Bret Devereaux

I understand why we do this framing dance on a regular basis but I think "militia" is functionally synonymous with "right wing domestic terrorist organization" in the lexicon of everybody who actually thinks the latter is a bad thing to behttps://twitter.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1314359098734006272 …

I wonder if part of the issue is militias being mentioned in the constitution and founding history of the US. Militia types probably see themselves as "true patriots" anyway.

I'm sure that's why some people see it as a value neutral or even positive term. I just don't know any of those people, lol

I dislike the use of 'militia' like this, because I think it's inaccurate to the meaning of that word (militias, I'd argue, definitionally are directed by or represent the state or larger community). But I find the strongest feelings re: militia come from miltwitter.

I always figured the American use of the word referred to a localized semi-organized volunteer unit lacking in both standardized training and arms. Adding professionalism was part of the process that converted state militias to the National Guard system.

But the state militia was still sort-of-internally organized. There were ranks, they were responsive to the governor, and they could have federalized, even back before the guard.