Since when were we on the Left such intellectual cowards? We, and the progressive liberal democracy we call home, deserve better champions for our values than punch Nazis in the face cheerleaders who celebrate restricting freedom of speech.
Today, capitalism is dying and is thrashing about destroying everything it touches. It deserves to die, but not to take us with it. Fascism is the political response of last resort against the overthrow of capitalism by the working class. It will not give up its fight peacefully, logically, rationally, resorting to undemocratic and illegal actions, wars and genocide.
IT HAS BEEN DISPIRITING, this past week, to learn how little people who consider themselves leftists know about fascism.
You don’t beat crypto-fascists with trigger free safe spaces and emotional support peacocks.
Yes, Morgan & Plunkett had all the charm of car accidents involving school children, BUT their policy was courageously light years ahead of most everyone else.
For most women, having babies causes huge struggles – to cope financially with only paid parental leave for a period, to have partners often having to work longer hours to make ends meet, to face losing seniority when returning to the workforce, or losing out on promotions etc. There is still a tension between babies and workplaces in New Zealand. These do not abate as the babies grow older – they get worse.
An injustice that is so obvious requires immediate action- not delay until some report is written by the very people that don’t want change and have just argued that very position in court.
Over the past few days Molyneux and Southern have very skilfully tested our tolerance – and we have failed. They’ve also tested our ability to re-state, re-affirm and justify our commitment to freedom of expression. We failed that test too.
Look, I don’t think these alt-right polemicists should gain access to council venues either, just as I wouldn’t want ISIS recruitment seminars in the Town Hall, KKK monthly meet & greets in Council Chambers or Man love Boy Association annual sing alongs at Silo Park, but I still support them appearing if they find a private venue, just as I am prepared to protest their appearing!
Where I would accept the use of Council venues is if it were a debate. If these far right protagonists want to come to NZ to just demand a pulpit to preach from, there’s the door, but if they were prepared to debate their views under debate rules, step on up, let’s have the debate because here’s the real problem for us on the Left and the progressive side of politics, this isn’t going away.