Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[EpicRandy]

CGI-Quality said:

TonsofPuppies said:

One of the largest components of fascism is the suppression / censorship of those whom oppose you - Russia, for example, is clearly exercising fascistic tactics upon its own people by arresting them for peacefully protesting, etc. Antifa operates in a similar fashion, using tactics such as doxxing and threats of violence against property and/or people to achieve their goals. Shutting down right-leaning or conservative speakers on college campuses for instance. I have no problem with them staging a counter protest against a speaker they disagree with, the line for me is crossed when they do not allow that speaker to speak and don't allow the people who want to hear them speak, do so.

Fascism is actually a far-right nationalist's way of thinking and "Antifa" (and I use quotations since that group is nothing close to organized) doesn't have widespread support of an authoritarian government. So calling them "fascists" is about as loose as it gets and I wouldn't put them in that category even if I can see why they would be lumped in.

That said, I heard about their shutting down of Ben Shapiro from a college campus. Of course I feel people should have a right to speak (so long as they don't advocate for violence), but I can also see why someone like him has folks trying to shut them down. There are just several layers that need to be considered.

In the case of Putin, he gets no such forgiveness. 

The right to speak doesn't come with the obligation from anyone to offer you a stage to speak. Refusing to hear someone you don't agree with from speaking using your medium is actually, in and of itself, an exercise of your own right to speak.