What a relief to use laughter and ridicule at the preposterous notion that one group is superior and deserves favor simply because of an entirely accidental physical feature. All hail BALD POWER!
13
It's probably not the only answer, but it's certainly part of the formula.
When a politician or a political group becomes a laughing stock, they're done. They're never taken seriously again.
White Flour, I say. No, no, I meant to say Wife Power!
When a politician or a political group becomes a laughing stock, they're done. They're never taken seriously again.
White Flour, I say. No, no, I meant to say Wife Power!
4
This article sheds light on an important truth -- racism is ridiculous -- and on a critically important political tactic: ridicule. First of all, I beg to differ that ridicule as a political tactic was born in Europe. Abbie Hoffman and the Yippees were far advanced in this area during the 1960's era anti-Vietnam War protests. But who cares about authorship. The point is that one does not diminish at all the horror and murderous evil of fascism, and the racism on which it depends, by taking one step back and realizing: Wait a minute. This is just ridiculous. And then acting accordingly. Laugh, mock, delight in your contempt: don't just turn your back, turn your back and drop your pants. Send in the clowns.
9
Humor cuts both ways - if only we had witty conservatives.
6
This makes me happy and gives me hope.
10
Two thoughts:
How very effective the razor-sharp satire of the Berlin cabarets of the late Weimar Republic was in preventing the Nazis from coming to power.
Tom Lehrer's lines about the Spanish Civil War and Generalissimo Francisco Franco's fascists: "They may have won all the battles, but we had all the good songs."
Laughter is great, but we need to open our wallets and fund the forces of good.
How very effective the razor-sharp satire of the Berlin cabarets of the late Weimar Republic was in preventing the Nazis from coming to power.
Tom Lehrer's lines about the Spanish Civil War and Generalissimo Francisco Franco's fascists: "They may have won all the battles, but we had all the good songs."
Laughter is great, but we need to open our wallets and fund the forces of good.
3
Thank you NYT for giving space to this article. Food for thought! I live in Portland, Oregon, where the "so-called" Antifa has ruined more worthy and intelligent demonstrations than it ever contributed to. First of all, I am sorely
grieved that many of these (mostly) young punks know absolutely nothing about COINTELPRO and the effective tactics of the Right to create havoc that is then blamed on intelligent, well intentioned folks who want to change something in society. I do believe the Antifa people are tools of the FBI and bad elements in local police forces looking to stir up trouble and justify their own bully tactics. The soft power of humor tells a much more powerful story.
grieved that many of these (mostly) young punks know absolutely nothing about COINTELPRO and the effective tactics of the Right to create havoc that is then blamed on intelligent, well intentioned folks who want to change something in society. I do believe the Antifa people are tools of the FBI and bad elements in local police forces looking to stir up trouble and justify their own bully tactics. The soft power of humor tells a much more powerful story.
4
Tina, you're right, but for the wrong reason.
You treat ridicule as a tactic for discrediting neo-Nazis. But it's not a tactic. Derision is a natural human response to the tiny bedraggled bunch of bully boys with their strutting and fantasy war games and their Nazi-oid military gear. As Marx said, history repeats itself, first as tragedy, and second as farce.
I don't minimize the potential for their antics to get out of control, as in the case of Heather Heyer's murder, but the best policy is to snicker and turn our backs. The antifas only fed their sense of self-importance.
Meanwhile let's place some of the blame where it belongs. The Times has give the neo-Nazis exactly what they craved most -- the oxygen of publicity. The Times's coverage of such groups has helped put them on the map and give them a buzz that helps recruiting. It is time for the Times to stop feeding the animals.
The Times has also helped the neo-Nazis by its role in making race a salient identity in today's America. The rightist thugs are a byproduct of the culture the Times has helped create.
You treat ridicule as a tactic for discrediting neo-Nazis. But it's not a tactic. Derision is a natural human response to the tiny bedraggled bunch of bully boys with their strutting and fantasy war games and their Nazi-oid military gear. As Marx said, history repeats itself, first as tragedy, and second as farce.
I don't minimize the potential for their antics to get out of control, as in the case of Heather Heyer's murder, but the best policy is to snicker and turn our backs. The antifas only fed their sense of self-importance.
Meanwhile let's place some of the blame where it belongs. The Times has give the neo-Nazis exactly what they craved most -- the oxygen of publicity. The Times's coverage of such groups has helped put them on the map and give them a buzz that helps recruiting. It is time for the Times to stop feeding the animals.
The Times has also helped the neo-Nazis by its role in making race a salient identity in today's America. The rightist thugs are a byproduct of the culture the Times has helped create.
7
I was actually in DC a few days after the election. The weekend Richard Spencer had his "big" event at the Reagan Building. I wasnt in the building but I saw on the outside the kinds of people who were attending. They were all very pathetic looking young white males. It was laughable and not at all intimidating. The events in Charlottesville were tragic, outrageous and completely preventable. Those event were not of any great historical significance however and I cant help but think that the media giving these pathetic souls the kind of attention they seek only emboldens them. The Spencer meeting in DC was treated like some major thing by CNN and it really wasnt. It was a joke. I agree with the clown treatment. Its the best way to deal with the stupidity of hate in our current climate. Also the publication of photos of the participants during the torch ceremony. Very effective and justified. True our President had and has a total obligation to address the events in CHarlottesville more seriously and soberly and of course Trump being Trump his effort was a total fail calculated or not. He was a disgrace... .
6
How about the Loud Boys to counter the Proud Boys of Charlottesville fame? With megaphones, etc. Rob0954: We can do both. We are not trying to convert, we are trying to bring the preppie Nazis like Richard Spencer into the light of day. Their dark and dank cyber-world needs airing, and those who may be attracted to the Nazi melodrama may be put off long enough to come to some form of shame for even thinking little wooden swords and shields are the gear of the noble and worthy. Pax, jb
4
Oh I love this.
5
Where do I sign up for Trillionaires for Trump?
11
I'd like to see all Confederate monuments in clown wigs.
16
Superb strategy. The white supremacist demonstrators have been looking for a fight at all of their demonstrations. Antifa does very little but play into the hands of far right conservative Americans. For every violent deed of the white supremacists there is a similar violent deed perforrmed by Antifa that is cited by the far right.
If on the other hand the resistance shows up in clown costumes, it lowers the standards of the protest to that of a circus rather than an event to be taken seriously. Moreover, how exactly is a far right conservative going to cite the "vicious" clown antics of the resistance. They can't, and they deserve the ridicule.
If on the other hand the resistance shows up in clown costumes, it lowers the standards of the protest to that of a circus rather than an event to be taken seriously. Moreover, how exactly is a far right conservative going to cite the "vicious" clown antics of the resistance. They can't, and they deserve the ridicule.
17
dancing chorus from The Producers maybe?
10
Weather humor or peaceful counter protest or forceful, intelligent condemnation, I believe one thing:
I prefer any of these to the well meaning but ineffective, even harmful tactics ANTIFA.
If condemnation of the left is the goal, keep it up ANTIFA.
If revulsion and condemnation by the majority of Americans of the extremists on the right is the goal, let them show their ugly selves to the vast majority of moderate, normal Americans. They will choke on the sight and sound of them.
Don't meet their ugly with more ugly.
Show a more appealing, powerful contrast.
The power of persuasion comes from showing a better way.
In an age of video of everything and everyone seeing it, the group that looks most disgusting and moronic loses.
I prefer any of these to the well meaning but ineffective, even harmful tactics ANTIFA.
If condemnation of the left is the goal, keep it up ANTIFA.
If revulsion and condemnation by the majority of Americans of the extremists on the right is the goal, let them show their ugly selves to the vast majority of moderate, normal Americans. They will choke on the sight and sound of them.
Don't meet their ugly with more ugly.
Show a more appealing, powerful contrast.
The power of persuasion comes from showing a better way.
In an age of video of everything and everyone seeing it, the group that looks most disgusting and moronic loses.
7
At the very least, it is a more civilized way to counter protest.
Antifa is one of far-right best recruiting tool.
In a way, this is the mirror image of the 60s. The militant groups like the black panthers and weathermen scared people away.
Antifa is one of far-right best recruiting tool.
In a way, this is the mirror image of the 60s. The militant groups like the black panthers and weathermen scared people away.
10
YES YES YES
deadly serious -yet helps a little to alleviate the stress and trauma of living with one after another nightmares being laid at the doorsteps of compassionate people.
Past time to get serious...ly silly
deadly serious -yet helps a little to alleviate the stress and trauma of living with one after another nightmares being laid at the doorsteps of compassionate people.
Past time to get serious...ly silly
11
what if people started pulling that at Women`s Rallies. Women decrying being lied to, being cut, demanding that the Sharia Posters on the doctors office walls be taken down...the Medical Community gonna send a bunch of painted Costumed actors to dance & luagh all that away?
Brilliant idea. They are a joke. I would gladly dress like a clown as the fools run around trying to push forth debuked premise of White Supremacy. Supremacy is typically used as a shield to hide their low self worth and self awareness.
If being better than someone else is what anyone needs to affirm themselves, the need for vigorous therapy and psychiatric care, to grow their non existent confidence, cannot be overemphasized.
What a great idea to dress like clowns. I am totally in support of this idea of mocking people who are utterly absurd.
If being better than someone else is what anyone needs to affirm themselves, the need for vigorous therapy and psychiatric care, to grow their non existent confidence, cannot be overemphasized.
What a great idea to dress like clowns. I am totally in support of this idea of mocking people who are utterly absurd.
11
I am going to find the local dudes, and volunteer to dress as a clown. Done.
The last thing I want hate mongers to think is that I, or anyone with a brain, is afraid of them. I am so happy to laugh, mock, and ridicule them.
Cheers to the people who thought of this, and are doing this.
The last thing I want hate mongers to think is that I, or anyone with a brain, is afraid of them. I am so happy to laugh, mock, and ridicule them.
Cheers to the people who thought of this, and are doing this.
8
Brought to mind Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator," as well as Jack Benny's "To Be or Not to Be."
10
From Woody Allen's MANHATTAN...
Isaac: Has anybody read that Nazis are gonna march in New Jersey?
We should go down there, get some guys together, ya know, get some bricks and baseball bats, and really explain things to 'em.
Party Guest: There was this devastating satirical piece on that on the op-ed page of the Times, just devastating.
Isaac: Whoa, whoa. A satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks and baseball bats really gets right to the point of it.
Party Guest Helen: Oh, but really biting satire is always better than physical force.
Isaac: No, physical force is always better with Nazis!
Isaac: Has anybody read that Nazis are gonna march in New Jersey?
We should go down there, get some guys together, ya know, get some bricks and baseball bats, and really explain things to 'em.
Party Guest: There was this devastating satirical piece on that on the op-ed page of the Times, just devastating.
Isaac: Whoa, whoa. A satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks and baseball bats really gets right to the point of it.
Party Guest Helen: Oh, but really biting satire is always better than physical force.
Isaac: No, physical force is always better with Nazis!
6
exactly...
3
Some commenters say it is ineffective to use humor against people with automatic rifles. I could almost agree, but on second thought it probably works better than rocks. After all, there's a certain "shame quotient" involved in shooting a harmless clown; rock throwers not so much.
14
Being born in 1954, I was a young child in the early 60s when my mother hung the cover of a magazine (Life?) with Norman Rockwell's Golden Rule on the wall. I think I was in fifth grade when I was sitting at my desk reading the latest Weekly Reader that featured a story on the Ku Klux Klan. I saw the title and smiled at the silly name and immediately thought I was going to read a funny story about clowns. I cannot adequately describe the horror in my young mind when I realized what the article was all about. That disgust has stayed with me but I am willing to try anything including humor if I thought it might help these deplorable clowns to see that all people are created equal and to live the spirit of doing on to others as you would have them do onto you.
6
To this day I remember seeing "Purlie Victorious" on Broadway with my parents. That was in 1961. It was a hilarious swipe at white southern attitudes toward black people. (Written by and starring Ossie Davis.) Did "Purlie Victorious" alone win the Civil Rights struggle? Of course not. But I think it persuaded quite a few audience members -- mostly white and with the money to see Broadway plays -- that the Civil Rights struggle was real, that racist white southerners could be seen as buffoons, that the black people engaged in the struggle were actual human beings. Ossie Davis. . . what's the word?. . . he ACCLIMATED the audience to the idea that the Civil Rights struggle was worthwhile and winnable.
10
The phrase "humiliating defeat" has always puzzled me...until now. If it's not bad enough to have lost, the loser additionally suffers humiliation? Condemnation is all well and good, but if some part-time clowns can actually add a bright red cherry on top of the white-supremacist mud pie, I'm all for whatever humiliation it may provide.
6
"Responding to far-right demonstrators with mockery originated in Europe, where one outstanding recent example took place in the German town of Wunsiedel."
Sorry Germany, but you can't unring the holocaust bell. You can mock the neo-Nazis and have others fall in line behind you but take a look at those you are mocking. Just about everyone has a laugh. But within the lifetimes of a dwindling number of your grandparents they (grandpa and grandma included) marched the Jews, Romany and Slavs off to the gas chambers.
Your beloved leader Angela has tried to unring that Holocaust bell but it is slowly backfiring on her.
Just some good old fashioned German belly laughs...
Sorry Germany, but you can't unring the holocaust bell. You can mock the neo-Nazis and have others fall in line behind you but take a look at those you are mocking. Just about everyone has a laugh. But within the lifetimes of a dwindling number of your grandparents they (grandpa and grandma included) marched the Jews, Romany and Slavs off to the gas chambers.
Your beloved leader Angela has tried to unring that Holocaust bell but it is slowly backfiring on her.
Just some good old fashioned German belly laughs...
1
Oh, for goodness sakes, jp. Are you not aware that with Trump in the pocket of the Russians and siding with every dictator, the mantle of "Greatest Democracy" has now been taken over by Germany and Angela Merkel? The US certainly can't claim that title any longer.
11
I think nearly all of the younger generations of people in Germany are very aware and serious and dedicated to anti-facism. From a distance, I admired the German citizen who smacked around up that drunken American tourist in Dresden who was flashing the Nazi salute. They must carry the guilt, so they may be the best people to call it out Nazis for what they are.
6
@Sam D:
1. I was talking about the Germans not being able to undo their ringing of the Holocaust bell by the games they play with their neo-Nazis.
2. I took an active role in Cold War V1 and was belittled by progressives for supporting the nasty neocolonial US. I'll sit out Cold War V2 and have a laugh or two in the process. But please don't try that Hillary reset button thing again.
3. "Greatest Democracy" - the US certainly can't claim that title? Since the 1960's I've been hearing political progressives in this country crying that the US was not a democracy and an oppressor of the Third World.
4. And again, no matter what Angela tries to pull, she can't unring that Holocaust bell.
Any other questions?
1. I was talking about the Germans not being able to undo their ringing of the Holocaust bell by the games they play with their neo-Nazis.
2. I took an active role in Cold War V1 and was belittled by progressives for supporting the nasty neocolonial US. I'll sit out Cold War V2 and have a laugh or two in the process. But please don't try that Hillary reset button thing again.
3. "Greatest Democracy" - the US certainly can't claim that title? Since the 1960's I've been hearing political progressives in this country crying that the US was not a democracy and an oppressor of the Third World.
4. And again, no matter what Angela tries to pull, she can't unring that Holocaust bell.
Any other questions?
Queue the Producers!
3
Springtime for Hitler, followed by Hitler on Ice!
5
Nice pun on "cue."
3
What's there even to acknowledge or counter in the first place? Overt displays of any extreme view speaks for itself and hardly requires a phd to understand like the political commentators would like to have us believe because otherwise they could never find a job with the one they got so they make one up supposedly telling us what hate is. At least a clown doesn't come off as self-righteous and arrogant as the counter protesters out there now.
You didn't get this at all, did you?
3
Iver Thompson, sorry for my comment above ("You didn't get this at all, did you?"), that was meant for a different comment (the one from JP from MI below, something about Germany and the holocaust), but the system for some reason attached it to yours.
If we need clowns to follow the alt-right around look no further than the Republican Congress.
13
What Martin Luther King realized in 1960 was that the battle was not for the hearts and minds of the segregationists and southern cops, but for the hearts and minds of the people sitting at home watching it all play out on TV.
While modern racists may have some advantages over their forbearers in term of access to media, they are weaker from a political perspective. Remember Trump lost by a record number of votes for a sitting president.
If the prize is winning the greatest number of minds, humor is a strategy that should be given its due. It may be met with violence, but that will only make the racists look stupid.
While modern racists may have some advantages over their forbearers in term of access to media, they are weaker from a political perspective. Remember Trump lost by a record number of votes for a sitting president.
If the prize is winning the greatest number of minds, humor is a strategy that should be given its due. It may be met with violence, but that will only make the racists look stupid.
9
Some commenters here seem offended by the notion that humor can be used as a political weapon. The situation is too serious -- the enemy too dangerous. We must use fire against fire.
Baloney! No one thinks that humor alone will defeat Trump and his GOP toadies. But it is one tactic among many. It heartens our side. It will persuade some of our enemy to come on over. Taking the enemy as seriously as the enemy wants to be taken is not always a good idea.
I'm not saying, "Lighten up." I am saying, "Use every weapon you've got."
Baloney! No one thinks that humor alone will defeat Trump and his GOP toadies. But it is one tactic among many. It heartens our side. It will persuade some of our enemy to come on over. Taking the enemy as seriously as the enemy wants to be taken is not always a good idea.
I'm not saying, "Lighten up." I am saying, "Use every weapon you've got."
21
In Irish and Scottish Celtic culture, the King's satirist was just as important as the King's war leader. Deflating the enemy can be more effective than defeating the enemy.
In Mexico they have local and national politicians made of paper mache and painted. They are life-sized cartoon figues and they are lined standing up against the buildings fronting the local park square to be examined and commented on by passers by.. Then, in a ceremony, they are named, commented one by one, and hung up on a line in the square. One by one they are torched, with a eulogy. The fireworks built in them goes off, spins them around and around and blows their heads off in a great bang and a cloud of smoke. Everybody cheers loudly.
2
Extraordinary article. That foundation of this article explains WHY and HOW Senator Al Franken effectively serves the people of Minnesota. He is a critical, strategic thinker. He's observant and reflective. And he's funny. The result... he knows how to build consensus, cultivate respect and celebrate diversity.
15
Great article, but unfortunately humor doesn't always work. Comedians can't keep up with their satire of trump and his bungling administration, and it's been hilarious - All that great satire has done little to change the minds of trump supporters. Even worse is the risk is normalizing the behavior in a sort of Homer Simpson way, which I believe we are at risk of when satirizing trump.
2
Satire may be the most potent weapon in anyone's arsenal - and it's protected speech, too.
Getting riled up at these demonstrations is exactly what the demonstrators want you to do. They don't expect you to mock them instead. Never underestimate the power of laughter. (See Charlie Chaplin's "the Great Dictator" to see how it should be done.)
And remember - if you can't take a joke, don't be one.
Getting riled up at these demonstrations is exactly what the demonstrators want you to do. They don't expect you to mock them instead. Never underestimate the power of laughter. (See Charlie Chaplin's "the Great Dictator" to see how it should be done.)
And remember - if you can't take a joke, don't be one.
4
Thanks so much for this inspiring opinion Tina. I just love it!
Laughter is also healing, not to the heels but to the rest of
us. I now want to find a way to make fun of Hillary's new
book coming out. WHAT HAPPENED. Perhaps I can turn
it into a musical comedy.
Laughter is also healing, not to the heels but to the rest of
us. I now want to find a way to make fun of Hillary's new
book coming out. WHAT HAPPENED. Perhaps I can turn
it into a musical comedy.
1
I agree that mockery is an effective form of counter protest. Especially, because the young men in the White supremacist groups are there because they can't get dates. They are living in their parents basements trying to take over the country. They are too easy to ignore and dismiss. We can't ignore them when they show up at protests with better weapons than the police. The Charlottesvillle police were afraid of them. I don't think mockery works in that situation. What didn't work was allowing them to harass and intimidate unarmed counter protesters. The police need to do a better job of protecting free speech. There is no free speech when one side is armed with assault weapons. That should be outlawed. Then we can go back to making fun of the alt-right.
3
I'm continuously amazed at the Times and other news organizations pushing this idea that the only way to fight fascism and white supremacy is through non-violent means. It's as if Nazi Germany never happened, or Franco's Spain, or Pinochet's Chile, or the Argentinian junta. Sometimes massive peaceful protests can bring fascist dictators to heel, but often it takes more than that. Subversive actions, violence in the street, or even war.
Readers should check out the book, "Militant Anti-Fascism" published by AK Press, which details how anti-fascists, using fists and bricks and other material items, to keep the fascists at bay. It didn't always work, but usually in places where it was too late. British anti-fascists helped defeat several fascist and neo-Nazi organizations from gaining a foothold in the UK both before and after the war. Fascism is not a silly game that will chuckle back and say, "You're right, we're wrong, we'll go away now."
This liberal idea that all speech is to be protected without consequence, that fascism can only be fought through non-violent means, is farcical.
These people are espousing genocide and mass murder. What do you people not understand?
Readers should check out the book, "Militant Anti-Fascism" published by AK Press, which details how anti-fascists, using fists and bricks and other material items, to keep the fascists at bay. It didn't always work, but usually in places where it was too late. British anti-fascists helped defeat several fascist and neo-Nazi organizations from gaining a foothold in the UK both before and after the war. Fascism is not a silly game that will chuckle back and say, "You're right, we're wrong, we'll go away now."
This liberal idea that all speech is to be protected without consequence, that fascism can only be fought through non-violent means, is farcical.
These people are espousing genocide and mass murder. What do you people not understand?
10
I appreciate your zeal, but your amazement is born of a lack of history and humanities reading under your belt.
Neither Spain, Chile, nor Argentina were liberal democracies with a Bill of Rights guaranteeing free speech. Conversely in Italy when Fascism was invented a third of the Jews were card carrying fascists (see "Moral Combat" by M. Burleigh) as there was no antisemitic component in Italian fascism, which was a populist unionist sort of political movement. I do not defend fascism, I point out that ideas are not always exactly what they are commonly advertised to be. The KKK is a straight up Christian organization, the danger to Europe posed by Fascism was made real by it's militarized component. Personally I'd applaud the end of both Christianity and the military, but I don't think I'd have a majority.
Ideas should never be attacked with violence, they can always be overcome with better ideas. Speech control is a mainstay of totalitarians for thousands of years. Book burning and imprisonment without trial are also great ways to suppress dangerous ideas. Wise analysis gives us free speech for very good reason, because it works, and it's working today in the US.
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. -George Orwell
What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist. - Salman Rushdie
Neither Spain, Chile, nor Argentina were liberal democracies with a Bill of Rights guaranteeing free speech. Conversely in Italy when Fascism was invented a third of the Jews were card carrying fascists (see "Moral Combat" by M. Burleigh) as there was no antisemitic component in Italian fascism, which was a populist unionist sort of political movement. I do not defend fascism, I point out that ideas are not always exactly what they are commonly advertised to be. The KKK is a straight up Christian organization, the danger to Europe posed by Fascism was made real by it's militarized component. Personally I'd applaud the end of both Christianity and the military, but I don't think I'd have a majority.
Ideas should never be attacked with violence, they can always be overcome with better ideas. Speech control is a mainstay of totalitarians for thousands of years. Book burning and imprisonment without trial are also great ways to suppress dangerous ideas. Wise analysis gives us free speech for very good reason, because it works, and it's working today in the US.
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. -George Orwell
What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist. - Salman Rushdie
3
Humor may or may not work on them, the hard core, but it can also work on those around them that are just watching and listening and thinking about it. Humor can be a very powerful deflator with the humorless. What does not work is escalation using similar tactics. This only feeds the radical- minded. Unless, of course, you really want war.
Humor isn't the only way, but it's a good first choice. They need to look cool and macho to attract followers, not like a bunch of dolts.
6
Google "Right in the Fuhrer's Face" for a 1942 song parodying the Nazis. Quite clever and if chanted loudly in the brownshirt's general direction, sure to be effective.
4
Another fun song was the lyrics set to the Colonel Bogey March during WWII.
1
Google Tom Lehrer for some first class parody!
2
WE have many clowns in government already. Perhaps they should stand a lesson in brevity by dressing like them too?
7
Surprised nobody has made use of those "color bombs" that are tossed during 5K's and Hindu festivals. A nazi flag sure would look nice covered in bright yellow dye. Also, "glitter bombs". A well-timed toss of glitter is impossible to fully remove from ones hair, clothes, and fascist paraphernalia.
Or, just make a sign that reads "All These Guys Got Kicked Off Tinder".
Or, just make a sign that reads "All These Guys Got Kicked Off Tinder".
18
For the neo-Confederates: a reprise of the 1980s Miller Lite ads, except that the two "sides" could shout "Slavery!" "Treason!" instead of "Tastes Great!" "Less Filling!"
One difference between marches in Europe and here is that Klansmen here may be well-armed. In Charlottesville, many of the white supremacists had semi-automatic weapons. I'd be careful ridiculing those who can spray 30 bullets a minute.
10
I think demonstrating the courage to ridicule a potentially dangerous foe is part of the effect. Imagine how it would look on the evening news. "Courageous Clown!". "Truth, Justice and a Really Silly Wig!".
1
Brad, being a clown is a dangerous job, but somebody's gotta do it. Nothing their semi-automatic weapons can do that Silly String can't do better.
4
I remember when the clowns won WWII!
1
I don't know. I saw the movie where Roberto Benigni clowns around in a concentration camp. His humor didn't exactly disarm the Nazis. It's disingenuous to cite white-collar examples of humorous disarmament when what we're facing is a far more nefarious enemy.
6
So true. I don't think we can win this fight, unfortunately.
1
There's a theme song for this approach, "Springtime for Hitler and Germany". Thank you Mel Brooks. As Mel points out in talking about it, ridicule is the best way to fight the bad guys.
15
You got it.
1
This article made me laugh and I needed that today.
The two lines that had me in stitches:
1) “Eat lead, Cobra!” surgically altered Barbie said. “Vengeance is mine!”
and
2) “White flour?” the clowns cried, throwing some in the air. “White flower? Tight shower? Wife power!” For wife power, some of them put on wedding dresses.
Thank you for the article Ms. Rosenberg!
The two lines that had me in stitches:
1) “Eat lead, Cobra!” surgically altered Barbie said. “Vengeance is mine!”
and
2) “White flour?” the clowns cried, throwing some in the air. “White flower? Tight shower? Wife power!” For wife power, some of them put on wedding dresses.
Thank you for the article Ms. Rosenberg!
17
Mockery is the BEST form of vengeance!!!
8
Brilliant!
5
Rosenberg: "For every meter the neo-Nazis marched, the town [Wunsiedel] donated 10 euros to an organization that helped people leave right-wing extremist groups."
"Donated"? That sounds more like a government body using taxpayer funds to promote its political agenda.
Rosenberg: "... leaving the neo-Nazis responsible for raising $12,000 against their own cause."
That is incoherent -- the town "donates", yet the "neo-Nazis" are "responsible". Is that an example of leftist logic?
2017-09-06 16:45:01 UTC
"Donated"? That sounds more like a government body using taxpayer funds to promote its political agenda.
Rosenberg: "... leaving the neo-Nazis responsible for raising $12,000 against their own cause."
That is incoherent -- the town "donates", yet the "neo-Nazis" are "responsible". Is that an example of leftist logic?
2017-09-06 16:45:01 UTC
No. Its a brilliant example of humane reasoning.
3
Oh me oh my. The "taxpayers." Don't forget the "taxpayers"!
Ya know, I really don't like my tax dollars paying the salaries of the Freedom Caucus but my objection ain't gonna stop it happening.
Ya know, I really don't like my tax dollars paying the salaries of the Freedom Caucus but my objection ain't gonna stop it happening.
2
It's an example of decent people that they want to take action against Nazis that will actually accomplish something.
1
I realized some years ago that the television show Hogan's Heroes used this tactic retroactively against the Nazis. Interestingly, three of the main characters were played by actors of Jewish descent, including the men who played the commander and Sergeant Schulz. Laughter might be the ultimate weapon against tyranny.
5
I had thought how wonderfully funny and at the same time humiliating for Klansmen and white supremecists, if, during a Klan/white supremicist rally, a large number of "fake" klansmen in hoods stood on the sidewalk as the "real" klansmen marched down the street. Then, when they passed the "fake" clansmen on the sidewalk, the fake clansmen took off their hoods revealing themselves to be African American, Asian, Hispanic, women, children and then we all started laughing.
I was a member of the Billionaires for Bush and would love to reincarnate that movement for Trillionaires for Trump. It's not too late. My poster read: "Making sure you pay my fair share."
I was a member of the Billionaires for Bush and would love to reincarnate that movement for Trillionaires for Trump. It's not too late. My poster read: "Making sure you pay my fair share."
8
Anything that supports Trump is ill advised. It doesn't matter how much money one has.
Rosenberg: "Responding to far-right demonstrators with mockery originated in Europe ..."
Rosenberg: "Humor has a long and honored place in American politics as well."
Wrong. Mockery and humor are not the same. If Rosenberg doesn't know the difference, she should consult a dictionary:
"mockery: 1 Teasing and contemptuous language or behaviour directed at a particular person or thing."
"humor: 1 The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech."
So mockery is an expression of hostility, while humor may be uplifting.
The fundamental problem with mockery is that it is anti-intellectual and hateful. Mockery precludes reasoned rebuttals and a deeper understanding of the victims of the mockery.
Source: Oxford online dictionary.
2017-09-06 17:10:07 UTC
Rosenberg: "Humor has a long and honored place in American politics as well."
Wrong. Mockery and humor are not the same. If Rosenberg doesn't know the difference, she should consult a dictionary:
"mockery: 1 Teasing and contemptuous language or behaviour directed at a particular person or thing."
"humor: 1 The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech."
So mockery is an expression of hostility, while humor may be uplifting.
The fundamental problem with mockery is that it is anti-intellectual and hateful. Mockery precludes reasoned rebuttals and a deeper understanding of the victims of the mockery.
Source: Oxford online dictionary.
2017-09-06 17:10:07 UTC
I could be mistaken, but to me the sign held aloft in the picture accompanying this article is telling the Antifa to get lost; saying they are anti-German, nationalmasochistic, terrorists, intolerant, externally controlled, and antisocial. The recent Antifa protest in Wurzen (where it seems this picture was taken) was met by police that were decked out in what to many Germans looked like unusually military-looking gear. I understand that this article is saying that violence will not further the antifascist/antisupremacist cause, but I don't think this picture is the best one to accompany the article. Perhaps one of the "Wife Power!" clowns would be better?
2
Great idea!
Another tactic - if there is someone at the White House you don't like, praise the person. Especially with articles saying he or she is the real brains behind the organization or the campaign.
Want to get rid of Scott Pruitt of the EPA? A nice article in the NYTimes Magazine about how Pruitt orchestrated the Trump campaign's genius strategy on the economy should do it.
Another tactic - if there is someone at the White House you don't like, praise the person. Especially with articles saying he or she is the real brains behind the organization or the campaign.
Want to get rid of Scott Pruitt of the EPA? A nice article in the NYTimes Magazine about how Pruitt orchestrated the Trump campaign's genius strategy on the economy should do it.
5
There are many arrows in opposition quiver. Sarcastic disavowal is one of them. So are fists and rocks.
2
Violence is never a good solution. Except sometimes.
These are lovely ideas. Mocking. Satirizing. Organizing. The organizing against may be the most difficult. I think liberal progressives have such a sense of individuality that it is very difficult to get a couple hundred people to wear clown costumes--all at the same time. The bigots have obviously been organizing for a long time. They have the whole symbolism and propaganda down pat. Lying, cheating and hating others have a long and strong history that brings the bigots together. Liberals are so intent on being themselves.
3
Recently in Europe, I believe, protesters piped the Benny Hills theme song through speakers during one of these marches. It was very effective at countering their message.
There's video of it somewhere on Youtube which I highly recommend.
There's video of it somewhere on Youtube which I highly recommend.
4
I love this column and am almost in complete agreement with it.
I agree that meeting the Klan and Neo-Nazis with violence is a mistake, but I do question whether it wouldn't be better to stay home. Isn't refusing to pay any attention to them as bad as mocking them? A Trump supporter can plough a car into peaceful protesters. The only way to keep everyone safe is to not show up.
I agree that meeting the Klan and Neo-Nazis with violence is a mistake, but I do question whether it wouldn't be better to stay home. Isn't refusing to pay any attention to them as bad as mocking them? A Trump supporter can plough a car into peaceful protesters. The only way to keep everyone safe is to not show up.
2
Mocking is much worse. You're telling them you're not scared of them and that you think they're ridiculous. They'd much rather be left alone than be told that.
1
If you don't show up, doesn't that give them support?
1
Fanatics tend to be humorless, fond of finger-wagging those who don't take things seriously enough. Those who actively hate others are prone to violence, and thus, always a threat to punch you if they don't like your punch line.
Humor is certainly one of the most powerful--and positive--forces humans bring to the table. Not only is it terrific for gaining perspective, it also has tremendous curative power, as any recovered anything will testify.
By the way, in service of non sequiturs, how many people know what Laura Bush said to Stephen Colbert as he was leaving? I do. Hilarious.
Humor is antithetical to the authoritarian mindset, which makes such people suspicious, even hostile, if they feel someone is making fun of them. By all means--make 'em laugh. Just be prepared to duck.
Humor is certainly one of the most powerful--and positive--forces humans bring to the table. Not only is it terrific for gaining perspective, it also has tremendous curative power, as any recovered anything will testify.
By the way, in service of non sequiturs, how many people know what Laura Bush said to Stephen Colbert as he was leaving? I do. Hilarious.
Humor is antithetical to the authoritarian mindset, which makes such people suspicious, even hostile, if they feel someone is making fun of them. By all means--make 'em laugh. Just be prepared to duck.
8
Reminds me of when Obama and Meyers made fun of " the Donald" at the WH Correspondents dinner. The Donald was seething, as everyone else was in tears - trump is a humorless authoritarian.
3
So what did she say?
2
nice - you don't change minds by lobbing grenades over a wall - that hardens prejudice.
humor can bring down walls - good work - keep it up !
humor can bring down walls - good work - keep it up !
10
Brilliant!
Press coverage is like oxygen for the alt-right. Humor will give the press something fun to write about rather than the hate these groups want to spew.
We're already getting used to seeing press reporting of marches supplemented by pictures of witty posters. Antics are the natural next step and likely to inject some much-needed humor into the discussion.
Press coverage is like oxygen for the alt-right. Humor will give the press something fun to write about rather than the hate these groups want to spew.
We're already getting used to seeing press reporting of marches supplemented by pictures of witty posters. Antics are the natural next step and likely to inject some much-needed humor into the discussion.
2
Comedy is a release for those who get the joke. But for the Trumps of this world, who have neither a sense of shame nor a sense of humor, they will retreat only when forced to do so. In the meantime, our so-called President is laughing all the way to the bank.
3
I so agree that Trump and Bannon and Miller and Spencer and the alt right are best fought with ridicule and humiliation and laughter. The question is, do we have the strength to pull it off, or are they actually stronger than we are?
You all know who they are and what they want - what they see as a success and what a disaster. Why give them the first, and neglect the latter? We are certainly more intelligent and capable than that. If we are not, we deserve the childish fate they have condemned us to.
Are we so stupid that we do not see their traps ahead, in plain sight, in time to avoid them and use them to our advantage? Shame on us.
To give them - hand them - the fodder of fists and rocks and homemade fire throwers takes me and many below out of your camp, the humiliation ours not theirs, your defense so much harder to advance - and believe in
Violence is their solution, not ours, and can never be lest we lose our souls and become them.
Let the young and liberal and non violent live their lives in peace, find their home, and live eternally in our memories.
You all know who they are and what they want - what they see as a success and what a disaster. Why give them the first, and neglect the latter? We are certainly more intelligent and capable than that. If we are not, we deserve the childish fate they have condemned us to.
Are we so stupid that we do not see their traps ahead, in plain sight, in time to avoid them and use them to our advantage? Shame on us.
To give them - hand them - the fodder of fists and rocks and homemade fire throwers takes me and many below out of your camp, the humiliation ours not theirs, your defense so much harder to advance - and believe in
Violence is their solution, not ours, and can never be lest we lose our souls and become them.
Let the young and liberal and non violent live their lives in peace, find their home, and live eternally in our memories.
2
These days it is difficult to live one's life in peace. This planet is in big trouble, and the current government could not care less.
1
As a teacher in rural America, Trump's America, I see aggressive teens and their parents who support Trump because he gives voice to their hatred of the "other" in society. That aggression is elevated to scary levels when confronted with violence. The only answer is humor. Racists, sexists, and xenophobes are on a constant mission to prove themselves as the best, yet when confronted with the absurdity of their vision of life as a zero sum game, they sometimes back off.
4
Dwight Howard didn't play for the Hornets in 2012. He just got traded during the offseason and has yet to wear a Hornets jersey.
In fact, in 2012 there were no Charlotte Hornets. At that time they were called the Bobcats.
In fact, in 2012 there were no Charlotte Hornets. At that time they were called the Bobcats.
When I look at antifa I remember Malcolm X and the Black Panthers -- they were also accused of meeting violence with violence when they actually met violence with self-defense. And I don't think comedy would help victims of police brutality. Ridicule does have a long history of bringing down the mighty, and I love the examples at the beginning of the article. But it's too reductive to think that mocking the far right will be enough to counter their influence, let alone stop them. Some people have argued that President Obama's (well-deserved) roast of Trump influenced Trump's bid for the White House, and that left-wing news-comedy such as Jordan Klepper's interviews with Trump supporters have enraged white working-class voters. I don't sympathize with these arguments, but humor is a dangerous weapon and needs to be used strategically, with attention to the context. It's also not the only strategy. The left needs comedy, spectacle, festivity, legal action, grass-roots organizing, anger, and, yes, even violent self-defense to address the problem. Just ask the veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and Greenpeace.
3
And what do Civil Rights veterans and Greenpeace members have to say about all this?
That a flexible multi-tiered strategy is necessary to effect social change.
2
Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin famously appeared before the House Unamerican Activities Committee dressed in a Revolutionary war uniform and American flag shirt. They fearlessly clowned their way through the hearing sending the chairman into apoplexy. Their actions resulted in the deterioration of the committee that had sent terror into and ruined the lives of numerous law abiding citizens throughout the fifties and early sixties.
3
"It seems too basic to even say, but the rule is violated again and again: Successful political activists are strategic. They ask: “What will reach, and motivate or convince, the people we need?”
Very often, the answer is: Make ’em laugh."
So after decades of this--instead of national strikes, say, and unalterable demands to remove every law making unionization more difficult or impossible--with soaring income inequality abetted by both major parties and a white supremacist in the Oval Office, the author really wants us to believe the answer is a continuation of this 'strategy'?
I'm not laughing.
Very often, the answer is: Make ’em laugh."
So after decades of this--instead of national strikes, say, and unalterable demands to remove every law making unionization more difficult or impossible--with soaring income inequality abetted by both major parties and a white supremacist in the Oval Office, the author really wants us to believe the answer is a continuation of this 'strategy'?
I'm not laughing.
2
Mockery rules! Mel Brooks is ascendant! I will point out that Andy borowitz's perfectly framed missives often get retransmitted as real press releases. A whole lot of people are not in on the joke.
2
What a great idea!
But wait, you have managed to elect a President who feels at ease with White Power rhetoric, who thrives on humiliating others and who has no compunction expressing the view that the police should resort to violence more often. Who in fact pardoned a man who deliberately and for many years flouted human rights and simple common decency in his interactions with precisely the people those White Power guys also take aim at.
So, yes, maybe the Coup Clutz Clowns will have some effect, but extreme right wingers are more known for their use of excessive violence than for their sense of humor. Don't be surprised if their reaction to being ridiculed ends in tears (and a presidential pardon).
But wait, you have managed to elect a President who feels at ease with White Power rhetoric, who thrives on humiliating others and who has no compunction expressing the view that the police should resort to violence more often. Who in fact pardoned a man who deliberately and for many years flouted human rights and simple common decency in his interactions with precisely the people those White Power guys also take aim at.
So, yes, maybe the Coup Clutz Clowns will have some effect, but extreme right wingers are more known for their use of excessive violence than for their sense of humor. Don't be surprised if their reaction to being ridiculed ends in tears (and a presidential pardon).
3
I wonder how effective this really is as a tactic. It's similar to "culture jamming" which has been criticized as relying on novelty and not carrying a good alternative message that isn't validating the narrative on the other side.
Engagement with these people on the forums they participate in to organize the protests, offering a contrary voice that takes their concerns seriously seems more likely to undermine their communities through a path towards rehabilitation, weakening the social glue and pride in their sub culture which will unleash doubters who are critical and make an event out of moving on. The free speech totem is a trojan horse.
I was inspired by a 2016 documentary, Accidental Courtesy about the black musician Daryl Davis who convinced 200 people to leave the Klu Klux Klan through friendship. I think I've found some success as a dissenting voice in alt-right communities that are more conversation centric like the ones on Reddit - first as an insider finding common beliefs to build trust, then pointing out flaws and posting articles with alternative perspectives. Some of their ideas have a mainstream acceptance in a less pathological form that could be used to build bridges for norms of civil dialogue (self restraint, charity in interpretation, perspective taking)
Engagement with these people on the forums they participate in to organize the protests, offering a contrary voice that takes their concerns seriously seems more likely to undermine their communities through a path towards rehabilitation, weakening the social glue and pride in their sub culture which will unleash doubters who are critical and make an event out of moving on. The free speech totem is a trojan horse.
I was inspired by a 2016 documentary, Accidental Courtesy about the black musician Daryl Davis who convinced 200 people to leave the Klu Klux Klan through friendship. I think I've found some success as a dissenting voice in alt-right communities that are more conversation centric like the ones on Reddit - first as an insider finding common beliefs to build trust, then pointing out flaws and posting articles with alternative perspectives. Some of their ideas have a mainstream acceptance in a less pathological form that could be used to build bridges for norms of civil dialogue (self restraint, charity in interpretation, perspective taking)
11
Yes, but beware of backfire effect.
1
Terrific. I learned something today from this article. I am looking forward to my first chance to put this strategy into practice. I hope this becomes a "popular" piece and is shared widely by NYT readers .
8
• “For the far-right groups, violence is central to their way of looking at the world,” said Peter Simi, associate professor of sociology at Chapman University. “The idea of having violent confrontation and conflicts fuels and energizes them. They feed off it.
“It also helps perpetuate their own narrative about victimization and persecution —‘Look, we can’t even have a free speech rally without being attacked.’ ”
Sounds to me a lot like U.S. foreign policy and first clown Trump which the USA doesn’t have the courage to acknowledge
• “Ridicule makes the far right look less attractive to the type of people they want to attract. There’s a sizable portion who are there for the thrill. ...they really enjoy the potential violence. They want to feel dangerous and important. They don’t want to feel like part of a sketch.”
“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” ~ MARK TWAIN
Clowns All and Forever!
“It also helps perpetuate their own narrative about victimization and persecution —‘Look, we can’t even have a free speech rally without being attacked.’ ”
Sounds to me a lot like U.S. foreign policy and first clown Trump which the USA doesn’t have the courage to acknowledge
• “Ridicule makes the far right look less attractive to the type of people they want to attract. There’s a sizable portion who are there for the thrill. ...they really enjoy the potential violence. They want to feel dangerous and important. They don’t want to feel like part of a sketch.”
“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” ~ MARK TWAIN
Clowns All and Forever!
37
Interesting idea, but I have two better ones. If they are in violation of the law arrest them, if not ignore them. Do not commit violence allow the police to handle them under the law.
7
Surely Saul Alinsky lives!
12
The most effective activist I've seen was Matt Buck(?) a sousaphone player following KKK around with silly oompah themes, cartoon marches and the Darth Vader theme. Intrinsically hilarious. Just deflates the Klan vibe entirely
111
Oh please. No mention of the Alinsky Rules? Here's #5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon." Have you lost your manual from the 60s? Shame!
41
The court jester lives on!
You know it's funny when I pause MSNBC in order to read it twice.
You know it's funny when I pause MSNBC in order to read it twice.
3
I wonder what what have happened if European Jews had met Brown Shirts and Black Shirts in the streets of Germany and other countries with clown costumes and humor. Well I guess I don't have to wonder too much. Most of those clowns would not have lived by the end of the demonstration.
Weimar was full of anti-Nazi satire and humor. Was it effective? I think the answer is pretty clear.
There is a place and time for humor and satire, but it is better and probably more effective from a distance, but even then sometimes not effective and sometimes very dangerous (Charlie Hebdo).
So with all due respect, the Clutz Clowns are a nice idea, but they will solve very little.
Weimar was full of anti-Nazi satire and humor. Was it effective? I think the answer is pretty clear.
There is a place and time for humor and satire, but it is better and probably more effective from a distance, but even then sometimes not effective and sometimes very dangerous (Charlie Hebdo).
So with all due respect, the Clutz Clowns are a nice idea, but they will solve very little.
56
In your example since the state was not protecting people they would have been beaten or killed. Here we should have the police to protect us and those of us who are rational avoid dangerous situations.
24
One solution applies when you find a weed in your garden.
But another applies when a man threatens it with a bulldozer.
Ridicule and humor can certainly do a great deal to undermine the message of these fascists groups, and reduce their appeal. These groups are just weeds in the garden of the American political landscape. The only reason we notice them at all is because their media presence grossly amplifies their voices. The strategies described in this article take advance of the very same media, in a kind of media jujitsu, to shame them at a grand scale.
But another applies when a man threatens it with a bulldozer.
Ridicule and humor can certainly do a great deal to undermine the message of these fascists groups, and reduce their appeal. These groups are just weeds in the garden of the American political landscape. The only reason we notice them at all is because their media presence grossly amplifies their voices. The strategies described in this article take advance of the very same media, in a kind of media jujitsu, to shame them at a grand scale.
Even the term 'Nazi' was originally an insult.
See paragraph 2 here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/magazine/americans-are-confronting-an...
Of course, ridicule is just an initial defense mechanism which hopefully provides us with some immunity. If it doesn't work, stronger medicine must follow.
See paragraph 2 here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/magazine/americans-are-confronting-an...
Of course, ridicule is just an initial defense mechanism which hopefully provides us with some immunity. If it doesn't work, stronger medicine must follow.
This is such a great idea. White power marches should be attended by clowns all in white, carrying White Power signs with the "P" crossed out and replaced by "FL", playing a jolly laugh track on a loop, and tossing white flowers at the marchers. Pretty girls holding a banner that said "Sympathy March for Angry White Guys Who Can't Get Dates," while making mock-sad faces and calling out "poor guys, so sad," could be good too
54
My husband has for years wanted to start an organization called "Old White Men Against Old White Men." But I like the Sympathy March idea better!!
1
That's hilarious. Tell him to do it!
I love the idea of dressing up like clowns as a response to Nazis and white supremacists. Anyone who has a sibling knows that the greatest weapon against your siblings was mockery. You can't argue with humor and you always end up looking like an idiot when you try.
Going forward counter protestors need to come dressed as clowns with crazy signs that twist the message that people are trying so hard to convey. Can you imagine how it would look to see someone on the news standing up to someone with a gun dressed as a clown while armed with silly string and glitter.
Going forward counter protestors need to come dressed as clowns with crazy signs that twist the message that people are trying so hard to convey. Can you imagine how it would look to see someone on the news standing up to someone with a gun dressed as a clown while armed with silly string and glitter.
11
I hope every town in America that is to be violated by the presence of neo-nazis gets the gist of this method of dealing with the situation. Had this method of confronting hate with clown mockery and humour been used in Charlottesville, it's likely things would have taken a different turn.
8
Thank you, Mel Brooks!
23
In the '80's, the local neo-Nazis held a rally at an intersection in Westchester,PA to protest the" race-mixing" in the neighborhood. My friend Carter, a Quaker, played Bill Cosby records at 100 decibels out of a second story window overlooking the rally site.
Instead of the Nazis message of hate, area residents were treated to tales of Fat Albert ("hey, hey, hey") and other funny anecdotes from a pre-scandal Cosby.
Instead of the Nazis message of hate, area residents were treated to tales of Fat Albert ("hey, hey, hey") and other funny anecdotes from a pre-scandal Cosby.
37
I'm a fan of the "serenade them with a sousaphone" approach to mocking Nazis.
29
Along the same vein, there are the "LOLdiers of Odin", in Finland, who troll the "Soldiers of Odin" (a right-wing, white supremacist organization) during their marches. They follow them around, attired in clownish clothing, keeping them "safe".
16
I visited Wroclaw last year. Little bronze gnomes are all over town; an artefact of the Orange Alternative has become a symbol of civic pride and a popular tourist attraction.
10
The violence of the antifas needs to be loudly repudiated by all on the left!. If the antifas insist on physical conferntation, try cream pies instead of clubs and mace.
11
That's still violence. I think mockery and just ignoring them is the best way to diminish them.
1
We have a clown in the Whitehouse, that ain't workin' out so well.
18
Oh please let the "Orange Alternative" come to the United States!
7
I'm afraid he's in the White House already...
2
I had the same reaction to the Germany protests. People in clown suits causing a pleasant ruckus. I envisioned clowns named Nutsy and Kluxxy to complement the Nazi and Klan sympathizers. the greatest weapon would be to make people feel sorry for the impotence and irrelevance of the Marchers.
9
Bring on the clowns!!! Bring on laughs at the spectacles.
How manly will the White Supremacists feel when they are made into laughing stock by clowns expressing freedom of speech?
How manly will the White Supremacists feel when they are made into laughing stock by clowns expressing freedom of speech?
29
Fight fire with fire! When our President is a clown -- send in the clowns!
(Orange make-up and big red floppy ties sold separately.)
(Orange make-up and big red floppy ties sold separately.)
27
This is a fantastic idea! Right in the middle of a trump tirade!!
Send in the clowns.
4
As of today, they are back in session
Apparently there is a spanish language clown running for city council in Boston named Pat Payaso. She is a member of the GLBT-QECC community with a list of 20 or so progressive positions. Not sure exactly what the point is but the moneyed interests in this country and their bought and paid for politicians as well as the bait click media and inattentive citizens could use a modern day Rigoletto to poke some fun at them and perhaps wake them up by pointing out the hypocrisies rampant now.
4
One of the best political slogans I remember was when Pat Paulson, during his (fake) Presidential run, carried the banner on the Smothers Brothers TV show "We've upped our politics, now up yours".
Humor works!
Humor works!
42
Fantastic. Smart. This story should be front page above the fold.
23
When things are tragic you have to laugh. We have plenty of mattrial for laughter.
5
The Emperor's New Clothes: cultivating the Emperor's approval, all the adults tacitly conspired to admire the non-existent clothing. A child, ignorant of the protocol, shouts the truth, "The Emperor has no clothes on at all!" This breaks the ice, destroys the phony illusion, and everyone laughs at the foolish Emperor.
We need truth-tellers, truth-shouters, to declare the falsity of trickle-down economics, nation building, phony immigration rules, oil drilling and mining in national parks, and all the other Trump lies.
We need truth-tellers, truth-shouters, to declare the falsity of trickle-down economics, nation building, phony immigration rules, oil drilling and mining in national parks, and all the other Trump lies.
17
The "Resistance" has tried to shame Trump for years ,all to no effect. Maybe now we can be entertained and stain the "tweeter-in-chief".
8
Beautiful insight about how humor blunts the sword of the opposition. I could not agree more about how highlighting the absurdities of race-baiters, rather than violence against them, really carries opposition to their hatefulness forward. If what we want to conquer is hate, we cannot hope to do it by hating in return.
5
Absolutely fabulous, darling.
The concept is cool. I want to play. Great column.
The concept is cool. I want to play. Great column.
9
I watched the Stephen Colbert video. His in-his-face roast of G.W. Bush at the White House Correspondents' dinner proves America's guarantee of free speech is real, and in its acerbity, particularly American. Not only laugh worthy, but cringe worthy, waiting for the assassin's bullet to cut the tirade short. Colbert managed to rush far beyond humor, into sadistic knife-twisting . . . and got away with it. Bush deserved every jab, and more. Bravo Mr Colbert, bravo the Constitution of the United States of America, and bravo that its principles are guarded
16
We have already seen that the most affective opposition to the Donald comes from pointing out how ridiculous he is.
68
Perhaps the most affective, but it certainly doesn't seem to have been effective, even with our best comedians doing it.
5
At some point the "Make ’em laugh" strategy needs media cooperation. That will not come from Fox. But it will come from outlets that appreciate the humor and want to use it to build their audience and not just share it with their audience. You Tube and social media help but they preach to the choir. What is needed are mainstream media willing to put the white supremacists, the clowns and the confetti on the evening news.
51
Great idea. Show no fear. Deploy your arsenal of humor with joyfull abandon!
14
Al Franken for President.
6
I grew up in the South in the 50s and 60s, and served in combat in Viet Nam. I have personally known several members of the Klan, and without exception they were cowards that would never actually serve anything. But that is not what black people saw. What they saw were terrorists that would shoot in their homes in the middle of the night, and organize large groups to capture one person and hang them out in the woods. No, humor is not the answer. What works is a universal condemnation. Total, absolute condemnation from political, moral, and religious leaders that serves to drive this behavior underground. In other words, the absolute opposite of what we see in our leaders today. Because you will never convert or convince these people. That joke is on you.
119
There are different circumstances that require different actions. I agree that the conditions you speak of require universal condemnation, but for a march such as the one in Charlottesville, ridiculing their position with humor and irony would have been more effective.
30
I respectfully disagree, my friend. If you can make someone you disagree with look absurd, they are less likely to want to go out again.....who would want to join a group that is laughed at and mocked?
13
The purpose of the humor is not so much to "convert or convince these people". It is for the purpose of reducing their capacity to attract recruits, by undermining their public image. And for that purpose, I think the humor is effective.
I'm with you 100% about the absolute condemnation of people who are already part of existing fascist groups.
I'm with you 100% about the absolute condemnation of people who are already part of existing fascist groups.
5
This was truly instructive and protesters need to really take a good look at this !!! Great idea as bullies and white supremicists alike do not disrupt in order to be mocked. These tactics are strategic and intelligent. organizaers on the left need to read this article.
22
I wonder if anyone has thought of a humorous, effective way to get more people out to vote.
Maybe a cartoon of a landslide of a few dozen votes?
Maybe voting with an orange wig in 2018?
Maybe a cartoon of a landslide of a few dozen votes?
Maybe voting with an orange wig in 2018?
15
How can you out-Trump Trump? Even Alec Baldwin, the best impersonator of the man ever, can barely keep up with Trump's real output.
Remember Tina Fey's BEST impersonation of Sarah Palin was when she copied Palin's words to Katie Couric verbatim, because no satire could top Palin.
Still, ridicule is a powerful weapon, especially against a President with the thinnest skin in history. Will it work against the violent, the armed reactionary "militias" that we saw marching into Charlottesville with pistols, bandoleers of magazines, AR-15s, shields, bullet-proof vests and helmets? Will it work against men like James Alex Fields, the driver of the car that murdered Heather Heyer? Or KKK Imperial Wizard Richard Wilson Preston, now under arrest, who angered by anti-KKK protesters, pulled out a hand gun, pointed it at the protester's head, then fired it into the ground?
Maybe. I hope so. Ridicule is powerful, but.....
Remember Tina Fey's BEST impersonation of Sarah Palin was when she copied Palin's words to Katie Couric verbatim, because no satire could top Palin.
Still, ridicule is a powerful weapon, especially against a President with the thinnest skin in history. Will it work against the violent, the armed reactionary "militias" that we saw marching into Charlottesville with pistols, bandoleers of magazines, AR-15s, shields, bullet-proof vests and helmets? Will it work against men like James Alex Fields, the driver of the car that murdered Heather Heyer? Or KKK Imperial Wizard Richard Wilson Preston, now under arrest, who angered by anti-KKK protesters, pulled out a hand gun, pointed it at the protester's head, then fired it into the ground?
Maybe. I hope so. Ridicule is powerful, but.....
94
Don't forget #2 - The Nothingburger.
5
Send in the clowns...what wonderful idea! But not in Washington...couldn't tell them apart from the Congress!
24
"don't be stupid, be a smarty come and join the nazi party" is the advice of ersatz-poet franz liebkind, channeled by mel brooks in "the producers" featured number, "springtime for hitler."
humor is indeed effective, sharply pointed, it can, through the laughter it provokes, humiliate its targets, impeding their effort to provoke fear.
bluntly employed, rather to ridicule than skewer, it can also distract and, as we ho-ho-ho at our own brilliance, we take our eyes off the ball and lose control of, say, an election.
after the fact (as with "the producers") humor can be a celebration of triumph and, one hopes probably vainly, a call for alertness to avoid future replays.
as an early response humor is at its most effective as a warning and a counterpunch...as illustrated in ms rosenberg's smart piece.
trouble is, if we don't blunt the force of whoever it is, nazis, kkk, etc., before it takes hold, attempted humor can get one bashed or killed and, if not exterminated, send the gags and gangsters underground, alive and kicking but also hunted and
arrested.
the presence of underground humor in then- czehoslovakia during the russian occupation in 1968 was at once erosive of russian resolve and encouraging to czech resisters...the absence of it here, it's banishment, if you will and the attending elimination or irony from our critical vocabulary has crippled what was once our most effective check against subversive/suppressive ideologies, our colleges and universities.
humor is indeed effective, sharply pointed, it can, through the laughter it provokes, humiliate its targets, impeding their effort to provoke fear.
bluntly employed, rather to ridicule than skewer, it can also distract and, as we ho-ho-ho at our own brilliance, we take our eyes off the ball and lose control of, say, an election.
after the fact (as with "the producers") humor can be a celebration of triumph and, one hopes probably vainly, a call for alertness to avoid future replays.
as an early response humor is at its most effective as a warning and a counterpunch...as illustrated in ms rosenberg's smart piece.
trouble is, if we don't blunt the force of whoever it is, nazis, kkk, etc., before it takes hold, attempted humor can get one bashed or killed and, if not exterminated, send the gags and gangsters underground, alive and kicking but also hunted and
arrested.
the presence of underground humor in then- czehoslovakia during the russian occupation in 1968 was at once erosive of russian resolve and encouraging to czech resisters...the absence of it here, it's banishment, if you will and the attending elimination or irony from our critical vocabulary has crippled what was once our most effective check against subversive/suppressive ideologies, our colleges and universities.
56
Yes Yes Yes. No violence. Antifa are dead wrong and deeply counterproductive, the mirror image of those they seek to hurt. Punching people makes them feel good--and I have to admit that the punching of Richard Spencer made me feel good too--but it will backfire as a real strategy.
66
Comedy and funny responses are all okay until hurting groups of people get support from 'legitimate' forms of authority who have 'power' , as history has shown. Unless humans 'evolve' to realize that freedom and tolerance involves being kind to others, history repeats itself.
5
This is a great article. Thank you for including so many examples. I'm sharing this with everybody I know.
4
Hopefully, this will catch on. Congressional Republicans have shown over and over that their sense of humor has been surgically removed by greed. It's tough to be greedy and cruel and have a funny bone at the same time. Still, reason is still a winning strategy, even if 20% of the country left that behind in grade school. Long live Al Franken.
86
What a great idea, especially with so many creative and energetic young people who know how to spread the word to encourage similar responses, using on social media, especially when these encounters take place on college campuses.
11
This essay makes a lot of sense, for the circumstances described.
I do wonder how many of those satirical counter-protests took place in an environs that allowed open-carry of military-style automatic weapons? I suspect none. Clowning with fake weapons--mocking those with the real thing--could lead to a bad outcome.
Charlottesville is a peaceful university community that was targeted by some ugly and bigoted folk. The city did manifest a problem--one we can hope will never be repeated--with protest management, with what was allowed to develop.
I do wonder how many of those satirical counter-protests took place in an environs that allowed open-carry of military-style automatic weapons? I suspect none. Clowning with fake weapons--mocking those with the real thing--could lead to a bad outcome.
Charlottesville is a peaceful university community that was targeted by some ugly and bigoted folk. The city did manifest a problem--one we can hope will never be repeated--with protest management, with what was allowed to develop.
5
its true that humor plays an important role in any protest against extremism. It was also central to the successes of the anti-corporate globalization movement and works when progressive protesters outnumber extremists by a significant number. However, it is wrong to imagine that there is no place for self-defense and if necessary violence to protect protesters. During the Civil Rights era the Deacons of Defense did this job for peaceful protesters. As the harrowing story of Cornel West and the pastors who were protected by armed antifa members in Charlottesville shows, there are times when it is absolutely necessary to show violent extremists that you can match them person for person and, if necessary, weapon for weapon, to protect your people, especially when the police will either not intervene against heavily-armed fascists or are even sympathetic to them.
In an era where our government is itself extremist progressives are going to have to protect themselves by any means possible as the struggle against fascism in this country becomes more and more intense. As with deterrence at the interstate level, the best way to prevent political violence at the national level today will most likely be to make sure extremists know that they will be met by equal and even greater force and numbers when they use intimidation, harassment or violence to achieve their ends.
In an era where our government is itself extremist progressives are going to have to protect themselves by any means possible as the struggle against fascism in this country becomes more and more intense. As with deterrence at the interstate level, the best way to prevent political violence at the national level today will most likely be to make sure extremists know that they will be met by equal and even greater force and numbers when they use intimidation, harassment or violence to achieve their ends.
9
Having the courage and allowing oneself to be the victim of violence perpetrated by fascists, on camera, in front of crowds, can be one of the most powerful weapons in non-violent resistance.
2
There is only one problem applying this idea to the White House. How can you mock someone who makes a mockery of himself? Announcement of the bear cub shooting policy would be considered part of the status quo.
4
Better to announce that the bear cubs will be armed with machine guns and grenades to make the contest more competitive, however; taxpayer groups are in revolt over the cost of arming bear cubs. The Interior Department failed to let the contract out for bid as regulations require! Outrageous corruption! And the Interior Department is still refusing to deny it is using taxpayer money to arm bear cubs.
6
Having know a few young men who would join such groups to feel powerful, important, and urban soldier-of-fortune, I agree that the last thing in the world they would want is to be be made fun of. Being laugh at is their greatest nightmare. However, I'm not sure I want to laugh at crazy, armed me. They might kill me.
33
The Trump White House is now famous as the "Home of the Whopper". We can grade presidential directives on a scale of whoppers. Little whoppers like shooting sleeping bear cubs is a smart idea to big whoppers like tax cuts for the rich will trickle down or deporting the undocumented makes America great.
94
The article says:
Very often, the answer is: Make ’em laugh.
...but your idea will make US laugh at their expense.
Laughing is the answer.
Very often, the answer is: Make ’em laugh.
...but your idea will make US laugh at their expense.
Laughing is the answer.
3
I like the idea of whopper burgers walking the protest lines, and can imagine signs about "the fellow who likes to eat, and tell, big whoppers!"
4
Sounds like it is worth trying. Maybe the clowns could wear orange wigs!
3