The Herald this morning reported that an Australian white-supremacist group are compiling a "hit list" of Australian and New Zealand "communists, anti-facists, anarchists, homosexuals, [and] multiculturalists". Our local racist thugs are of course assisting.
The best response so far is that of Civil Unions campaigner Jeremy Lambert, who asks "Where do I sign up?"
As one of the main people that Redwatch Downunder is trying to gain info on, I found Jeremy's response pretty offensive.
ReplyDeleteSure, it was mildly amusing (and extraordinarily arrogant), but, at the end of the day, Redwatch Downunder is based on Redwatch UK, a website that has caused the firebombing of houses and the beatings of several activists.
Unlike Jeremy, some of us are taking Redwatch very seriously, for a damn good reason.
I agree with Asher
ReplyDeleteFrom the outside, yeah it was funny, go Jeremy.
But he needs to realise there are real people, really good activists, getting identified and threatened by these lunatic freaks that call themselves nazis.
Good on him, I reckon. What these people really, really want is to be taken seriously. They want to cause a stir, and these kind of reactions play into their hands. I think too many people are taking themselves a bit too seriously.
ReplyDeleteDavid - Have you had your grandparents gravestones attacked by neo-nazis?
ReplyDeleteHave you been followed down Cuba St (one of the main streets in Welly) by 3 neo-nazis, who have been sent your photo by people who have emailed you threats against your life?
No?
I didn't think so.
Asher: I think in this case, The Police Are Your Friend. As is a PXT phone and ss 307 ("threatening to kill") and 311 ("attempting to incite or procure") of the Crimes Act.
ReplyDeleteAs for Jeremy's response, I think that public contempt - and pointing out that there are rather a lot of "communists, anti-facists, anarchists, homosexuals, [and] multiculturalists" - is the best way of preventing a culture of intimidation and thuggery from getting established.
I/S - The police know all about this, and have not done anything. I agree, when it comes to fascists, the police are useful, although this too has it's limits - one police unit is in charge of monitoring both far right and far left activism, and the cops sure aren't overly excited to be helping out the very people they abuse and arrest normally, although that said, they do hate the fascists far more than they hate us.
ReplyDeleteNo question, public humiliation will prevent the fascists gaining a strong foothold in our culture. At the end of the day though, all it takes is one lone nutter to cause serious damage. This is especially true when they realise (as they have) that going the "legitimate" political route is never going to bring about their aims or achieve any success.
Mockery has the potential to be counterproductive. I do not want some wingnut firebombing my house so that I will take him more seriously.
ReplyDeleteNot a reason to refrain from mockery perhaps, but certainly grounds for taking appropriate safety measures.
David, if you look at some of the players on the skinhead side, you will see a track-record of violence and intimidation. There is much about them that is laughable and stupid, but they are capable of doing real harm for all that. If my name were on that list I would be concerned.