zorg1000 said:
It’s not “the other side does bad stuff too”’ it’s “the left says mean things online while the right actually carries out violent and hateful acts”. What the user said about killing Republicans is disgusting and unacceptable but the two sides are not the same in terms of the actual actions they take. Also, “left wing extremists” do not make up a notable chunk of politicians at the federal, state or local level unlike “right wing extremists” who have been doing everything in their power to strip away rights and support the man who tried to overturn an election. Right Wing extremists-unwavering support for the criminal justice system that disproportionately beats, imprisons & kills racial minorities. Disenfranchise minorities with racial gerrymandering and cutting back voting rights. Ban & criminalize people who receive or perform reproductive healthcare & block protections for contraceptives. Ban transgender healthcare, criminalize parents who support their trans children, ban drag queens & label them groomers and ban books about LGBT topics. Attempt to reverse no fault divorce. Cut back child labor laws. Refuse to raise the minimum wage. Make it harder to join a union. Cut back gun safety laws. Treat all asylum seekers & immigrants like they are murderers, rapists & human traffickers. Support banning Muslims from entering the country & forcing schools to display & teach Christian values. Criminalize the homeless. Cut taxes/regulations for the rich/corporations & reduce spending on things like healthcare, education, infrastructure & safety net programs. Ignore science and do nothing to reduce the impact of the pandemic & climate change. Spread lies about voter fraud and support overturning elections if they don’t go their way. Left wing extremists-support protecting rights for workers, women & minorities (racial, religious, immigrant, LGBT, etc). Raise taxes/regulations on the rich/corporations to fund increased spending on healthcare, education, infrastructure, housing, public safety, scientific research, the environment, safety net programs. Will say mean things to/about bigots online. |
I'm not defending or endorsing the right. I'm not a right winger myself, I fall more on the centre left on most issues.
But terrorising people for disagreeing with you, calling for violence and murder against those you disagree with, systematically dehumanising, harassing and excluding those who don't conform to your beliefs, this is abhorrent behaviour, and it doesn't even actually help your cause because it drives those in the middle into the arms of the alt right.
