Freedom from speech is not freedom from consequences, no matter how much people whine about the consequences of their speech. Freedom of speech means that you can say something ignorant and bigoted without the government stopping you. It also means that I can respond by calling your statement ignorant and bigoted. I can even share my opinion that you are an ignorant bigot. I can shout to anybody who will listen that you have made ignorant, bigoted statements and that I think you are an ignorant bigot.
Unless I’m saying something that qualifies as slander or libel (which cannot be the case if what I’m saying is true or a reasonably and honestly held opinion), or there is some actual crime committed along the way, I can say what I want about your hateful, divisive rhetoric. How others respond to that is up to them as well. If your parents, university, peer groups, or others do not want to associate with you becuase they learn something true about you, that is your problem.
My issue with people taking offense or otherwise claiming that there is something wrong with naming and shaming the people involved in the Unite the Right (Unite the Reich, is probably a more appropriate name) or other similar events is this: If your beliefs are such that you do not want the world to know about them, you need to reexamine your beliefs.
People are often more willing to espouse their white nationalist or other racist beliefs than they were several years ago. While they are doing this, many of them seem to want to hide behind the perceived anonymity that either large crowds or the internet provide to them. They are either too ashamed or too cowardly to show their views openly and without the perceived protection of anonymity.
The United States is a democracy whose people care deeply about free speech. Generally speaking, this is not a country where people need to worry about getting killed just for their beliefs. In a country such as this, any belief worth having is worth having openly, freely and proudly. If you have beliefs that you cannot share in a society such as this, even unpopular ones, then your beliefs are the problem.
These people are embarrassed or ashamed. They should be embarassed and ashamed. They should feel every ounce of social pressure available exerted upon them. They should understand that their selfish, 19th century approach to race relations is not what the vast majority of Americans want it to be. They need to see that, to the extent they are being marginalized, they are marginalizing themselves.
They need to understand that like it or not, Americans are white, brown, black, Jewish, Christian, Muslim and that they can either stand with their fellow Americans, or be run over by the progress that is made when people of diverse backgrounds and upbringings work together to build and further one of the most diverse, dynamic, resilient and powerful societies in the history of the world.
I hear the counter-argument though. “Look at what happened to that guy at Google. He got fired for sharing his beliefs just because they were not part of the liberal social justice warrior talking points.” “We have to march on Google to stand up for ourselves.”
That man, who I am not going to name here, did not get fired for sharing his beliefs. That man attacked the abilities of females in general to do certain kinds of work in the tech field. He lumped them together based upon nothing but their gender and pseudo-science. That man did not get fired for having objectionable beliefs. He got fired for disrespecting his coworkers and his bosses, and for damaging the image of one of the largest, most visible, and powerful tech companies in the world. He did not get fired for trying to start a discussion, he got fired for trying to start a fight. He was not targeted for his beliefs, but for his actions that damaged the company.
At its core, the problem with these Alt-Right activists is that their real goal is to start a fight.
I have no issue with the fact that pictures are going around naming, shaming and identifying the people who took part in the deplorable rally to save the monument to an American traitor. If that crosses over to harassment, doxing or similar behavior, I do have a problem with that and so should you. I do not have a problem with families, friends, communities and groups vocally and publicly disavowing these people and their hateful, divisive ideas.
Most people clearly do not want to be associated with this movement, as evidenced by most of the responses to the rally, including those from the Detroit Red Wings and Tiki Brand. Reputation is important, and most people, including many of these white nationalist, recognize that association with white nationalism and its similar movements are toxic to reputations. That is why people want to disavow any connections to them and why many of its own members want to hide in the proverbial shadows.
However, if you are going to bring this filth out into public and march in support of racial hostility, you do not get to hide. You should not get to hide. You do not get to drag down the public discourse of this nation and then sit back without any consequences. You made your filthy bed, now you get to lie in it. If your acting upon your hate costs you friends, family, reputation or the respect of others, or any of the other things you can lose when you lose those things, that is entirely your fault and your problem. If you do not like it, have the shame you ought and keep your hate to yourself. Do not burden the rest of us with your insecurities.
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