ID: 3 panel comic:
A surprised looking person pops in to existence on a floating rock surrounded by fire, next to the devil.
The person asks "wait a second-- why'd I end up in hell??"
The devil, now taking up the entire frame, replies: "because centrism enables fascism"
First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
- Martin Luther King Jr, Letter from the Birmingham Jail
Context for readers: The direct action MLK Jr spoke of was political action and progressive legislative reform. The reason I bring this up is sometimes Tankies and Anarchists use his words to incite violence, which MLK Jr would strictly oppose.
Non-violent protest is an opening offer, not the endgame. It's a promise not to be violent so long as there's an honest dialoge.
Without the threat of eventual violence, they have no reason to listen at all.
You're not arguing against me, you are arguing against civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. and he can't hear you.
Says the white moderate who was taught so by the establishment that doesn't want you to consider violent opposition to their violent oppression a viable option, which he absolutely did, as, without even the slightest sense of irony because the reality is going over their head in its entirety, they tell you they "agree with you in the goal you seek, but cannot agree with your methods of direct action”.
Perhaps educate yourself on MLK and what he actually stood for, rather than what those who murdered him for opposing them want you to know, before you so confidently spread misinformation and continue in the task of whitewashing his legacy.
"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones. Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself.”
1964, I guess white oppressors forced him to write this.
I have to say, growing up very left wing, I find myself taking a left leaning but centrist attitude to a fair few topics as I age.
Honestly, a big part of it is the lack of planning and delusional thought tank of the left. The right is far worse and I certainly don't agree with them, but I disagree with the OP and a lot of the general sentiment in the comments.
The world isn't black and white, you cannot be sensibly left or right for every political topic. You need to assess what's best for everyone. Politics has become like UK football hooliganism, you're either with or against and anyone on the other side apparently needs their heads kicked in.
Accepting that getting more conservative as you age is normal is just an admission that you're fine with being the next generation's "boomer" equivalent.
Life isn't black and white, but some things in life can be. E.g. when someone gets on TV to talk about the risks of climate change and the station puts them next to another talking head who shares their own alternative facts disputing it, there's no "middle ground" that is somehow more correct. There's a factually correct take and there's politicized bullshit.
Disagree with your first sentence entirely.
I didn't admit it's normal, I said it has happened to me. You're proving my point entirely with these generalised sweeping statements, telling me who I am and what I'm fine with.
I agree somewhat with your second paragraph but I don't really know what the point is. I'm not talking about bullshit on TV, I'm talking about real issues affecting populations, are not black and white.
Fuck off somewhere and reassess yourself.
You're talking to a bunch of Americans. Their democrats are centre-right and their republicans are further right, so a centrist over there is just right-wing.
I also consider myself mostly left leaning, but I'm a bit centrist on a few issues.
Eg; I 100% support gay marriage and voted yes in my country's referendum, but I don't think all religious people should be forced to do gay weddings.
I recognise that's a slippery slope which could lead to exclusion, but forcing somebody who despises you to do your wedding doesn't seem like a good idea for anyone involved.
You sound more right wing than American Democrats hun.
Please explain to me how voting to support gay marriage, while not forcing people to go against their religious beliefs is right wing?
I’m of the opinion that the government shouldn’t be allowed to force people to do anything, and they shouldn’t be able to deny people from doing anything that doesn’t harm or impact anyone else.
I totally support trans rights, because the government shouldn’t be able to decide what you do with your own body.
I support abortion for any reason, because you shouldn’t be forced to raise a child if you aren’t 100% prepared to.
I think all teenagers should have access to puberty blockers if they desire, because it’s not the government’s business. If they’re concerned about teenagers not being mature enough to decide to transition, you should at least set them up with the tools necessary to make that decision further down the line.
All doctors should be forced to provide the appropriate medical attention for trans people, regardless of their beliefs, because healthcare is 100% necessary for everyone and should have no biases or politics.
But marriage ceremonies don’t need to be performed by devout catholics/christians/whatever.
There can be marriage ceremonies held by atheists, agnostics, or people of any religion. So there’s no need to force overly religious people who disagree with it into performing the ceremonies.
You’re forcing them to give up their beliefs (however stupid they may be) when it isn’t necessary.
Supporting trans rights, while still also supporting a government that oppresses trans people, is enabling that oppression.
Oh fuck off
Flippant Anarchism. A lighter take on social criticism with the aim of agitation.
Post humorous takes on capitalism and the states which prop it up. Memes, shitposting, screenshots of humorous good takes, discussions making fun of some reactionary online, it all works.
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Don't take yourselves too seriously. Serious posts go to [email protected]
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Join the matrix room for some real-time discussion.