Right-wing Extremists

[CBR1000rr]

By labeling ones self, be it right/left wing or liberal, you are inherently subscribing to the extremist tag. By placing a label on a set system of beliefs you are essentially saying "this is who I am and what I fight for" and therefore earning your moniker. Furthermore, you are essentially saying you're a patriot who believes in freedom as long as those freedoms are in line with your beliefs. If that is the case, you truly don't believe in freedom.

I can't remember who's comment it was that said "gay marriageis the litmus test of freedom" but they couldn't have been more spot on. There are many other so called litmus test we could use to test the true limits of freedom.

I'm a gun owner that respects the freedoms of others so much that if they choose to believe gun ownership to be an extremist activity, I will support them in thier beliefs but I won't give up my firearms. Anyone who trys to impose on those freedoms, in my humble opinion, is the true extremist.

 

[88GT]

By labeling ones self, be it right/left wing or liberal, you are inherently subscribing to the extremist tag. By placing a label on a set system of beliefs you are essentially saying "this is who I am and what I fight for" and therefore earning your moniker. Furthermore, you are essentially saying you're a patriot who believes in freedom as long as those freedoms are in line with your beliefs. If that is the case, you truly don't believe in freedom.

I can't remember who's comment it was that said "gay marriageis the litmus test of freedom" but they couldn't have been more spot on. There are many other so called litmus test we could use to test the true limits of freedom.

I'm a gun owner that respects the freedoms of others so much that if they choose to believe gun ownership to be an extremist activity, I will support them in thier beliefs but I won't give up my firearms. Anyone who trys to impose on those freedoms, in my humble opinion, is the true extremist.

Point 1: we all label ourselves. We label others. It's how we categorize, analyze, and interact with the world around us. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Nor do we have the capability of compartmentalizing things to the extent that they exist without the other aspects of our life interacting with them. I'm not limiting myself by placing a label on my beliefs. (And the mere act of placing a label doesn't mean diddly, given the long list of people who claim conservative status who aren't). I can refine and re-define my label anytime I see fit. Others may judge me according to their standards of my label, but that doesn't make their judgments accurate.

Point 2: to the bolded...how does a label--any label--make me or anyone else a hypocrite in the manner you have described. I consider myself a right wing extremist. But I am nothing like what you described. How do you reconcile that with your statements?

 

[RoyalTenenbaum]

It all depends on who is in office. Right now the NRA and The Heritage Foundation are the extremists, under Bush it's whakadoo hippies, that whale hugging idiot on the Discovery Channel and Greenpeace. Que sera. When it comes down to it, I'll always choose the bitter clinger moniker to the I'll try to reason with this volatile crackhead and depend on my b.o. if reason fails to defend me.

 

[sepe]

Point 1: we all label ourselves. We label others. It's how we categorize, analyze, and interact with the world around us. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Nor do we have the capability of compartmentalizing things to the extent that they exist without the other aspects of our life interacting with them. I'm not limiting myself by placing a label on my beliefs. (And the mere act of placing a label doesn't mean diddly, given the long list of people who claim conservative status who aren't). I can refine and re-define my label anytime I see fit. Others may judge me according to their standards of my label, but that doesn't make their judgments accurate.

Point 2: to the bolded...how does a label--any label--make me or anyone else a hypocrite in the manner you have described. I consider myself a right wing extremist. But I am nothing like what you described. How do you reconcile that with your statements?

Take a look at right-wing extremist groups. They are all about their own freedoms while trying to oppress others. If you take a look at right-wing extremist groups, it isn't something good to associate yourself with. I have never heard of a right-wing extremist group that is just trying to call themselves patriots. You can claim any definition for what you want the label to be but that doesn't change the fact that many of those that are self described right-wing extremist belong to racist organizations. There are MANY different labels you can give yourself to describe your religious views, your 2A stance, and your patriotic beliefs that don't have the negative connotations that right-wing extremist carries. You may not see the label as what the general public does but that doesn't change the fact that racist organizations are some of the things that the label brings to mind.

 

[Juggernaut]

Well, lets be honest here.. "Right Wing Extremist" was not a label was not a label I CHOSE.. but one that was forced upon me by Janet Neapolitano and others..
If by being a Christan, gun owning veteran makes me an RWX.. so be it.. I'll take the label and make money doing it...

I see a lot of folks trying to hang the racist label on me too, because I don't like our current president. (Nor did I like the last one) that is a label I will not accept.. But I will NOT compromise my beliefs to appease the folks trying to hang labels around my neck..

 

[sepe]

Well, lets be honest here.. "Right Wing Extremist" was not a label was not a label I CHOSE.. but one that was forced upon me by Janet Neapolitano and others..
If by being a Christan, gun owning veteran makes me an RWX.. so be it.. I'll take the label and make money doing it...

I see a lot of folks trying to hang the racist label on me too, because I don't like our current president. (Nor did I like the last one) that is a label I will not accept.. But I will NOT compromise my beliefs to appease the folks trying to hang labels around my neck..

I understand that and I do like the shirt but I don't accept labels that others put on me if I don't fit the group. I've had plenty of people try to label me as a right wing extremist (even though I'm not a Christian, or religious in any way) because they know I'm a gun owner and usually have a shaved head. In my posts, I'm just explaining why I wouldn't accept the label...ever.

 

[CBR1000rr]

Point 1: we all label ourselves. We label others. It's how we categorize, analyze, and interact with the world around us. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Nor do we have the capability of compartmentalizing things to the extent that they exist without the other aspects of our life interacting with them. I'm not limiting myself by placing a label on my beliefs. (And the mere act of placing a label doesn't mean diddly, given the long list of people who claim conservative status who aren't). I can refine and re-define my label anytime I see fit. Others may judge me according to their standards of my label, but that doesn't make their judgments accurate.

Point 2: to the bolded...how does a label--any label--make me or anyone else a hypocrite in the manner you have described. I consider myself a right wing extremist. But I am nothing like what you described. How do you reconcile that with your statements?

In response to your first statement, I will concede to the fact that human nature is to label and categorize our thoughts and emotions. This is how we determine who we associate with on more than a cordial level. I will also agree that our beliefs change as we age and thus the category we use to generalize our core beliefs will change as well. I can't sit here and say that I don't label myself because I do. I consider myself an ultra-conserv-a-republicratic liberal. What I can say is that while we choose a label with good intent, that label rarely encompasses everything we stand for and often contradicts one or more of our beliefs. Even so, we choose to stick with said label because we fear we may loose the moral support of those who too consider themselves members of the same tribe which would also go against our human instinct to seek companionship.

This leads me to my response to your second statement/question. To place yourself under the umbrella of a general label isn't hypocritical in of itself. Nor is it hypocritical to have very strong beliefs even if those beliefs aren't in line with those of another individual. What is hypocritical is to use the said label to push an agenda and do so in the name of freedom. For example, I consider myself a very patriotic individual. I served this country out of a sense of duty and honor. I believe in God and and Christianity, not so much in Allah but I don't choose to support and fight for this country to stop the spread of the Muslim faith. To do so would classify me as a hypocrite and no better than those who try and opress my beliefs. I choose to fight for freedom and to stop those oppressing others. I could continue but I believe/hope I've answered your question?

I'm not saying that the label makes you or anyone else a hypocrite. I'm simply saying that anyone who considers themselves a patriot and or fights for freedom must do so even if they don't agree with the freedoms and liberties placed before them.

 

[.45 Dave]

left wing...right wing...
Maybe we ought to start thinking in terms of claw and beak extremists.
(that was purple if anyone from DHS is watching and, of course, purple means sarcasm--it's just that my keyboard is in black and white.)

 

[J_Wales]

Great comment... and humorous to boot

 

[Juggernaut]

I'm not saying that the label makes you or anyone else a hypocrite. I'm simply saying that anyone who considers themselves a patriot and or fights for freedom must do so even if they don't agree with the freedoms and liberties placed before them.

truth..

I rather enjoy the "satire" of being labeled an extremist.. I have my own "personal" convictions that fall to the right.. but they are just that..personal..

The reality is, I'm a pretty "Moderate" dude.. problem is.. Moderates are labeled extremist..

I think everybody needs a lesson in learnin' to leave everyone else alone...

 

[Arthur Dent]

truth..

I rather enjoy the "satire" of being labeled an extremist.. I have my own "personal" convictions that fall to the right.. but they are just that..personal..

The reality is, I'm a pretty "Moderate" dude.. problem is.. Moderates are labeled extremist..

I think everybody needs a lesson in learnin' to leave everyone else alone...

Yes, indeed!

 

[CBR1000rr]

truth..

I rather enjoy the "satire" of being labeled an extremist.. I have my own "personal" convictions that fall to the right.. but they are just that..personal..

The reality is, I'm a pretty "Moderate" dude.. problem is.. Moderates are labeled extremist..

I think everybody needs a lesson in learnin' to leave everyone else alone...

I agree completely!!

 

[goinggreyfast]

Not extreme, but most definitely Conservative. Getting quite tired of sloth, lies, & favoritism on both sides of the isle personally.

"Beware of the man with strong convictions and no compassion." ~ Jamey Ragle

 

[Carmelbythecorn]

It seems that "extremism" is a word used by the Liberals / Socialists to describe anyone not in step with their forced-redistributionist / nanny-state policies. Have you ever heard the term "left-wing extremist" used? I haven't...

 

[88GT]

Take a look at right-wing extremist groups. They are all about their own freedoms while trying to oppress others. If you take a look at right-wing extremist groups, it isn't something good to associate yourself with. I have never heard of a right-wing extremist group that is just trying to call themselves patriots. You can claim any definition for what you want the label to be but that doesn't change the fact that many of those that are self described right-wing extremist belong to racist organizations. There are MANY different labels you can give yourself to describe your religious views, your 2A stance, and your patriotic beliefs that don't have the negative connotations that right-wing extremist carries. You may not see the label as what the general public does but that doesn't change the fact that racist organizations are some of the things that the label brings to mind.

You're defining the term by a subset of groups that fall under it. Libertarians are right wing extremists. Tenth Amendment Nullifyers are right wing extremists, but they aren't imposing on anybody's freedoms. Words have meanings. Just because a particular group of people qualify for a particular label doesn't mean that all others who also fall in that category share all of the same qualities or characteristics. It simply means that they share those characteristics for which the label applies.

 

[steveh_131]

Words have meanings.

This is true. For the sake of discussion, let's define this one.

Quoting wikipedia, historically the term is derived from:

The political term right-wing originates from the French Revolution, when liberal deputies from the Third Estate generally sat to the left of the president's chair, a habit which began in the Estates General of 1789. The nobility, members of the Second Estate, generally sat to the right. In the successive legislative assemblies, monarchists who supported the Ancien Régime were commonly referred to as rightists, because they sat on the right side. A major figure on the right was Joseph de Maistre, who argued for an authoritarian form of conservatism. Throughout the 19th century, the main line dividing Left and Right in France was between supporters of the Republic and supporters of the Monarchy.[11] On the right, the Legitimists and Ultra-royalists held counter-revolutionary views, while the Orleanists hoped to create a constitutional monarchy under their preferred branch of the royal family, a brief reality after the 1830 July Revolution.

An authoritarian form of conservatism is probably the definition I would most agree with. However, the same article quotes Thomas Sowell as saying

These opponents of the left may share no particular principle, much less a common agenda, and they can range from free-market libertarians to advocates of monarchy, theocracy, military dictatorship or innumerable other principles, systems and agendas.

I understand his point, and he is absolutely right. However, being an 'opponent of the left' does not make you right-wing, so that is where he and I would have to part ways on this issue.

How would you define the term?

 

[EvilBlackGun]

Let the Media speak.

It is THEY who have labeled "us" as RWX.

How would you define the term?

As for me and my house, we are enjoying this pop-corn, and watching for any strangers to break over our horizon; no actions are excluded. EBG

 

[steveh_131]

It is THEY who have labeled "us" as RWX.

As for me and my house, we are enjoying this pop-corn, and watching for any strangers to break over our horizon; no actions are excluded. EBG

What exactly do you mean by 'us'? How do you know who they are even talking about? What does the term mean? What do 'THEY' think it means? Are they using the term incorrectly or are they misrepresenting 'our' views? Or is it an accurate description? And if it is, then why do 'we' care?

 

[EvilBlackGun]

Not spoken like ...

... a friendly.

What exactly do you mean by 'us'? How do you know who they are even talking about? What does the term mean? What do 'THEY' think it means? Are they using the term incorrectly or are they misrepresenting 'our' views? Or is it an accurate description? And if it is, then why do 'we' care?

Look! There is a man coming closer from the horizon. What's that he's saying?? "Fundamentally change Amerika..." And others merely muddy the waters for him. Is it patriotic to take an I.D. and run with it, and stand for it, or sit down and shut up and load magazines? You want pronoun definitions, steveh? How about, "THEY have OUR future all plotted out for US." YOU fill in the blanks to your satisfaction. Believing otherwise is to be a tin-foil dupe. Watch for IMMENSELY greater "change" in your future. I don't want you on my "6". EBG

 

[rambone]

Libertarians are right wing extremists.

A lot of libertarians would not agree with that.