• WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    We hanged people at Nuremberg for incitement to genocide. Genocide is a crime with a very specific meaning. Yes, bad-faith actors can abuse a law prohibiting incitement to genocide, but the same can be done with any law.

    Advocating for genocide is not free speech - it’s attempted mass murder. Two people talking with each other and conspiring to kill someone else isn’t protected speech - it’s just conspiracy to commit murder. And if plotting to kill one person isn’t protected, plotting to kill thousands or millions shouldn’t be protected either. These people are plotting to commit genocide, and their intention is to use the power of the state as their murder weapon.

    We need to prosecute attempted genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide as vigorously as we would any plot to kill any individual. But we have this weird blind spot where if someone plans to commit murder on a large scale using the state as the murder weapon, that somehow we don’t recognize it as the same fundamental crime. Murder is murder. Killing is killing. Conspiracy to commit murder is conspiracy to commit murder. Whether the weapon is your own bare hands or the apparatus of a nation state. Advocating for genocide is nothing less than conspiracy to commit genocide.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      22 hours ago

      When I went to public school, we were taught this shit and it was drilled into us that it’s very important to never forget any of it.

      It’s insane to see just how far our education system has fallen. American kids know nothing about any of this.

    • Sidhean@piefed.social
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      21 hours ago

      Ah fuck, this makes sense. I was against the “outlaw” bit but (as a US citizen) I think I’m seeing things a little skewed. I cede its an important step to preventing this kind of thing (a little late lmao) :(

    • Gorilladrums@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I disagree with this take. The Nazis that were hanged at Nuremberg trails weren’t killed because of speech or beliefs, they were killed because of their actions. They actually carried out a genocide, that’s what they were guilty of.

      I actually disagree with this relatively new movement that pushes for hate speech laws because they’re something that’s inherently arbitrary and subjective, and they can and will be weaponized to serve nefarious agendas. Principles like freedom of speech MUST be applied universally and fairly in order for them to mean anything. Freedom of speech exists to protect offensive, controversial, and unpopular opinions against censorship because what can be considered any of those things can change at any time.

      For example, 60 years ago being racial equality was viewed as seemed very controversial and unpopular, but today? The opposite. However, in 60 years, public opinion on these views could flip again. If we pass laws that outlaw racist views as hateful, then it’s very possible that these laws could be changed at any point in the future to outlaw anti-racist views as hateful. I don’t want to ever live in a society where I’m being legally punished for arguing against segregation. Establishing such precedents is very dangerous and history has shown us that the consequences of these laws aren’t always what they were intended.

      I think the US freedom of speech laws as they are federally defined are the golden standard. They take into account all the reasonable exceptions, while maintaining a universally applied standard for everyone. If any individual turned their words into actions or clearly had the intent to take action then they’ll be persecuted for their actions. That’s the way it should be.

      • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        The Nazis that were hanged at Nuremberg trails weren’t killed because of speech or beliefs, they were killed because of their actions.

        You are simply wrong in this case. We hanged Nazi propagandists, as we recognized that they were committing conspiracy to commit genocide.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Streicher

        Most of the evidence against Streicher came from his numerous speeches and articles over the years.[72] In essence, prosecutors contended that Streicher’s articles and speeches were so incendiary that he was an accessory to murder, and therefore as culpable as those who actually ordered the mass extermination of Jews. They further argued that he kept up his antisemitic propaganda even after he was aware that Jews were being slaughtered.[73]

        Streicher was acquitted of crimes against peace, but found guilty of crimes against humanity, and sentenced to death on 1 October 1946.

        • Gorilladrums@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          But these are two different things though. In this case Streicher was taking action. He was directly working for the Nazi party, and his job was to convince people that the Nazi crimes were not only okay, but they should be celebrated and expanded. His actions actively aided the genocide, he was a part of the Nazi machine. That’s not a private citizen with personal opinions and beliefs.

          That’s very a big difference between him and some modern neo nazi who spends all day picking his nose, scratching his ass, and posting on 8chan about the world is controlled by the “joos”. As long dickheads like this keep their vile views to themselves, then I don’t think they should be legally persecuted simply for holding vile opinions. However, the moment their words turn into actions or the clear intention to implement neo nazi bullshit, then that’s when they should get persecuted by the law.

          • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            22 hours ago

            Charlie Kirk gave material support (a significant amount, to the point where Trump himself admitted he wouldn’t have won without him) to fascists. I think he himself would have balked at you suggesting that he wasn’t active in getting the current regime to where it is.

            • Gorilladrums@lemmy.world
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              8 hours ago

              There’s two issues with your take here. First, I never even implied that Kirk wasn’t a big Trump supporter, that was his whole shtick as a grifter. That’s just obvious, and nobody is arguing otherwise. Second, is being a Trump supporter now enough grounds to justify killing people? I agree that Trump and MAGA are pretty Fascist in nature, however the fact remains that Kirk was a private citizen at the end of the day. He was not an elected official and he did not hold any public office. He was just an activist/grifter who made a career simping for Trump. Hate him all you want, I certainly did, but killing him or anybody over this sort thing is a huge red line that should never be crossed. There’s a reason why societies throughout history that resorted to using violence for political discourse out of convenience rather than necessity are the ones always ended up being lead by a depraved tyrannical regime. There are many more lessons to learn from history than just acknowledging that Nazis are bad.

            • Narauko@lemmy.world
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              21 hours ago

              And if the Trump administration were exterminating people in death camps and had been convicted in international criminal court then you would have a point.

              As it is the administration is obviously ignoring its own laws and being disgusting with racial profiling when deporting immigrants in the country illegally, and grabbing legal immigrants and citizens through this overzealousness and rule/law breaking.

              The US is not committing a holocaust against Hispanics. It is not committing one against the LGBTQ community either. Even if you believe that the US is capable of committing one here and that it is coming, it is not happening yet and so Charlie Kirk cannot be an execution for propaganda supporting mass murder/genocide that has already taken place.

              Execution for crimes that will be committed in the future is execution for thought crime or execution for free speech.

              • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                21 hours ago

                Ah OK, so we have to let them systematically murder countless people before we can do anything. Got it.

                It’s not like we should ever learn from history, and try to do things differently this time.

                And by the way, I’m not talking about extrajudicial killing. We were talking about Nazi trials.

                • Narauko@lemmy.world
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                  20 hours ago

                  That is not what I am saying at all, we have many other options before getting to killing as the solution. Learning from history is the point, but you do not jump the gun on death being the penalty for things. The ammo box is the last box to be used for a reason.

                  If you are not talking obliquely about extrajudicial killings, why are you saying opposing it means we can do nothing until the genocide happens? You were talking about the execution of a propagandist that supported the Holocaust as a direct comparison with Kirk. This comparison can really only be used as an explanation for why it was somehow acceptable for him to be killed. The up thread was about justifying Kirk’s death as a Nazi propagandist.

            • Gorilladrums@lemmy.world
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              9 hours ago

              How so? I think there’s a very clear distinction between the example he gave and what I was talking about. Streicher was a full blown Nazi party member and he held public office under their rule. His position in government is to actively enable a genocide through propaganda. That’s not a private citizens with vile opinions, that’s a public official acting on his beliefs directly. If Streicher was a private individual who held Nazi beliefs, he would have not been hanged for them because those are just his opinions, as vile as they may be.

          • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            Kirk was directly tied into the Trump administration. He himself sent busloads of followers to help storm the capital. Kirk’s jobs was to convince people that the genocidal plans of the Christian Nationalists are OK and should be celebrated and expanded. By the time you get to the level of power and influence of Kirk, you’re not really a private citizen anymore. He was instrumental in getting Trump elected. Yes, he doesn’t have a formal position in the government, but most of the charges against Streicher were for things that had nothing to do with the little bit of power he briefly had.

            • Gorilladrums@lemmy.world
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              7 hours ago

              Kirk was a piece of shit, you’re not going to find me defending him for what he did or stood for. My point is that the way he got killed is not acceptable. He shouldn’t get honored or anything like because fuck him, but cheering the way he got killed is not okay either. He wasn’t killed under the death penalty by the state, there was no due process, and there wasn’t even a valid reason for his death. He was gunned down in broad daylight in the middle of a public crowd by some random guy who didn’t like his political views… how is that not fucking crazy to you? Y

              ou’re trying very hard to justify it because you don’t like him, but you don’t seem to understand that this isn’t about him specifically. I don’t like Kirk either, but you’re not going to find me trying justify this type of political violence because it sets a dangerous precedent that violence is an acceptable part of political discourse. Political violence is always a two way street. Just as you’re trying to justify and cheer on this guy’s death and how he was killed, you’re making it more normalized and more likely that some conservative whacko isn’t to shoot down some left wing figurehead, and they’ll use the very same arguments and justifications that you’re using now. If you can’t accept someone like Hasan Piker or Nina Turner getting gunned down, then why would you cheer this on? If you condemn their deaths, but not Kirk’s death or others like him, then you don’t have any principles to stand on.

              • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                Sorry. Don’t lecture to me about the dangers of political violence when we’re talking about someone that actively championed literal genocide. In a just world he would have been tried and hanged for crimes against humanity.

                Kirk already engaged in political violence. He encouraged his followers to countless acts of violence. You’re just mad when people dare to fight back against their oppressors. You call it a two way street, but it was already a one-way street. Right wingers are allowed to plot literal genocide, and the rest of us are supposed to just sit back and pretend it’s just fine and normal.

                No, sorry. Fuck everything about that. The world is a better place with Charlie Kirk firmly in the ground. He was a mass murderer.

                • Gorilladrums@lemmy.world
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                  6 hours ago

                  I already made it clear multiple time that I don’t like Kirk or what he stood for, but even I, as someone who can’t stand him, can clearly see that you’re just making shit up as you go try to come up with anything to justify his murder. It’s honestly embarrassing. It’s so obvious that you lack the merits to come up with a genuine case to justify his murder because you don’t have any principles to stand on whatsoever. This is evidenced by the fact that you’re unable to even acknowledge any point I’ve made, let alone give any counter argument as to why you disagree.

                  Face it, given your melt down here, it’s crystal clear that you’re aware that your stance is simply indefensible because you’re only possible positions is to be a hypocrite, a tyrant, or both. Nobody with any reasonable set of morals, basic understanding of history, or just logically thinking through the consequences can come up with a rational defense for something so unbelievably backwards and dangerous as trying to cheer on political violence. It’s an inherently absurd stance.

            • Narauko@lemmy.world
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              21 hours ago

              And the Trump administration has not yet committed any Holocausts or genocide yet. At this point in time it is still “future crime”. The Trump admin hasn’t been convicted in the Hague of genocide.

              Once Trump opens death camps and starts exterminating LGBTQ people, only then does Kirk rises to the level of Streicher. Until that point, it is execution for political disagreement and free speech. You don’t have to like the guy in any way for that to be wrong.

              We don’t want to set a precedent that the best way to change someone’s political ideology is to kill them to eliminate that ideology.

              • petrol_sniff_king@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                18 hours ago

                I feel like you’re reading to me a yugioh trap card that only activates when our opponent summons a big monster. God, the waiting must be agony.

                You don’t have to like the guy in any way for that to be wrong.

                I think death just makes you feel icky. Like, in general.

                I don’t care that Kirk died. I’m not saying it’s a good omen for things to come, exactly, but I can’t even pretend to give a shit. The world does not need him.

                • Narauko@lemmy.world
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                  18 hours ago

                  I really don’t know how I should reply to this. Like yes, murder in general is something I am not fond of, and I am pretty sure that is a normal response?

                  Politically motivated murder is also something I find a specific version of repugnant, no matter the politics of the victims. I think the same about the Minnesota legislators. I feel the same way about the attack on Paul Pelosi, and I think Nancy should be a criminal. Neither deserve to be killed. Killing political opponents is the ultimate breakdown of society.

                  I am not squeamish about death in general however, be it war or accidents or suicide. Death happens, it’s part of life. I can look as Russian soldiers dieing in Ukraine as both a senseless waste of life and totally necessary and warranted at the same time as they are an invading army. I may even experience some schadenfreude, but know intellectually that it’s not something that should be celebrated.

                  If someone does something stupid like try to pet the Bison in Yellowstone, I think it’s tragic for their family while being the obvious outcome of their jack of judgement. Before you make the comparison, one side of that obvious outcome of stupidity is a literal wild animal without the ability to reason.

                  It’s the murder part that makes me “feel icky”, not the death part.

                  • petrol_sniff_king@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                    17 hours ago

                    I may even experience some schadenfreude,

                    Why are you describing this to me like you’re getting a secret snack from the kitchen.

                    and I am pretty sure that is a normal response?

                    It is, but it’s strongest among people who were taught that wishing ill on the ones cracking their whip is impolite.

                    Kirk’s final words on this great green earth were “tranny tranny tranny, black gang violence, 13:50.” Is this really worth ruining your mood over? Like, it’s Sunday, you should take your son to the park or something.

    • hector@lemmy.today
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      1 day ago

      You say that as our politicians at this you say that as our politicians at this very moment are claiming that those opposing genocide are advocating for genocide.

        • hector@lemmy.today
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          19 hours ago

          How do you not know it is not that way it is the other way. The right will get a pass unless they’re in opposition to the ruling party, the left would be surppressed.

          It is already like that, giving the administration the power to illegalize speech is beyond recklessly ignorant of the situation even before this shit show we have seen in the modern era from the end of Obama until now. Or we could say even from bush until now.

          • petrol_sniff_king@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            18 hours ago

            giving the administration the power to illegalize speech

            Why would we give trump that power?

            I mean, we could give him the power to illegalize nazi speech specifically. That would be fine. I bet he wouldn’t use it.

            I don’t think you’re thinking about this strategically. If you were playing magic the gathering, does hurting your opponent’s life points mean they get to hurt yours now? Do you have to lower all your defenses so they can get a turn? No. We don’t have to illegalize leftist speech either.

            If they ever try to, be very angry.

            • hector@lemmy.today
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              17 hours ago

              The administration already accuses non-fascists of being fascist, bad faith anti-Semitism allegations to a much higher degree than everyone else, and Biden was pretty bad himself. The man endorsed near blood libel against Hamas claiming he saw the evidence of 40 beheaded babies, that was not true and disprovable in real time, and he never corrected himself.

              I do not play Magic the gathering, but I do follow current events enough to know that our politicians would accuse non Nazis of being Nazis while they are nazis or refuse to oppose nazis.

          • Doug Holland@lemmy.worldOPM
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            18 hours ago

            I’m a tad uncomfy with it myself, and eager to hear a better idea, but outlawing fascism is preferable to fascism.