Just Words: The Results of Hate Speech Part II
Today a 89 year old man with a Confederate flag and a rifle walked up to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and opened the door. His website and his book unfurl his feelings towards Jews and Blacks. He is not so important, as is his symbolism.
In the last few weeks, we have seen three isolated violent incidents with firearms in this country; one against American sold, iers at their office, one against an abortion Doctor at his church, and now, days after Obama's visit to the German killing fields, a shooting at the Holocaust Museum.
For the last two months, or more, we have heard individuals in this country decry the Obama administration, pray that he fails, say that Al-Queda should hurry up if they wish to destroy America, call a nominee for the Supreme Court a racist, and on and on and on.
This is a newsflash for us, and for those who have spoken such hate-filled speech; there are more old and young people like James Von Braunn. They may look on success or failure, be educated or ignorant, and may be insane, or sane.
Mr. Von Braunn was not a terrorist from the middle east; he was a WWII veteran and an author.
Sometimes all people need is a little push, just a tap. Sometimes all they need to hear is the "sign" they have been awaiting. Sometimes, it is just words they overhear.
We have no idea what pushed Mr. Von Braunn, but this we must be aware of; there are countless others out among us like him, waiting, for an opportunity, a push, or just a sign.
Obama and Powell and those who want a better, more peaceful world will use power and words to inspire the world. And Rush Limbaugh and Shaun Hannity and Ann Coulter and others will blame, and ridicule, and use division to inspire their troops that stay in dark corners of America, waiting for the next sign.
If signs come, some will react. If they fail to come, some will take the lead, and move further.
Some of us want this to truly be a country, and a world, that is inclusive and representative of all. Some of us do not.
These are matters for ones heart. The Limbaughs and Coulters of the world will have to ask the right questions, and have the epiphany--or not. We never could, though we might hope to.
Words matter. Bad words inform, inspire, and motivate just as much as good ones. They appeal even more sometimes, and seem easier to turn into action in a world like ours.
Words matter.
Joe, this guy was a long-term, hardcore white supremacist and anti-Semite. He was 89 years old and his first violent attack was in 1981, according to TPM Muckraker. I don't think his frame of mind springs from "hate speech" - unless it's his own.
June 10, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
But you have to pay attention to what crap is being spewed recently. Yes, he was a hateful nut. But there's a lot of talk, a lot of outright anti-Obama propaganda, going around. There's a lot of affirmation of hate for those who go looking for it. I'm sure Braunn felt justified to do what he did, and this didn't just come from his twisted mind either.
June 10, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second attack. In one of his scribblings he describes going to jail for punching a cop.
June 10, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Curt has a point. But I think that some hate speech fans the flames of hatred and indifference to human life. In this case an innocent was shot. An innocent man doing a job for some small salary.
When McVeigh committed his act of terrorism, he ended up killing innocent children and innocent civil servants.
This was a very strange act of violence.
June 10, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel a climate out there. It has racheted up lately, and everything to do with those who hate Obama, and hate the chnges in 2009, and who want things to be the way they used to be.
This climaate of hate is powerful, palpable, and is why Rush and Coulter and Hannity coninue to feed it more and more. Perhaps this and other incidents are isolated, yet they are connected by their POV tht political arguments in desperation turn to violence as an end.
June 10, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel that climate too.
I'm a white man living in New York so I can't say that hatred in this country is really only now starting to elevate, with the murder of Dr. Tiller last week and the murder of an innocent guard at the Holocaust Museum today.
There are thousands if not millions of people who experience hatred firsthand every day of their lives-and it's been going on forever.
The words of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly and Limbaugh and other pro-hate radiovangelists have been laced with racially charged rhetoric for a few years now, though, at least.
No doubt, the election of President Obama has heightened both blatant racism and latent racism, and it's spilling out in the form of violence.
I wish this weren't the case, but as history shows, this is one consequence of change.
It's a despicable consequence, and it might get worse.
June 10, 2009 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
One more thing relevant to your post, Joe.
When a hate crime occurs, it always bothered me to hear anyone say "he acted alone".
When it comes to racism, there's no such thing as "acting alone".
There's no such thing as a "lone wolf".
Let's get rid of that flawed mentality.
Hate speech and hate crimes are sociological, not just psychological. It's a mob mentality.
June 10, 2009 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment.
June 10, 2009 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
The website of Von Brunn's has now been removed, though it was there earlier this afternoon.
Like its going to make a difference now.
Unless you are prepared to go after everyone, I don't see what's the point, other than making a token gesture out of respect for the dead officer.
I guess that's the least that can be done.
What is more important than taking down websites is that we don't give up on people, unless its for their own good. Almost every American knows some friend or family member who is a racist or bigot. But we probably just accept it and say, "Well, that's how he is, God love em."
Perhaps that isn't good enough. Like the show Intervention, we all should probably tell that uncle or grandfather or war buddy we respect and love what we truly think, and try to respect them by telling them the truth, instead of deferring or pacifying them by changing the subject. Perhaps some arguments are worth having, if you truly love and respect them.
June 10, 2009 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Just Words: The Results of Hate Speech...."
I'm curious how you define hate speech. Right now, it seems as though your definition is loose and flexible enough that it can always be applied to whoever disagrees wtih you.
You seem to include people like Coulter in the category of those who use hate speech. By that logic, would it mean that half of TPM is engaged in hate speech against opposition? For instance, a post up right now about treason?
What is hate speech?
June 11, 2009 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your question sums up the most significant flaw of hate speech laws in Europe and Canada. The definition of hate speech, combined with political power and high dudgeon, always to defaults to its arbiters' discretion: "Hate speech is any speech I don't like."
June 11, 2009 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
imo, 'hate speech' either recommends violence, leads other people to believe that violent means to an end are ok or leads to violence.
These days, I believe we are seeing more and more of this kind of speech.
Just this morning I was having coffee with 2 friends. They began amping up about illegal immigrants. They were spouting propaganda that I know to be false and one ended up espousing violence though I know for a fact she would never commit such acts. If someone else did, though, I imagine she would not be upset about it.
Meanwhile, neither was willing to listen to me when I attempted to insert a few facts into the conversation.
imnsho, I was witnessing hate speech, pure and simple -- assuming it CAN be simple.
June 12, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink