Incivility and Eliminationism: Kick it up a Notch!

Thanks to Dave Neiwert, I've been made increasingly aware of the eliminationist rhetoric stemming from many on the far-right, both in terms of religion and politics. Insofar as is possible I've been discussing the issues here as well because I believe that they deserve as wide of an audience as possible. There has always been the question whether the mere presence of far-right rhetoric about "traitors" and "enemies" was nothing more than that - rhetoric - and wouldn't lead to anything worse. In other words, are the concerns just paranoia? Maybe not.

The problem involves "Emperor Misha" of the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler. He, along with others, has become outraged over the work of Eric Blumrich - someone who is unapologetically anti-Bush. But instead of being content to simply insult him and call him a traitor, Misha upped the rhetoric a couple of notches:

Here's a hint to you, Eric: The gov't can't do anything to you over that ad, but that's the extent of your protection under the First Amendment.

The rest of us, however, aren't the gov't, in case you've forgotten, and quite few of us would be more than happy to wipe that nervous little grin off your traitorous mug -- with a belt sander.

Not saying anything in specific, mind you, but we'd be damn careful about showing our face in public if we were you. You just never know who that perfect stranger behind you in that alleyway might be. Could be a sibling or other relative of one of the fallen soldiers that you just took a dump on the grave of, and G-d only knows what might happen then.

Eric may not be famous enough to be a pick for the 2004 Dead Pool, but there's another signed Imperial Mug for the first LC to inform me that Eric Blumrich has died in a "tragic" accident.

Accidents DO happen, you know, and that's the kind of news that would definitely make my entire day.

Dave Neiwert notes:

Shortly after posting the text, Misha began directing his readers on how to find Blumrich's address. On his front page, he posted a map of Blumrich's neighborhood, complete with a red star over his residence. He went on to create and post a map showing directions from Fort Dix to Blumrich's residence. Commentators posted: "ROAD TRIPPPPPP! And we can't wait to arrive..."

There's simply no excusing what Misha wrote - although he has struggled valiantly to do so by saying it was all just "satire" (strangely, the map seems to be gone - I wonder why?) But, frankly, that isn't even a little bit believable. After spending so much time lambasting people who disagree with you as traitors and enemies, there little "humor" to be had in wishing for their deaths. As Neiwert also notes, while what Misha wrote may not be criminally actionable (because it's not a direct threat of violence), it may be civilly actionable: should anything happen to Blumrich, he has a great case for a lawsuit. Neiwert continues:

Even though the spiral of Misha's antics has been predictable, it is no less alarming. When "traitors" are pointed out and their homes and private lives targeted, it moves eliminationism from the arena of mere rhetoric into real action. And that is the borderline that simply cannot be crossed if the right is serious about "civility" (which is, frankly, increasingly unlikely).

This may be the crux of the matter: the rhetoric used by the far-right has in the past led to violence, vandalism, and murder. That is sad, but it is also a part of the human condition. It's happened over and over in cultures around the world, but it hasn't gotten quite that bad in America except on very small scales. At least, it hasn't yet - but if it does, it would be very difficult to stop because it could lead to a cycle of violence that becomes self-perpetuating and self-destructive for the entire society.

Because of that, it is imperative that some actual civility be pursued by both sides, but especially by those who have most frequently resorted to the most incivil of rhetoric, namely far-right commentators who can't seem to say anything about liberals without using terms like "traitor." It's wrong factually, it's wrong ethically, and it does nothing to actually further the conservative cause in a manner appropriate to a democratic republic.

If they don't like what liberals believe, fine - that's why they are conservative, not liberal. But calling someone a traitor or wishing for their death doesn't express disagreement; it expresses a desire to have both disagreement and those who disagree eliminated from the public square and from public debate - whether forcefully or through the chilling effect of intimidation. That's not a point of view, it's just thuggery - regardless of the political orientation of those involved.