I did NOT "defend the Klan"

[MadHound]

106. You made the mistake of going against the popular political narrative

Choosing instead to stick with the truth. Sometimes that is not a way to win friends and influence people. Most people don't know the ins and outs of history, the treasure trove of minute details that makes history so challenging, enlightening and entertaining. Instead, people latch onto a simplistic historical narrative and defend it vigorously because they become emotionally tied to it over time.

But you are right, the Klan, despite being the vicious, terrorist organization that we all loathe and reject, did engage in social and political reforms. They backed the 18th amendment, which brought us Prohibition(a rather progressive ideal at the time). They also would fight on the side of unions during the '20's, including a miner's strike that was brought about by the Wobblies(IWW). Members of the Women's KKK also did serious work for the suffrage movement as well.

The KKK exemplifies the contradictions in right wing populism in this country. On the one hand, RW populism strikes some very progressive, even liberal, stances on social issues, yet all the while being vicious bigots and racists. This strand of political thought is also still evident today in the form of libertarianism, just check out Ron and Rand Paul.

So don't back down from your position, historically you are correct. For those of you who want a source for my comments, go read the book "Right Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort" by Chip Berlet and Matthew N. Lyons. You'll find out this this is the historical reality. By acknowledging that historical reality, you don't elevate the Klan, just the truth and the pursuit of understanding a complicated subject.