This is a really good framing for how to treat fascists, including so-called “reformed fascists”
So often centrists, but also white “united front” leftists, allocate all their empathy to the fascist because they think “what if I had gone down that path?” In so doing they reveal that, whatever their rhetoric, they think politics is a game and fascism isn’t actually that bad.
“People can change.” OK. “We have to give people an off-ramp from bigotry.” Fine.
But it would be ludicrous to put a reformed spouse beater to work in a soup kitchen serving people fleeing abusive relationships. It would be cruel to put a reformed NAMBLA member to work at a summer camp.
This is so obvious, but “reformed fascists” believe they have a right to have access to spaces with the same people they just prior wanted to eradicate, and some leftists think this is a way to build solidarity?
Come on.
Twitter @BrandonLBradfor
Deradicalization spaces are important, but they cannot be the same spaces built by/for vulnerable populations to feel safe. Incels need an offramp, but it can’t be the women’s shelter.A lot of the “well actually” centrist, surprised they get backlash for saying things like “I’d let a nazi volunteer in my soup kitchen and just throw them out when they crossed a line”……….that’s already too late. Also, you’ve damaged the space now and what it means
TST sued us from April 2020 to September 2024, and we are still here.