this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2023
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politics

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Why this is important:

Stew Peters is a far-right virulently anti-LGBTQ bigot who regularly uses his nightly “The Stew Peters Show” program, speeches, and social media accounts to promote white nationalists and antisemites and to spread wild conspiracy theories, bigotry, and calls for violence. Despite his bigoted views and unhinged rhetoric, Peters regularly manages to get Republican leaders, elected officials, and candidates for office to appear on his program. In addition, Peters has participated in ReAwaken America events alongside various Trump insiders and members of the Trump family.

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[–] [email protected] 78 points 1 year ago (30 children)

I thought advocating the violent overthrow of the government was illegal? I have questions. It floors me when one side refuses to use the existing mechanisms to combat the illegality of the other as if it would be ill-mannered of them to quash murderous rhetoric.

They say it takes two sides to fight, and that's true. You have to cooperate with someone looking for a fight. But you also have to cooperate with someone trying to walk all over you. Fascism must be killed in the crib. We've seen what happens when you don't.

There is a war happening right now over the soul and future of America and one side has no idea it's even fighting. I love this country too much to see it fall to the wrong side of history. But things are looking bleak.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (29 children)

It really depends how you say it. You can say things in such a way where you're covered under free speech. For example

Telling a mob to "go over there and attack all the dirty [racial group] to cleanse our city" is 100% incitement and you will go to jail, regardless of who you are

But going onto your podcast and saying "man, I really think the best thing for our society would be to get rid of all the dirty [racial group] so we can be cleansed" is protected under free speech

It really depends on what the man who's the topic of the OP said, to determine whether he said something illegal or not.

Keep in mind they tried to fight fascism in Germany too. They sent Hitler to jail. Eventually he got broken out and he became dictator shortly after. I think ultimately speech and hatred is not the problem - it's the symptom. As long as we have people suffering under an economic system that doesn't provide for all their basic needs, we leave the door open for people like Trump or Prager to sneak in and offer a solution.

Can censor, arrest, and deplatform all you want, won't make a difference.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (13 children)

I suppose I just don’t appreciate the nuance between “go do evil“ and “I think people should go do evil“.

[–] No1RivenFucker 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I suppose you also don't appreciate the nuance of everyone having a different perspective on what constitutes "evil".

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not when it comes to fascism, no.

[–] No1RivenFucker 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just calling everything you don't like "fascism" isn't a valid argument

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean violently overthrowing the Democratic governments in service of white nationalism is pretty specific.

[–] No1RivenFucker 0 points 1 year ago

And focusing on one specific issue is entirely ignoring the point. If you want there to be no legal difference between general speech, and direct incitement, you're going to need a pretty fucking solid definition of "evil" you can work from when punishing people for harm not done. Because when idea rather than incitement is the line of the law, there's very little difference between a genuine fascist and an anarchist both stating interest in overthrowing the government.

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