Frankly, let me start out by saying outright that I tend to be against public shaming of people in this age of the internet. We have already seen some people wrongly identified and accused of things that, in fact, they did not do. Also, it is an extension of bullying. So, indeed, by and large, I am opposed to this kind of modern day public shaming.
That said, some of the neo-Nazis who gathered in Charlottesville over the weekend have been identified, and it is costing them dearly. Apparently, a few have been identified, and are facing serious consequences when they return home, with possibly even employers terminating their employment.
But given the violence and the reprehensible actions taken by neo-Nazis and other sympathizers to the white supremacy cause, these people deserve it.
This is not the United States that I know. Sure, I have been on the opposing side of likely a majority of political positions by winning candidates and elected officials before. I certainly have stood opposed to actions taken, such as the invasion of Iraq, or the bank bailout, and so on and so forth. But this level of violence by people who reject everything about American democracy and reject any pretense of equality and diversity is reprehensible beyond anything else that we have seen in recent decades. We must remember that the United States fought a war to defeat Nazis, and it was not so that so-called neo-Nazis could essentially feel that they took over when the most pathetic excuse for a president took over. These people believe that President Trump is their ticket to restoring white supremacy in the United States, and it must be roundly rejected. Trump's own words, and his continued waffling and refusal to condemn white supremacists as solely responsible for what happened over the weekend is exactly the kind of double speak and dishonest, shady posturing that detractors of Trump, like myself, warned about.
Of course, Trump is officially the president, the man in charge in the White House, and so we need to keep resisting and speaking out against his pathetic actions. Quite frankly, he is the most arrogant man in the world, and I do not say that lightly. Who else but Donald Trump thinks that being a billionaire from building his vulture capitalist empire truly qualifies him for the highest office in the land? And who else but Trump truly would think that he is being fair and rational when he rejects "all sides" for the violence over the weekend, when we all know, and can plainly see from the weapons that neo-Nazis brought with them, that the violence was by their design before these events ever took place? Trump flip flops, and although he blasted Obama for being unable or unwilling to call out Islamic extremists by name, he himself has apparently the same problem with white supremacists, who apparently constitute a significant portion of his base.
That, however, is Trump, and we will have to deal with him for another three years and change, at least.
However, the people who outright physically went to Virginia and attacked others need to be made to understand that this is not only unacceptable, but criminal behavior, and will not stand. They need to be made to understand that there are consequences for their actions, and that if they engage in these actions, they will face these kinds of consequences. Period. There should be no ambiguity about it.
There are images of some of the neo-Nazis holding torches and marching in Virginia over the weekend actually trying to hide their faces when cameras were clicking.
I thought they were supposed to stand up, loud and proud? Well, in this day and age, when every image and every recorded word can stick, let these embarrassments remember forever what they stood for. And if they reject so many in the name of a narrow worldview, then I for one will not cry if they are publicly shamed and lose their jobs and other crucial aspects of modern life. They brought it on themselves with their despicable actions this past weekend. For God's sake, the United States fought a war against Nazism, and that was not so that these idiots could fly swastikas and carry torches and do straight arm salutes some 70+ years later, pretending that they are in Nazi Germany, rather than the United States of the 21st century.
Those who are responsible for what happened this weekend need to be made to understand, and in no uncertain terms, that this kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable. It is criminal behavior, and they should be dealt with like criminals are dealt with right now in this country. If that means they lose their jobs, so be it. If that means that they are thrown in jail, possibly for years, and have a record from it, then so be it. If we treat millions of people in such a manner for some nonviolent crimes, then certainly we can do the same with those who outright either are the cause of such violence, or who stood and/or still stand with those who did.
Indeed, if we believe, or even pretend to believe, in something like deterrence, then others who might flirt with joining some neo-Nazi organizations should clearly see that there are consequences to these actions. That they are associating with criminals, and that if they believe in their actions so strongly, then they had better be willing to pay the consequences.
So, I am in support of the people who were photographed begin identified and shamed, losing their jobs, or whatever else happens. Again, if we believe in anything like the law and order that this president claims to espouse, then we need to apply this to lawbreakers who support President Trump, as well.
It cannot be otherwise. We could send no worse message than to look the other way, or allow these criminals to get away with outright criminal behavior.
People are identifying the Charlottesville Nazis and getting them fired POSTED BY: ANTON WORONCZUK AUGUST 13, 2017:
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