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this is how the Alt-Right frames itself, and it's pretty ingenious. People discuss protection of culture, and completely step over the part about "their own cul
by rtpg 10y ago
this is how the Alt-Right frames itself, and it's pretty ingenious. People discuss protection of culture, and completely step over the part about "their own culture".
The Alt Right ideology relies on the principle that White culture is the "true" culture of the nation, and that other contributions simply do not count. They cast an illegitimacy to the history of minorities in the US.
The debate about protecting the culture is irrelevant because they do not want to protect the nation's culture. They want to protect White culture.
- nailer 10y agoIt's the same as the (generally left) folk feel fine about when preserving areas from other cultures. Want to preserve Oakland or the Mission as is? That's fine. Don't like seeing women forced to walk around in burkas and girls having their genitals cut (I live in London where these re both issues)? That's racist. Obviously Islam isn't a race, and this makes no sense, but it's something people still claim. Either preserving existing cultures is OK or it isn't.
- quonn 10y agoI'm sure genital mutilation is already prohibited under British law. The problem with the burkas is that is it of course difficult to determine or prove that they are not worn voluntarily. I know some girls from liberal (Christian/Atheist) families who converted to Islam who wear a Niqab. I can guarantee you that they are not "forced" to do this.
- nailer 10y agoFGM is illegal, but there has been zero prosecutions, and estimated a few thousand girls mutilated since the laws were passed. One of the reasons FGM goes on in the UK is precisely that people don't want to be seen as judging a culture, even for something which is statistically more likely to happen in a culture: ie, the problem could be addressed with medical inspections in schools but this won't happen for fear of being called Islamophobic (oddly enough I learnt most of this from reading Bridget Christie's book, and she's pretty damn left). A similar situation occurred in the systemic rape cases in Rotherham. And yes, of course people can voluntarily submit to something, it doesn't change that others are forced.
- quonn 10y agoSo I've checked and I agree that the numbers of mutilations that apparently happen in the UK is quite shocking. But I don't see how medical inspections in schools are the answer to be honest.
- nailer 10y agoMedical inspection would provide clear indication to parents that the government is actually checking for FGM and prosecuting accordingly.