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I am about as far from the right as is possible to get. I am calling special attention to liberals because at this moment liberal media are writing him off as

I am about as far from the right as is possible to get. I am calling special attention to liberals because at this moment liberal media are writing him off as having been a 'peaceful protestor' or some such banality. I don't know why you are reading so much into this, I meant only what I wrote, I wasn't implying anything else. I am fully aware (as I assumed most people were) that the right has labelled him a terrorist, and that until as recently as 2008 he was officially a terrorist according to the US.

SideburnsOfDoom 13y ago
I read what you wrote, I still have no idea what you meant.
- jessedhillon 13y ago
  matthieuh seems to be saying, don't buy the story that rosy nonviolence accomplished all this. Strategic use of violence, and the threat of it, were necessary to force negotiations and compromise. So liberals are singled-out apparently because they tend towards this particular narrative of pure nonviolence.
  - SideburnsOfDoom 13y ago
    Probably, and you are correct about the ANC's "Strategic use of violence, and the threat of it" But as discussed in other comments, he could mean anything by "liberals" so we have no idea why he calls them out.
sanderjd 13y ago
Language is hard... You appear to be using different definitions for "left" and "liberal" than many of us are familiar with. Perhaps because you are from a different country or culture than those of us who are confused (seems like mostly Americans), or perhaps it is because you usually talk to people in a "bubble" where everybody recognizes the same definitions (I'm personally more familiar with the unique word definitions of more right-leaning "bubbles"). Either way, once confusion arises, saying "I meant what I wrote" is not all that helpful in resolving it.
mikeash 13y ago
I hope you'll think about what kind of replies you got here the next time you post something like this. You may have had a point, but your phrasing was atrocious, essentially built to generate conflict and suppress any rational thought. You could have made your point in a much better way such that people would actually reflect on what you said, rather than start political fights.

SideburnsOfDoom 13y ago

I read what you wrote, I still have no idea what you meant.

jessedhillon 13y ago
matthieuh seems to be saying, don't buy the story that rosy nonviolence accomplished all this. Strategic use of violence, and the threat of it, were necessary to force negotiations and compromise. So liberals are singled-out apparently because they tend towards this particular narrative of pure nonviolence.
- SideburnsOfDoom 13y ago
  Probably, and you are correct about the ANC's "Strategic use of violence, and the threat of it" But as discussed in other comments, he could mean anything by "liberals" so we have no idea why he calls them out.

sanderjd 13y ago

Language is hard... You appear to be using different definitions for "left" and "liberal" than many of us are familiar with. Perhaps because you are from a different country or culture than those of us who are confused (seems like mostly Americans), or perhaps it is because you usually talk to people in a "bubble" where everybody recognizes the same definitions (I'm personally more familiar with the unique word definitions of more right-leaning "bubbles"). Either way, once confusion arises, saying "I meant what I wrote" is not all that helpful in resolving it.

mikeash 13y ago

I hope you'll think about what kind of replies you got here the next time you post something like this. You may have had a point, but your phrasing was atrocious, essentially built to generate conflict and suppress any rational thought. You could have made your point in a much better way such that people would actually reflect on what you said, rather than start political fights.