this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2024
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I'm not a big fan of the legitimizing violence, personally.
I think the identification of the problem as liberalism's impossible position between the oppressor and oppressed is spot on. But, rather than giving into endless violence, I'm prefer extending the precepts of liberalism without exception.
Liberals always make exceptions. For them, only the worthy poor deserve help, worthiness being arbitrarily determined by some pseudo-philanthropist laundering their savage public image through charity, for example. In the public sphere, we've been convinced that means-testing is an efficient way to distribute goods and resources, never mind the arbitrary power administrators have over those they administrate. Always exceptions.
So, just...get rid of exceptions.
You cannot engage with the article in good faith without addressing the point that the system engages in passive but pervasive constant violence against minorities.
When you say you do not want to legitimize violence, you ignore their point that violence is nonetheless happening, and will not change through politely requesting those in charge, currently enabling or actively doing the violence, to stop it please. They are actively rewarded by inflicting violence on others through material gains. They have no good reason to stop, since it is already clear pesky morals are not getting in the way.
You state "we should just get rid of exceptions," but you have no actual proposal for convincing those with no reason to be convinced, e.g. the people in power. We are not in a void where everyone starts off on equal footing. We are in a world where pervasive violence is quietly carried out every minute of every day.
Police violence, overseas wars, cutting minorities off from basic needs, these are all things that quiet lawful protests and "voting really hard" have not budged.
Your argument is not at all engaging with this article's content.
My point is less to convince you to suddenly engage in good faith than to point out to onlookers how you are not. My suggestion to those onlookers is to read the actual article themselves, as it makes for some interesting reflection, regardless of agreement with it.
Who doesn't want peace? Not many.
One of the most difficult things for me to learn was that some people really prefer violence over more peaceful alternatives. I still haven't quite wrapped my head around it, but I accept it.
I've engaged with the articles core argument about the legitimatization of violence, but the only answer is more violence for some of you people.
Fight fire with fire and watch the whole world burn. Just like it is because of the oppressor's violence.
I have no interest in further talking to someone who brings up what the article counters with zero counterpoints, and just insists the original point progressively louder.
(Edit: Total comment rehaul to better explain my position, but similar sentiment.)