, we’ve all learned by now that ONLY the radical Right is allowed to unilaterally define and redefine terms in political discourse. (I just call them out on it.)
Thus am I charged through Darrell’s projection, that I, “demonize and dehumanize others that disagree with you by calling them Nazis and authoritarians”.
It’s a good thing Darrell wouldn’t demonize someone by saying they are a communist who spews Nazi rhetoric…Wait. He actually did that. How authoritarian of him is that?
Anyway,
if anyone shares my slightly sick pleasure of interacting with the radical MAGA
Right, I’ll share our exchange.
~~~~
Darrell wrote:
I don't know why your post even surprises me, Dave. We should denounce all political violence, regardless of the political party of the assailant. I guess you did your seemingly obligatory statement regarding that though before moving on to the all Nazi rhetoric you always spew.
Vance Boelter and Tyler Robinson both should spend the rest of their lives in prison at the very least. And yet you take the story of the political assassination of a conservative and somehow twist this into a "what about" story.
I realize that there are plenty of people on the right that are guilty of this too, but when you demonize and dehumanize others that disagree with you by calling them Nazis and authoritarians, while ironically turning a blind eye to the very party you support of doing authoritarian things in their governance, then you sir, are part of the problem.
I long put up with you on my blog in the hope of building bridges or finding some common ground with someone who thought differently than I did politically. (Kind of like Charlie Kirk used to do.) All you have ever wanted to do is to try to win the argument and denounce in juvenile fashion anyone that had the temerity to be even slightly right of center in disagreeing with you.
How
about we all condemn ALL political violence, regardless of the source as a
starting point, instead of backhandedly justifying it because the other side is
also guilty of the same. I wish you well, sir, but you are just the flip (left)
side to the coin of hatred, my friend.
===
Dave Dubya:
Hi, Darrell.
I'm glad to see you're still with us.
Actually, the post was titled "MAGA Martyrs". It's not a "what about" story. It's a "what is happening" story.
You didn't seem to find any of my points false, or you'd have questioned them or pointed them out with the convenient form I provided above. Of course you need to sneer at my historical comparisons. I learned some things from my father-in-law who served in Patton’s 3rd Army and liberated Buchenwald. I became a serious World War Two History buff and happen to know a lot more about the war and the tyrants who started it than 95% or more of Americans.
I'm with you for condemning all political violence.
But you endorsed political violence by voting for Trump.
Go ahead and get angry and rationalize your beliefs, but I'm stating facts here. These are not false accusations like when you called me a communist, while being unable to cite ANY of my words that endorse communism. Yes, that was exactly what Hitler and his Nazis did to anyone who opposed them. Trump and his Radical Right Republicans do it all the time. WE ARE SICK OF A FASCIST CRIMINAL’S DEMONIZATION, SCAPEGOATING AND LYING! You played the same damn commie card, Darrell. You have no shame because you convince yourself you are correct.
I never directly called you a Nazi, but you actually called me a communist. You allowed your pal unlimited freedom to personally insult me. I don’t take these insults personally, knowing the deep ignorance and animosity behind them
When I say Nazis historically played their demonizing commie card and report Republicans doing the same, you don’t like it. But again, this is REALITY. YOU’VE done it to me.
Darrell, I recall you once stating how much you condemn racists. That would be our common ground.
Another reality you can’t face is Kirk’s racist white nationalism. Yeah, like the Klan and every neo-Nazi, he spews the same racist hate. READ his own words I provided. Refusing to do so just keeps your head in the sand as you desperately cling to the idea Kirk is a “great American”. His glorification and martyrdom will reek of more hate and lies. Count on it.
I believe your psyche isn’t stable enough to reconcile your support for a thug-praising criminal in the White House and his racist propagandist.
The delicate sensibilities of white conservatives are so easily offended. Watch how they spew their bile, lies and hate for Democrats. As I have noted, they can dish it out but can’t take it.
I understand why you need to resort to such a black and white view of reality. It comforts you the feeling YOUR beliefs are the only correct ones, and only America-hating communists disagree with you and Trump.
The difference between us is YOU voted for a CRIMINAL who praised and pardoned thugs for beating cops bloody to overturn a fair election he LIED about being cheated out of by "dementia Joe"?
What kind of people have such an indifference or even support for such vile evil? Fascists and their dupes. Does that still include you? (Still waiting for evidence that the 2020 election was stolen. Still waiting for evidence “They're eating the dogs in Springfield”.)
Those are horrible destructive LIES, Darrell, and Kirk was a racist white nationalist. I keep hoping deep down you realize it. Keep examining your conscience if you haven’t surrendered it completely to Trump.
Then we will truly find common ground in opposing racists and criminals embarrassing and degrading our country. After that we can discuss why tax cuts for the rich, cutting medical research, gutting Medicaid, and decimating the VA aren’t as good for Americans as public education and healthcare. Once again, I am the one supporting our Constitutional taxes, regulation of commerce, and provision for the general welfare.
I
invite you to return to the principles that made America great before Americans
installed the aspiring dictator, Donald Trump. And Trump is being a dictator,
as he accuses journalists for being “enemies of the people”, and
“America-hating commie” Democrats for “destroying America”, and DICTATES what
colleges can teach, what museums can display, and fly OUR flag at half-staff
for a racist.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. ;-)
~~~~
For some reason I don’t think Darrell will return to make his rebuttal.
But I can share a couple snapshots of him that show when he was finally radicalized enough to drink Trump’s koolade.
This
is what Darrell wrote at my blog on Jan 8, 2021:
“Dave, Trump was wrong to give encouragement and a wink and a nod to the protestors and delaying any attempt to rein them back. He was complicit. Sadly this ego maniacal narcissist tarnished the myriad of good things he has done for our country with this latest escapade.”
This
is what Darrell wrote on May 15, 2021:
"Trump
instigates a riot according to the left and the media, but then I repeat
myself. (He didn’t.)”
2 comments:
The rest of the intelligent nations on the planet have made it very clear they are disconnecting from the no longer trustworthy USA. Thanks but no thank Dumb Donnie.
Congratulations to the Dane world for acknowledging Palestinian State and total sovereignty is a human right that Palestinians are rightfully entitled to.
The genocidal Zionist regime of Israel is now shitting in their drawers. Now that China, an emerging super power, will be supplying the Egyptian airforce with advanced technologies rivaling that the US gives the Zionist state to butcher Palestians. To this I say WONDERFUL! It's about time the Israeli/American Empire bromance has its competition.
The arrogance of the Ziomist State and the USA sooner or later had to hit a brick wall. That wall is here and the time is now. Perhaps we should thank Dumb Donnie for accelerating its birth.
Les,
More Americans than ever are demanding that we stop arming and supporting Netanyahu and his IDF's mass slaughter of Gazans. The tide is shifting, as long as we can keep the Christian nationalists out of power.
Where's the "rapture" when we need it?
Our Fearless Leader has been embarrassing us again with his incoherent babbling "Your countries are going to hell" at the UN, and his rambling ignorance and inability to pronounce acetaminophen with his fellow dotard RFK Jr.
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