I hang out in leftist circles. If you’ve been anywhere online, it’s honestly a little difficult to avoid social areas where being left isn’t the assumed position; reddit, tumblr, most forum sites, ao3, etc. I know leftists IRL too, not just over a computer screen, but I’ve noticed a reoccuring trend in some of the people in these political circles.

Y’see, the issue is twofold. Firstly - some people see radicalism as a virtue. As in, the mere fact that you believe in something that is further to “typical” political beliefs is presented as an aspirable goal within itself. I understand not limiting your personal beliefs to what the people around you will approve of, but that doesn’t equate to having a morally superior belief system just because the people around you disapprove of it.

Secondly - these same people really want an excuse to be violent. Like, whether through words or through fists, they want violence, and they want it as soon as possible.

It is true that sometimes, violence is required in the name of greater societal change - the nazis weren’t stopped using hugs and “pretty please”s, after all - but I’m somewhat uncomfortable with the people who want the violence first and the reason to use it second. In my perspective, violence isn’t the preferable solution, it’s the solution you end up using. It’s the tool you use only out of necessity and while wishing you were doing literally anything else. But that’s not the mentality I see these same people espouse. The violence is the goal, in these cases. “Violence is not the answer, it is the question, and the answer is yes.”

Now, I’m sure some of you are rolling your eyes at me somewhat, whether mentally or literally. “Lucio, having nutcases who claim to support a political belief isn’t new, I’m not sure why you’re this shocked by this idea.” I am well aware of that. What shocks me isn’t the mere thirst for violence, but rather how this thirst is disguised in the ideals of peace.

A lot of leftist rhetoric is ostensibely about social support networks. About helping everyone, even those who don’t “deserve it”, and making sure every part of society has somewhere to sleep and eat. Whether a murderer or the most selfless person on the planet, they both deserve some set of basic human rights. What fucks with me is to see this belief system warped to support violence, the literal opposite of these fundamental beliefs.

The usual set dressing is some future populace that will be “spared” thanks to the current actions. It’s a very easy claim to make, isn’t it? A fictional group of people doesn’t ask for demands, it doesn’t feel patronized when you rhetorically remove its decisionmaking, and it can’t disagree with you on anything. It’s the perfect group to lay claim to.

And worse still, right, is that so often these calls for violence are calls for violence done by someone else. They want someone else to go assassinate a CEO, for someone else to start an intifada, for someone else to go firebomb a walmart. They want a gruesome result, but done in an orderly fashion. Away from their eyes. They want the reward, not the blood spilled to get there. I respect more the people who say these insane things while fistfighting the cops; atleast I know you stand behind your words!

Obviously these people aren’t the majority, I know that, but it fucks with me worse when someone I supposedly agree with says something outwardly insane, than if someone I generally disagree with says something idiotic. “Dude, you’re making us look like a bunch of idiots.”