Flying Squirrel
Flying Squirrel's JournalBurying the Lie of the Alt-Left
BRANKO MARCETIC
It's time to stop pretending that the same people fighting white supremacists are somehow exactly like them.
(snip)
The term was always intellectually lazy and dishonest, but veracity was never its point. Rather, it was an evolution of the “Bernie Bro” slur, a way to dismiss left-wing critiques of centrist Democrats by claiming those espousing them were racist, misogynistic, white men, even when they were people of color, women, or both. The insertion of the “alt” label was key — without needing to say a thing, the term drew up an affinity and connection between modern, rebranded white supremacists and those campaigning for universal health care and a higher minimum wage.
(snip)
Well, the neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville took place, and the same people who some have spent months dismissing as closet racists were on the front line, risking bodily harm to stand up against white supremacy. The International Socialist Organization (ISO) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) were part of the counter-protest, and their flags flew high after the alt-right marchers had gone. The DSA started a fundraiser to cover the injuries sustained by those attacked at the event, which has raised $138,000 as of the time of writing. Two of its members were injured in the attack on the protests. So were the family members of a staffer at Truthout, a publication that was critical of Clinton during the 2016 election, and one of whose journalists has featured on the “Trumpian Leftism” Tumblr as a “Bernie Bro” and alt-left member.
Or let’s look at Heather Heyer, the murdered young woman who is so far the only casualty of Saturday’s right-wing attack. Heyer was a committed civil rights activist, whose mother, Susan Bro, said “always had a very strong sense of right and wrong.” She was also a Bernie Sanders supporter.
(snip)
The Left are neither supporters of white supremacy, nor supporters of Trump, and they never have been. But if liberals join the Left, they can help take the fight to the far right and end the seemingly neverending string of political violence committed by white supremacists. Uniting around this issue is a moral imperative.
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Full article:
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/08/charlottesville-alt-right-left-bernie-bros
I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the Republican Party.
I have never voted for a Republican in my life, nor will I ever.
McCarthyism is running rampant against anyone who would dare support Bernie Sanders on Democratic Underground for the 2020 nomination -- particularly if they also post (and recommend posts) on jackpineradicals.com. Recommending a thread there is turned into the equivalent of a blood oath. It's absurd and extreme, but that's apparently where we are now.
So, in this bizarro environment, where the accusations of being a non-Democrat are flying left and right from people who were not even members of this website when I joined in 2007 (or even years later), I have to make a journal post in a safe haven group to point out the obvious: If I were a right-wing troll, I would not still be here.
Since I expect the attacks upon myself to continue, I'll just post this here and link to it from now on whenever anyone tries to smear me as a Trump supporter. If the post is hidden, which also would not surprise me (although on what grounds I can't imagine -- I am only defending my right to post in support of Sanders 2020 without being viciously attacked in violation of DU's TOS -- I'll just have to copy and paste.
Thanks.
I am a Democrat who supports Bernie Sanders.
I have voted Democratic my entire life (my first vote was for Dukakis in 1988). I am the democratic base, and so are other Bernie supporters.
To call me a misogynist because I support him is hurtful and divisive.
To say I am not part of the party's base because I support him is hurtful and divisive.
To imply I am racist because I do not support the Establishment's latest challenger to him is hurtful and divisive.
To say Bernie is "too old" is ageist and a violation of DU's Terms of Service.
To attack Bernie and his supporters within the Democratic Party is a violation of DU's Terms of Service. To continue to reference his supporters as "bros" is hurtful and divisive.
I am still a member of this website, until such time as the administration decides otherwise; and on behalf of all Bernie supporters on this site, I demand that the TOS be followed with regard to us.
As far as I can tell, there is only one side re-fighting the primaries on this website and trashing those they disagree with. It needs to stop.
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Why we have this rule: Our forum members support and admire a wide variety of Democratic politicians and public figures. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but our members don't expect to see Democrats viciously denigrated on this website.
This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders).
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Why we have this rule: Most of our members want this to be forward-looking, friendly community that is focused on creating a better future for our country. Continuing to rehash old fights that have already been resolved is divisive and counter-productive.
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This post is a request for civility and the following of DU's TOS. It is not flamebait.
Thank you.
Profile Information
Name: Skinner Sucks ShitGender: Do not display
Member since: Fri Aug 20, 2010, 06:40 PM
Number of posts: 3,041
