Opinion
N the Red
Modern threat of white nationalism Emerging ideology threatens youth of America with a violent, hateful and dangerous belief structure Ben Grantonic
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grantben000@hsestudents.org
ver the summer, the Bloomington’s farmers extent. These young men are willing to die for this sense market shut down for two weeks. Schooner Creek of belonging, as made clear by events in El Paso and many Farm, a seller at the market, was accused of being other places across our nation. associated with white nationalist group Identity Evropa. White nationalists have adopted the use of the Internet This shows us an uncomfortable truth: the rise of white as a recruiting platform. This includes YouTube videos, nationalism in America. webcomics and notably “edgy” memes. White nationalism is a set of political thoughts that white On YouTube, there is a problem with white nationalists people are a singular race and that they must maintain a blending in with normal conservative style pundits. People white national identity via a white ethnostate, a hypothetical like Stefan Molyneux and the now banned Alex Jones make concept of a nation consisting of only one race. Though clickbait videos that draws in people to listen to their often in practice, white nationalists anti-semitic, racist and pro-white primarily advocate for limited nationalist conspiracy theories. This non-European immigration, allows them to radicalize young men holocaust denial and segregation. slowly and often without the victim This modern form of white realizing it. Though YouTube has nationalism has its origins in taken action recently by removing altmessage boards, most notably right and white nationalist creators. 4chan and 8chan, both There is also an entire community imageboards with little rules of alt-right webcomic “artists.” The which allow for the growth of community primarily centered these ideologies. On a 4chan post around one creator, Stonetoss, entitled “Fixing the Alt Right” whose comics promote anti-semitic posted on Aug. 13, 2017, it laid outWhite Nationalist protestors at the “Unite the right rally” conspiracy theories, homophobia, its doctrine of a gradual shifting on Aug. 12, 2017. Photo by Anthony Crider transphobia and all around abhorred of political acceptance to include beliefs. His friends are almost exactly their more radical beliefs. This the same, with varying quality of art (it creed is also very sneaky, hiding is mostly offensively bad). their “power levels” in an effort to make their beliefs more Memes have also played an important role in the palatable. popularization of this thought. Memes like FrenWorld, a White nationalists are not as fringe as they once where. now banned subreddit that used baby talk (yes, really) and They are increasing in prevalence in mainstream politics. Pepe The Frog dressed as a clown to spread racist beliefs In the Midwest, we have such lovely groups as the American and anti semetic conspiracy theories. Other memes and Nazi Party, and, as mentioned earlier, Identity Evropa (now meme groups have been used to spread White Nationalist rebranded as the American Identity Movement). and adjacent ideologies. They are also far more “professional” than racist groups White Nationalism is an ideology that is fueled by of the past. Your Richard Spencers are far more professional ignorance and vulnerability, so we must educate ourselves looking wearing suits and sporting a nice haircut compared and others to help stop its spread. We must reach out to to skinheads and Klan members. They act more like others when we see them falling into this trap and give them politicians than violent gangsters. This makes them much your kindness and educate them. more palatable to the average American conservatives, Also, white nationalism falsifies itself as patriotism, it especially young straight white men, whom they target with is not. Our greatest strength here in the U S of A is the their propaganda. diversity of our people. It is an important. if not the most According to the CIGNA U.S. Loneliness Index, Gen Z important element to our democracy. White Nationalism, is the loneliest generation, so it is logical that young people and ideologies like it, are unamerican and go against the are looking for a sense of belonging. These white nationalist fabric of our democracy. groups offer to fill that void, at least for straight white boys. So, when you see somebody falling into the trap of White They are even self-described as “fraternities.” This ideology Nationalism, do the real American thing, and show them as a whole offers the idea of a “white race,” which, for some your kindness and understanding. young men, may also fill that need for belonging to a greater
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