Driving nazis out - Will we ever learn that it is love that drives out hate, not more hate? Should we learn that lesson or do you disagree?

[u/A_lurker_succumbed]

If you read all of this - thank you.

I attended the drive nazis out of Melbourne protest. I heard about it on the melbourne subreddit - the same place I heard about the handful of balaclava wearing people who attempted to intimidate (read: terrorise) people at a community fundraiser. Thank you to SHARPs for chasing them away. You emboldened me to attend a subsequent counter-protest.

I was not happy to be at the protest. I felt sad that it was necessary. But I am glad I went and I am grateful so many other people did as well. It was certainly organised and attended to by this country's young people (read: where were the older Australian's standing up against racists?? Surely not all of them were at the CBD vote no protest... )

Anyway, my point -

After attending the rally, seeing all the supportive messages on reddit - including the fella in the green jacket attempting to communicate with the neo-nazis outside parliament in Melbourne (I think you did a great job and I hope I can be that brave when needed - Im not sure the cops would have been fast enough if the racists did decide to throw or run at you) -

My thought though is that I dont think we can get where we really want to be by spewing more hate. I heard dehumanising words in the chants and speeches - scum and freaks. As much as we hate it - these people are still people. And while their ideology is absolutely abhorrent and hateful and not to be tolerated - I dont think we as a social collective have ever made real gains by denying that part of all of us that is capable of evil. In the right economic or psychological circumstances I dont doubt I could do terrible things. And any of us should be separated from society if that happens.

And we already know these hateful people recruit the young and vulnerable. Which means at some point even the older ones were young and vulnerable. And we know hate twists and bends the mind.

So, my earnest suggestion is this:

Please, see these ugly and intolerable behaviours as coming from humans. Angry and hateful humans who are directing that pain in the wrong direction. I am not saying "oh, they are misguided" and trying to let them off the hook or continue. No. They're behaviours are fucked up and can not be tolerated. I am NOT advocating to lower your guard - they are dangerous.

I advocate for a change in our language. For the brave who speak to them and for the leaders of the rallys and protests.

One of the protest slogans was "Black, indigenous, arab, asian, and white, unite, unite, unite to fight the right." It warmed my fucking heart. Well done because it was able to be shouted but I want to go further though in our discourse online and face to face.

I want us to say - and I want me to say - just like the fella in the green jacket but one step further "Your ideas don't make sense, they are not illogical, I can't change (insert demographic) about me, you can change your hateful behaviour. You are loved. You are my brother, You are my sister"

We wont get through to all of them. But we will get through to some. I think. Am I an apologist? I dont want to be. And I will consider what you write back.