Former White supremacist: This is how to tackle hate and bigotry

[BootinUp]

Opinion by Chris Buckley

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, White supremacy is the biggest security threat facing the United States today based on the number of violent crimes committed. It eclipses all other types of extremism.

Hate and bigotry are now bigger than they have ever been. And because of the internet, it has become easier for hate groups to spread propaganda and attract new members.

Among these groups are active US military personnel and veterans.

I would know -- because that was me. After serving in Afghanistan, I officially joined the White Knights of the KKK in 2014. The skills that I learned in the military, like a heightened level of mental and tactical awareness, are exactly what groups like this valued for the purpose of training new members. I was a prime target to be groomed and recruited.
Hate and anger were things that I had dealt with since childhood.

As a young man, I was a survivor of molestation. I became extremely homophobic because of this. My racism developed after I started taking the bus to a school with other races. As one of the few White kids in that school, I suffered a lot of racial bullying. The more confrontations and bullying I experienced, the more confident I became in my beliefs.

snip

In early 2015, while shopping in a supermarket with our toddler, my wife was threatened by a group of women because they knew that her husband was in the KKK. At that moment, she knew that if she didn't do something, our family would be harmed.

A few weeks after this incident, my wife decided to find help and Googled "how to get your husband out of a hate group." She found Arno Michaelis, a former Neo-Nazi, online and emailed him for help.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/opinions/former-white-supremacist-how-to-tackle-hate-buckley/index.html

[Iliyah]

1. They are going after Democratic politicians . ..

and the republicans remain silent. White nationalists are the key core of the republican party and obvious that many republican politicians are part of that ideology as well.

"So much death . . . what can men do against such reckless hate?"

LOT Rings - Battle of Helms Deep.

[UpInArms]

2. More from your link

I believe the most common causes of hate can be broken down into three categories: mental health, substance abuse and early trauma or grievances -- all of which applied to me. While I think that the government is interested in finding a cure to this problem, through actions like awarding grants to agencies that try to counter extremism, the government needs help from an appropriate team of advisers to address the issue of prevention effectively.

Intervention will be difficult, as those who are twirling into madness rarely allow new information in.

[TigressDem]

3. ONLY those who have a modicrum of trust left will get through this.

My son used to go to AA but feels he can't even trust anyone in an anonymous space. Since he got convinced his "conservative beliefs" are threatened by the socialist leanings of Biden and other DEMS he doesn't trust MSM.


Violent Support of White Supremacy needs to be classified as a mental illness and the KKK cells classified as Terrorist Groups so they can be given the same choice as out of control alcoholics or drug users.

THEN people can be offered help or imprisonment for any hate crimes they or their cell commit. Just like you get a DUI and can go to treatment or jail or some combination of both. If you kill someone while you are driving drunk, there are consequences.

It's also part of INCITING TO RIOT which is a crime - 18 U.S. Code § 2102

People can believe that whites are superior and dialogue about it, but the KKK has shown its willingness to commit violent acts over and over and over again. VIOLENCE IS NOT FREE SPEECH.

It is criminal behavior and needs to be treated as such.

[CatLady78]

4. Bookmarked.nt