I'm guessing most of my followers support randomly punching Nazis. I don't. Let me try to explain why:
-
-
Replying to @ContraPoints
Premise one is that physically attacking your political opponents is inherently illiberal and uncivilized and an absolute last resort.
5 replies 13 retweets 55 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
I realize Nazism is itself the very extreme of illiberality and incivility. But don't confuse attacking an idea with attacking a person.
6 replies 9 retweets 48 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
You might argue that we need to "make racists afraid again" and that punching Richard Spenser "worked" because now he's afraid to go out.
3 replies 12 retweets 31 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
So he's afraid. But he's still a Nazi. Racists don't stop being racist because they're afraid. They go underground & encrypt their rhetoric.
6 replies 15 retweets 60 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
You might argue that Nazis are irrational and can't be persuaded. So our only option is to beat and intimidate them into silence.
1 reply 7 retweets 22 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
This to me sounds like the forsaking of liberal democratic values—do you have so little faith in public rationality, in your own principles?
3 replies 11 retweets 41 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
Liberal, tolerant society will always have fringes of illiberalism. I'd rather face those fringes head on.
6 replies 14 retweets 35 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
We can't do that if they're forced into secrecy by violence and intimidation. I'd rather let them spout their ugliness unfiltered.
1 reply 12 retweets 32 likes -
Replying to @ContraPoints
That way we can directly expose it for what it is and subject it to public opposition and critique.
4 replies 10 retweets 25 likes
I believe that public critique can work because I believe democracy works.
-
-
Replying to @ContraPoints
If you admit that violence and intimidation are the only way to win, you sound to me like you've given up on democracy.
21 replies 139 retweets 438 likes - 7 more replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.
Business email: info@contrapoints.com