When I wrote my piece "What Right Wing Threat?" I might have anticipated some humorless criticism from an offended individual, outraged that I might diminish yesterday's shooting at the Holocaust Museum by joking: "He was there to try to shoot the actual Holocaust...the Holocaust started it; this was simply self-defense."
The response I got was not a diatribe from PC police, but people apparently offended by my dissing right wing fanatics. And these weren't snarky comments posted in all caps. These people called my production company. One guy with a Southern accent said something about reaping what I sow. Another woman was outraged that this senile old man who had a senior incident like shooting up the Holocaust Museum was being all exploited by the media. (My poor assistant had to politely field these calls, tying up our phone lines for all those backers who would normally be calling to give us money to produce more social documentaries.)
In my attempt to draw mainstream Republicans and conservatives away from attacking DHS intelligence reports with a partisan mindset, I figured the stark contrast from white supremacist whack jobs would be some welcome middle ground in the debate. I apparently neglected to pause and consider the feelings of the right wing nut jobs.
I would not expect right wing extremists to read the Huffington Post, or that they would bother with me. The piece did not really report anything new, or offer a celebrity nipple. I'm hardly part of the TV punditry circuit (though I am available). I am, as my documentary FREE FOR ALL! found conclusively, just some dude.
I am further struck that this piece would be the one to draw personalized reactions. I've authored other things I would expect to be more offensive or controversial: I made light of the Rick Warren hysteria, I engaged a Sarah Palin zealot, I pontificated on how messed up Ayn Rand was, I made a critically-acclaimed documentary detailing systematic racial voter suppression by the Republican Party and showing how Ohio was subverted in the 2004 election.
But now I apparently have crossed the line by mocking the right wing nut jobs. After repeatedly stressing the differences between mainstream Republicans and conservative thinkers with racist vigilantes, I did not anticipate a spirited defense of the racist vigilantes. I kind of thought that the shooting spree thing did not need elaboration about being bad.
So I'll just skip the debate and make this a quick shout-out to the right wing extremists: I'm sorry. You're right. About everything. My bad. Pay me no mind. Go call your congressmen instead of calling me. I don't even care if you have guns, as long as no crimes ever happen with them.
Besides, the white people angry about defending the power of the white race in this country tend not to be the white people who are actually in power.
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If one acts like heathenous hypocritic
I agree with you. These people sincerely believe that being infomed, civilized, gracious, willingnes
Our higher levels of consciousn
I just finished listening to Joni Mitchell sing that song while I was reading this article.
Racist Museum Shooter Outspoken Liberal
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“The gravity of Jewish suffering over the ages, culminatin
This post elucidated the point:
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And you had no idea that "right wing extremists
Perhaps the consistent use of reason and logic will eventually rub off on them. But I'm not holding my breath.
Interestin
The killing of 5 policemen, Dr. Tiller's assassinat
Like you, I believe right wing nut jobs are void of common sense and sound minds. I know, I used to work with one. He spent part of the working days billing clients while writing letters and blogs to extremist groups.
Let's keep this in perspectiv
AMERICA BETTER BE ON ALERT, ANOTHER MCVEIGH IS WAITING IN THEIR WINGS AND SIMMERING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY PEOPLE.
Why didn't you expect hatemonger
Hate... It is as simple as that.
If you want to take the side of non white people over white people (I'm AA by the way), in their world you are an enemy. In such a post racial media branded event.
There is no need for affirmativ
If you actually tell people when you see the monstrous collection of haters who will do other people harm, you have to pretend it is not a threat.
I hope you've learned your lesson.
Do these people have nothing better to do with their time? Wow.
What is the lesson you hope he has learned? I don't understand
We all need to spread compassion and non-judgme
That is democracy. And with freedom comes responsibi
Mr. Ennis even says, let them post their comments, but please do so publicly via the HuffPo. And keep your guns, but just don't have them be a part of any crime. Seems pretty fair.
Kudos Mr. Ennis.
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Try again there, buddy. You try to decry the r@ci$m of others, yet show your own. Otherwise, you have no room to complain, as you are part of the problem. Attack them on their stances and beliefs, not their color.
(i'm not AA, but that shouldn't matter at all)
This is only the beginning folks.
I believe you can find that clip on YouTube...
Not funny for the real life people who were injured or lost their lives in that death trap though.
"You've got to hand it to the Germans - they make good cars."