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> But what if the employee had been in the KKK, and had argued for white supremacy, and that other races were lazy and poor workers? Would you still think an em

> But what if the employee had been in the KKK, and had argued for white supremacy, and that other races were lazy and poor workers? Would you still think an employer would be out of bounds for firing that employee? I'm going to go in a different direction here and say maybe we shouldn't fire former KKK members if they aren't causing problems at work. Look, these people need to eat. Either they work somewhere, or they get welfare. At least with the former they're doing something productive with their time other than... whatever a white supremacist might do with their free time. Also, if we're firing former KKK members, we're not really leaving them a path towards deradicalization. If they can't integrate with society and get a normal job even if they renounce the KKK, then they have a strong disincentive to leave their hateful community.

gsk22 5y ago
If you are a former KKK member who truly wishes to renounce your former beliefs and reform, you should be aware of what an uphill battle it will be to rejoin normal society after espousing such abhorrent hateful beliefs. You have to be aware that some people will never be able to forgive you for that, and that you will lose social and financial opportunities based on your past actions. As someone who participates in the hiring process, and who works with a large contingent of non-white people, I could not justify hiring a former KKK member unless they showed serious, ongoing efforts to rectify their past. For the same reason I would never hire a former Auschwitz guard if I worked with many Jewish people. Actions have consequences, and allying yourself with a racist organization has lifelong repercussions.
- nearbuy 5y ago
  I am a minority hated by the KKK (more than one, actually). The condition I specified, "if they aren't causing problems at work" is important. If they come in wearing a KKK t-shirt or espousing racist views at work, of course they should be fired. But if they're respectful at work, how would I even know they had been a KKK member? It's not about what they deserve. I'm not looking to let them off easy. It's a matter of pragmatism. If they can't get employment, the alternative is we have former (or current) white supremacists living off tax payer dollars with too much free time on their hands and no path towards deradicalization. And I think that's more dangerous to society.

gsk22 5y ago

If you are a former KKK member who truly wishes to renounce your former beliefs and reform, you should be aware of what an uphill battle it will be to rejoin normal society after espousing such abhorrent hateful beliefs. You have to be aware that some people will never be able to forgive you for that, and that you will lose social and financial opportunities based on your past actions. As someone who participates in the hiring process, and who works with a large contingent of non-white people, I could not justify hiring a former KKK member unless they showed serious, ongoing efforts to rectify their past. For the same reason I would never hire a former Auschwitz guard if I worked with many Jewish people. Actions have consequences, and allying yourself with a racist organization has lifelong repercussions.

nearbuy 5y ago
I am a minority hated by the KKK (more than one, actually). The condition I specified, "if they aren't causing problems at work" is important. If they come in wearing a KKK t-shirt or espousing racist views at work, of course they should be fired. But if they're respectful at work, how would I even know they had been a KKK member? It's not about what they deserve. I'm not looking to let them off easy. It's a matter of pragmatism. If they can't get employment, the alternative is we have former (or current) white supremacists living off tax payer dollars with too much free time on their hands and no path towards deradicalization. And I think that's more dangerous to society.