It's very sad to write this statement and I have never thought that it will be needed to point out that animal rights movement has nothing to do with nazism, fascism, racism and other bigotries. It just was so clear. Obviously not for others. . .
Animal rights movement always has been against all kind of oppressions. Or at least it seems so. But right extremists try to join the movement and bring their views again and again, they often see animal rights as a perfect platform for their propaganda. The message is clear, there is no place for fascism and racism. And never will be! And still debates are going on: should we let nazis to join animal rights movement or not?
First of all, how did this idea come to someone's minds? How could someone who stands for animal rights even have such concerns? How can we simply like that forget all the history and let fascists stand with us for one cause and at the same time spread their hate? Do we so desperately need big numbers on demos? Are there hundreds of nazis waiting to join the movement that we so terrified and simply cannot say no?
Often people tell me that things are changing, we do not kill others just because of their race or sexual orientation, and those so called nationalists do not hate everyone who is not from their country, some even have friends of different race or sexual orientation. Wow, such an argument! My only recommendation to that is to learn about analytic thinking, find out what fallacy in discussion stands for and do some research. Shorty: no, the fact that You know someone from oppressed group does not make You a supporter from the whole group. (Putin has a homosexual friend (according to him), does that make him LGBT community supporter and the rest does not matter? Obviously NOT, same goes here).
Yes, many forms of hate have softened since World Wars, but even if it is become somehow uncomfortable for individuals to express their bigotry openly (most of the time), it doesn't mean that it does not exist. The change of form did not make it disappear. This fascistic hate still spreads around and sadly sometimes on behalf of animal rights/welfare.
First of all, how did this idea come to someone's minds? How could someone who stands for animal rights even have such concerns? How can we simply like that forget all the history and let fascists stand with us for one cause and at the same time spread their hate? Do we so desperately need big numbers on demos? Are there hundreds of nazis waiting to join the movement that we so terrified and simply cannot say no?
Often people tell me that things are changing, we do not kill others just because of their race or sexual orientation, and those so called nationalists do not hate everyone who is not from their country, some even have friends of different race or sexual orientation. Wow, such an argument! My only recommendation to that is to learn about analytic thinking, find out what fallacy in discussion stands for and do some research. Shorty: no, the fact that You know someone from oppressed group does not make You a supporter from the whole group. (Putin has a homosexual friend (according to him), does that make him LGBT community supporter and the rest does not matter? Obviously NOT, same goes here).
Yes, many forms of hate have softened since World Wars, but even if it is become somehow uncomfortable for individuals to express their bigotry openly (most of the time), it doesn't mean that it does not exist. The change of form did not make it disappear. This fascistic hate still spreads around and sadly sometimes on behalf of animal rights/welfare.
Some activists even openly invite nazis join demos or actions to liberate animals, because [animals do not care who helps them] [it should be about animals, leave human politics behind]. Their invites often seem harmless like [of course I'm against racism, but if someone who is not wants to help the cause they are more than welcome]. And here we need to stop and start questioning if everyone is welcome really means everyone. Obviously not. All kind of activism deals with people, animal rights activists are people as well. We cannot simply forget human rights, wipe them out like nothing and collaborate with fascists. We cannot really fight for animal rights when we still doubt the need of human rights (ok, most of people don't, they say they are for human rights, but their actions and words prove differently). And all open hints to invite fascists just show the lack of understanding (or at least I hope so, because another option - understanding the danger of it too well and inviting nazis on purpose seems like unrealistic and way too well planned move; why someone from animal rights would do something like that?!) of the whole picture and idea of the movement.
Others say that we need to be open to everyone and animal rights it's a good platform to educate fascists about issues on human rights. If You really feel like educating them, maybe You should go and educate them somewhere else, like join anti-fascistic events (as many animal rights activists already do). This ignorance or lack of understanding certainly helps to assure that fascism sticks around and it will be even more difficult to stop it.
Nazi sympathisers play an important role in the whole scene. Any kind of sympathy just gives encouragement to those who spread their violence. Because of their unwillingness to cooperate with those who search for ways to bring justice, those sympathisers also share responsibility for spreading the hate. But there are thousands if not millions of individuals who would not dream of committing any kind of hate crime (in this case "hate crime" can be misleading, as it not always comes from "hate", many times it comes from lack of understanding, desire to be accepted, fear of loosing power, economic motivation, etc.) or hurt someone on purpose nevertheless contribute to fascism by sympathizing with those who do perpetrate hate attacks.
There are countless numbers of individuals in the movement who remain just passive spectators to this bigotry because they benefit in either a psychological or any other socio kind sense from the status quo. When asked they would say it's wrong and perhaps would feel uncomfortable standing surrounded by fascists, but still would do nothing about. Although lacking in prejudice, these spectators also lack the courage required to pay the price for doing the right thing. It seems that many people do not like to step out from their conformity zone, but activists, people who already already are speaking up and fighting for animal rights, already stepped out. . . . So, how does it happen that so many activists don't take a clear stand against fascism? Don't they see the connection between human and animal rights? Don't they see that oppression is always an oppression? . . .
Sadly, even if most of them believe in principles of equality, they may feel powerless to change the situation. And at the same time, while fascism does not touch them directly, they will do mostly nothing. The consequences of this "neutral" side may be ambiguous, but the intentions are clear enough.
Now it's time to choose the side. There is no between and by being just a passive spectator You are contributing to the cause of hate.
Others say that we need to be open to everyone and animal rights it's a good platform to educate fascists about issues on human rights. If You really feel like educating them, maybe You should go and educate them somewhere else, like join anti-fascistic events (as many animal rights activists already do). This ignorance or lack of understanding certainly helps to assure that fascism sticks around and it will be even more difficult to stop it.
Nazi sympathisers play an important role in the whole scene. Any kind of sympathy just gives encouragement to those who spread their violence. Because of their unwillingness to cooperate with those who search for ways to bring justice, those sympathisers also share responsibility for spreading the hate. But there are thousands if not millions of individuals who would not dream of committing any kind of hate crime (in this case "hate crime" can be misleading, as it not always comes from "hate", many times it comes from lack of understanding, desire to be accepted, fear of loosing power, economic motivation, etc.) or hurt someone on purpose nevertheless contribute to fascism by sympathizing with those who do perpetrate hate attacks.
There are countless numbers of individuals in the movement who remain just passive spectators to this bigotry because they benefit in either a psychological or any other socio kind sense from the status quo. When asked they would say it's wrong and perhaps would feel uncomfortable standing surrounded by fascists, but still would do nothing about. Although lacking in prejudice, these spectators also lack the courage required to pay the price for doing the right thing. It seems that many people do not like to step out from their conformity zone, but activists, people who already already are speaking up and fighting for animal rights, already stepped out. . . . So, how does it happen that so many activists don't take a clear stand against fascism? Don't they see the connection between human and animal rights? Don't they see that oppression is always an oppression? . . .
Sadly, even if most of them believe in principles of equality, they may feel powerless to change the situation. And at the same time, while fascism does not touch them directly, they will do mostly nothing. The consequences of this "neutral" side may be ambiguous, but the intentions are clear enough.
Now it's time to choose the side. There is no between and by being just a passive spectator You are contributing to the cause of hate.
Fascism is not an opinion, it's a crime!
Thank You for reading, and hopefully some of You will make a connection.
Copyright © Lex Kartanė
All rights reserved.
All works are copyrighted and not to be used without the permission of the author.
All rights reserved.
All works are copyrighted and not to be used without the permission of the author.
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