The alt.right is, according to those who seem to be involved in it,
white-nationalist/white separatist, anti-Semitic, and somewhat fascist.
(in the strict meaning of the term, "the biggest bundle of sticks." In
fairness, we're all a bit fascist at heart. You can see it in groups of
kids. Eight want to go to the beach, and two want to go to the museum.
The eight insist that "they win," since "majority rules." The two try to
point out that there is a forecast for severe storms and hurricane-level
winds. The eight are having none of that noice. "Majority rules, and
that's *it!*")
I was not really aware of their misogyny until I saw the link Frank posted,
and saw where it speaks of "the manosphere," but that fits, too, if you are
aware of the roots the alt.right has in GamerGate.
Is there a "loony left?"
Sure.
I'm not sure what term they use to describe themselves, but of course they
are folks on the far left political spectrum. That pesky bell-curve shows
up *everywhere.*. And I would not trust folks out on that far end of the
left, any more than I trust the ones on the far right.
But what does the existence of a far-left have to do with what we are
seeing in the alt.right?
It's a little-kid tactic to point to the behavior or misbehavior of others
to try to deflect attention from your own misbehavior, and we see this from
the alt-right as well.
If we're talking about anti-semitism, or white separatism, as I tried to do
at mass one morning, and whether this is compatible with the Catholic
faith, what the hell does the extreme-left have to do with the topic.
The first reading was Isaiah, with the prophet taking Israel to task for
fasting and offering sacrifice, while at the same time practicing
injustice. I was trying to illustrate a modern-day example, and tried the
idea of "Catholics" beginning the Lenten observances WHILE AT THE SAME TIME
involving themselves with the alt.right (white-separatist and
white-nationalist), as in examples such as Steve Bannon. I was trying to
point out this is a foolish past.
One woman was irate. She had never heard of the term "alt.right" before,
but she was FURIOUS that I had not mentioned "the loony left."
Why? What does that have to do with the discussion at hand?
If the "loony left" aligns itself with abortion-on-demand, would that make
the alt.right positions on white-separatism somehow "more acceptable?"
(Scratches head.). I just don't get that.
So I am not clear why you or Joe would want to tell about the left as a
diverting tactic from discussing the alt.right. Perhaps you fear something
dear to you being abandoned. I dunno. That would be for you to say.
But I'll stand by my position. White-separatists and white-nationalists
*are* deplorable. Anti-semites (which is *not* the same as questioning the
policies of the government of Israel) *are* deplorable.
If you think they are *less* deplorable because "well, well, look at the
loony-left!", I have no idea how to respond to that.
"Hey, hey, malnutrition may be a problem, but, LOOK AT MORBID OBESITY! Why
aren't you addressing THAT!?! Why are you talking about the problem of
malnutrition without addressing the existence of fat people?"
(???!)