‘The trouble with being empathetic‘, somebody once said, ‘is that you also feel sorry for assholes.’
But I have had enough! I have had enough!
I’m sick of being liberal and accepting and allowing. I’m done with it. Although far from everybody, Sweden and Europe is full of assholes.
Yesterday in Sweden, a left wing politician was physically attacked by members of the nazi party on the street. This is only one of many anti democratic incidents we are witnessing in our society.
After the EU election, it is abundantly clear that a climate of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant racism is being stoked in Europe and Sweden.
There are many examples. In Sweden, like in many other countries, the main nationalistic party (called SD) gained ground. White supremists demonstrate openly on the streets of Sweden. Last week, in Sweden, RFSL (The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights) said they would not participate in Sweden’s politics week due to threats from a nazi party.
Enough!
The democratic dilemma
As liberals, we have a dilemma on how to handle this spiraling situation. As self-identified beacons of democracy, we believe that freedom of speech should apply to everybody – even if their ideas are heinous. Banning opinion is, in itself, a fascistic move. Or is it?
I am a democrat. I believe in freedom of speech. But for me the solution is simple. The fascist opinion is not like any other opinion. It is filled with violence and hatred and should be allowed no platform in an open society.
No platform for fascists
When I say that there should be no platform for fascists, I mean that pro-democratic legislation should be stricter. I mean far right supremist groups should be criminalized in Sweden. I mean fascist meetings should be shut down, their attempts to rally and march should be prevented, counter-picketed and blocked.
It is not just because what they say is offensive. It is not a question of whether I like or agree with what they have to say. It is because hate speech does not end as speech. It is a call to violence, a tool to organize attacks on vulnerable communities.
When fascists get a platform, violence against minorities goes up. This we know. This we are seeing.
Fascism is a disease
Fascism is a disease in Swedish society. It aims to destroy our democracy and concentrate power in the hands of a “racially superior” minority. To succeed, it requires the destruction of freedom of speech. It requires destroying mass organizations of working people and unions. It requires the dismantling of free press, as SD has suggested the privatisation of public service radio. It uses an army of internet trolls. Fascism uses the blinkered limitations of liberalism to destroy itself.
Today’s fascists in Sweden and Europe try to re-brand themselves as something less threatening than their past incarnations. They are “alt-right” and pretend to be champions of free speech. They are not. They wear suits and smile into the camera. They claim they are anti-establishment and present themselves as scapegoats. They pander to the sick and the elderly by offering them more money. They pretend they aren’t racists or homophobes, just champions of white people and Swedish culture and “values”. They try to keep their real ideas and aims in the dark.
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is not absolute. When thugs disrupt Pride parades that is not free speech. When fascists demonstrate during the May 1st celebrations, it is not free speech – it is intimidation and an attempt to incite violence. We have a right and a duty to prevent it, through the law, superior numbers and organization.
Unfortunately, racism cannot be defeated by logical argument. Racism, and fascism, grows by an appeal to the irrational, fear and hatred. It has to be smashed.
You might think I’m a drama queen who is making a mountain out of a mole hill. But I have had enough! I’m sick of allowing undemocratic people access to our democracy.
We cannot under-estimate the threat fascism poses in Sweden, our communities, schools and workplaces. Pro-democrats must make it a top priority to expose it and organize to stomp it out wherever we find it. We must unite in saying – not here, not on our watch, not in Sweden.
Sweden, that means: no platform for fascists.
Watching the Swedes 
Thank you, Well said!
Great community masha allah
Well said, this is so obvious to me!. Politics. That´s how the Donald got to power and it´s a weird experience to see how people won´t learn. The economy won´t grow with nationalist policies and the social dynamic will be destroyed; this is gonna happen here, if it hasn´t already.
Of course immigrants will be at fault of everything.
The more divided the weaker and that´s exactly what certain forces wish for the west. The greed, hate and arrogance of the west will have a price in the end because the main players didn´t understand that the world is already multipolar and there is nothing to do other than embracing it and following common sense towards the future.
Fascism is indeed a crime in itself. As a totalitarian expression it is implied that prohibits opposition parties and restricts individual opposition to the state and its claims. A true patriot would be more worried about that than immigration. It has been proved over and over that immigration leads to improvement in different aspects, there is research about it. You worried about the religion of other people? Well make sure there is secular education and that science and philosophy play a key role in the education for coming generations. No religion will survive that.
I will surely leave this country as soon as SD and its totalitarian policies take over, which is a matter of time, not paying taxes to fascists.