The sane news media in this country could do us all a huge favor by simply adding the parenthetical

[scarletwoman]

statement: ( ANTIFA stands for "anti-fascist" ) every time they use "antifa" in a news story and/or opinion piece.

I think one of the reasons that the right wing gets away with so much bullshit scare-mongering about antifa is that millions of non-political Americans have no idea what the word actually means. It sounds kind of foreign-ish, sinister, possibly Middle Eastern.

It just seems like a small thing that could possibly make a significant impact on the political discourse in this country.

[RKP5637]

1. Yes, definitely!!!!!!!!! n/t

[scarletwoman]

11. Thank you! (nt)

[The Magistrate]

2. It Couldn't Hurt, Ma'am

Not as many as we might think respond with much understanding to 'fascist' either nowadays, of course, the term has been drained of meaning by use as a general epithet. To the degree it is a coherent body, my understanding is that they turn out to engage ku klux and neo-nazi demonstrators, and do so with a willingness to brawl that we could do with more of on the left here.


"Every normal man must at times be tempted to hoist the black flag, spit on his hands, and begin cutting throats."

[scarletwoman]

7. Thank you. "It couldn't hurt" is what I think as well.

I agree that the word "fascist" has been largely drained of potency these days - still, at least clarifying the meaning of "antifa" might have some value. If for no other reason than demonstrating that it's an abbreviation of two English words, and not something exotic or foreign.

To the degree it is a coherent body, my understanding is that they turn out to engage ku klux and neo-nazi demonstrators, and do so with a willingness to brawl that we could do with more of on the left here.

No argument from me on that - some swinging back at nazi bullies may certainly be called for as time goes on. We know the violence-minded deplorables who have been called forth by trump and his enablers aren't about to slink away any time soon. Couldn't hurt to have some muscle on our side.

[Ms. Toad]

3. Or they could just stop naming something that isn't an actual thing.

Until very recently, I don't recall any of my friends claiming to be antifa. I had only heard it used as a epithet/slur. But immediately when Trump decided to declare this non-group a terrorist organzation I've got friends falling all over themselves to claim the name.

Just stop it - both friends of mine who are trying to reclaim something that was never "ours" to start with - and the media who are just accepting Trump's assertion that it is an actual entity.

[scarletwoman]

8. It's not about us, it's about how the news media discusses rightwing conspiracy theories re: antifa.

What I'm saying is that when the word comes up in a news story, it would be very helpful for it to be explained.

I don't care about who uses it on our side, I'm concerned with how it gets discussed in news stories - like the one today about trump's tweet accusing the elderly man who was knocked down by the Buffalo police of being "an antifa operative."

It's that kind of garbage that needs more pushback from the media.

[Ms. Toad]

12. My suggestion is that the news media stop using the word. Period.

Not use it, but add an explanation.

The news media is not under any obligation to use a derrogatory name that one political party had decided to use against individuals it does not like.

[scarletwoman]

14. Except, there ARE actually people who refer to themselves as antifa - and they have definitely

thrown a few fists at assorted neo-nazis and white supremacists in recent years.

[Ms. Toad]

15. As far as I know that is an extremely small group of people,

not the ones to whom Trump and others are referring - or to whom the media are referring when they use the term, and generally not individuals who would merit media attention.

It is being used now because Trump and his right wing cabal have adopted it to refer generally to protesters, in general. There is absolutely no reason for the media to act as their personal echo chamber (but politely explain what the term means). Just don't repeat it.

[scarletwoman]

16. Yes, it's a small, disconnected group. Trump & the other rw'ers are full of shit when they use the

term, antifa.

It's the press's job to debunk the trump & rw nonsense, but I think part of that debunking ought to include explaining the actual meaning of the word.

[Ms. Toad]

17. My position is they should not use the word.

Except, perhaps, in to dismiss Trump's lies in the same way they ought to dismiss all of his other lies.

When they echo his use of the word, they give it credence. The word doesn't mean anything. There is not antifa group. It's a few syllables strung together to be cute and to create an enemy. The media should just not lend it any credence.

If there are people who describe themselves as anti-facist - fine. Describe them that way, to the extent that belief it is important to the story - just dont' attach Trump's current fetish word to them.

[scarletwoman]

18. I don't disagree.

Except, perhaps, in to dismiss Trump's lies in the same way they ought to dismiss all of his other lies.

That's exactly what I meant in my OP. When the news media reports on trump's lies about "antifa", they ought to at least include the meaning of the word.

[lettucebe]

4. Oh how I wish they would do this! Anti-fascist makes sense, but people don't know that is ANTIFA

[scarletwoman]

9. Thank you! That's exactly what I'm talking about. (nt)

[H2O Man]

5. Recommended.

[scarletwoman]

10. Appreciated!

[diva77]

6. Agree 100%. Maybe we should refer to republicans as "Fascistas" while we're at it.

[scarletwoman]

13. Thank you.

As for referring to republicans as "fascistas" I think we need to be careful in when and how to use the word, so as to not dilute its meaning.

As The Magistrate pointed out in his post #2 on this thread:

Not as many as we might think respond with much understanding to 'fascist' either nowadays, of course, the term has been drained of meaning by use as a general epithet.

I think that when we use the word, "fascist," we need to be able to point out the specific behavior that qualifies as fascist.