Thoughts from a “right-leaning” person
I am a centrist and a classical liberal, which (these days) qualifies me as a “right-leaning” person. As such, I wanted to write a response to The Ontarion’s coverage of the state of the alt-right in Canada.
Do I believe the alt-right exists? Of course, the proof is in the Nazis that roam social media platforms.
Do I think alt-right violence is a problem? Yes, any violence carried out in the name of any cause is a problem, no matter the political affiliations, right or left.
Do I think it’s a big movement, or that there’s been a massive surge in those who subscribe to it? Not significantly. Those who identify themselves as alt-right are a tiny percent of the population, and those who carry out violent acts are an even smaller proportion. Many white nationalist rallies are attended by many more counter protesters than protestors. At the “Unite the Right 2” protest that happened in August of this year, white nationalists numbered just a few dozen, who were “vastly outnumbered by throngs of counter protestors,” according to CNN. In the same article, CNN writes that at a KKK demonstration that occured in Charlottesville in 2017, “Klansmen were outnumbered 20 to 1.” White nationalists are being repeatedly outnumbered and outmatched.
But why is this happening? The reality is that the current political climate we are fostering is one of acceptance and inclusion, unless you are male or white. Acceptance and inclusion are great for everyone else, especially the many people who need to be empowered, but it’s leaving behind a whole generation of men, more than three million between the ages of 15 and 29 in Canada alone, who have little support or direction from the public at large, and seem to me to be constantly harassed online to check their privilege.
No one tells white boys that they can do anything or be anything, because most people assume that they are all entitled and believe that already. In extreme cases, that is what drives some people to the alt-right, seeking a sense of belonging among people who claim to accept them.
These issues may not directly cause deaths, but they are the most basic symptoms of the problem that start people on the path towards violence. This is not exclusive to white people, or men, or people who identify as being alt-right nor is violence exclusive to these groups.
Bettering education and critical thinking to prevent the violence carried out by the far-right is a great start, but I don’t believe that’s the only solution we need. It is classist to assume that everyone can afford to be educated in history and critical thinking in order to combat extremism. When nearly four million Canadians are food insecure and struggle to survive, some kids have to work during high school to support their families and do not have the luxury of prioritizing their education.
The more accessible solution is compassion, constructive discourse online, and an emphasis on providing mental health services to people in need before radicalization or violence occurs. This, like education, is a preemptive measure, and should be afforded to everyone regardless of gender, skin colour, or sexual orientation.
We might be able to foster understanding and moderation when everyone’s needs and concerns are addressed, and negate the need for violence before it happens again.
This is not to say that compassion will bring to an end all of society’s issues with violence. However it may start to bring an end to the violence that has been fostered within our own society. Compassion gives those who feel helpless more opportunities to speak up and be heard without insults or abuse being levelled against them, and more options to help themselves, be it through accessibility to mental health resources for those who are ill and more likely to commit acts of violence or through diplomacy in an online discussion.
After all, what is violence but the reaction to a perception that there are no other options?
Image by Tiffany Agliani/The Ontarion