The Weaponization of the Term "Far Right"
March 8, 2021
Economist Thomas Sowell once said that the word 'racism' is like ketchup: it can be put on practically anything. Today, since Robin DiAngelo et al have decided that all white people are racist, it could be argued that the word has lost some of its power; if weâre all racist, then calling us just that isnât particularly effective. And if weâre all unconsciously racist, perhaps weâre all victims, and thus should be the target of sympathy, not anger. Or not: Ms. DiAngeloâs and her anti-racist disciplesâ claptrap has been brilliantly taken apart by the esteemed linguist and author John McWhorter.
But the term far right hasnât been watered down nearly as much as the ârâ word. And when most people hear far right, they likely think of Nazi flags, white supremacists, ultranationalists, etc. So, if you are eager to wound an individualâs or a groupâs reputation, the term is most certainly a useful one.
Indeed, like its close cousin â the neologism âalt rightâ â far right has become an effective tool for those in the media and politics, used to discredit and smear people who they consider a threat, or with whom they merely disagree. A recent example of this is the anti-lockdown protests that took place in Dublin, Ireland on February 27, 2021.
Dublin Drama
Reports have varied, but anywhere from 400 to 4,000 people took to the streets of Dublin to demonstrate against what have been considered the most draconian lockdowns in Europe. This third Irish lockdown has been enforced since late December and may last until June. When one reckless individual at the protest decided to point fireworks at the Irish police (An Garda SĂochĂĄna, or âthe Guardsâ), unfortunately further violence broke out. Predictably, the ugly scenes that followed dominated the news headlines, rather than the core issue: people protesting against their de facto mass incarceration, and the collateral damage caused by continual lockdowns.
Papers pounced, using loaded language like âanti-lockdown protesters stormed Dublin city centre.â One elected Irish official referred to the protest as a âriotâ. And the always-effective smear would soon be utilized, too. Extra.ie proclaimed âfar right thugs attacked frontline Gardai policing an illegal protest.â The Irish Mirror declared âfar right anti-lockdown protesters thronged the city flouting Covid-19 restrictions.â
How reporters managed to sit down with protesters and learn about their respective political leanings is not only incredibly admirable â it is journalism of the highest standard. Of course, these journalists did no such thing. Were some of those in attendance right wing? Yes. That a) doesnât necessarily make them far right, and b) doesnât warrant labelling the protest a âfar-right demonstrationâ like some Irish politicians have. A significant number of Irish citizens decided to stand up and speak out against what is widely considered a cruel lockdown. That doesnât make all of them extremists. Quite the opposite: it is likely that many are desperate and feel that protesting is their only option.
Interestingly, in videos posted online, Irish Republican flags can also be seen among the crowds in attendance. Irish Republicans tend to lean left on the political compass, and often describe themselves as socialists, in keeping with the political leanings of the leaders of the Easter Rising. The likely reality is that the people protesting came from different political backgrounds, and many â if not most â were probably apolitical, like the majority of people tend to be. By using the term far right to describe the march, reporters and politicians are smearing the ordinary, non-violent people who have genuine concerns about the latest level-5 lockdown: a 5km travel limit, no guests on private or rented property, no family gatherings in any setting, the forced long-term closure of ânon-essentialâ businesses, and fines and/or jail time for some who break the rules.
"Far Right" as an Ad-Hominen
No matter how rational or cogent oneâs arguments are, the term formerly reserved for fascists and neo-Nazis will always be on standby, ready to be used by the writer or politician taking aim. Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson â a man who has lectured on fascist and socialist totalitarianism â has been referred to by critics as âa far-right boogeyman riding the wave of a misogynistic backlash.â
https://mises.org/power-market/weaponization-term-far-right
as they beat you to a pulp for speaking and thinking freely, then would still call them your neighbor?