On That NYT Profile of a Nazi

[Content Note: Nazism; white supremacy; normalization of eliminationism.]

Over the weekend, the New York Times published a profile of a white supremacist, originally titled "In America's Heartland, the Nazi Sympathizer Next Door," and currently retitled "A Voice of Hate in America's Heartland" after an enormous amount of blowback.

This is a case study in why it's not the "alarmists" who are wrong. It's the people who are normalizing eliminationism who are wrong. Terrifyingly so. https://t.co/x0frjTmCZK

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) November 26, 2017

It's also a case study in what I mean when I talk about the perfidy of civility: Writing about a Nazi's "manners" and his "politeness" is just about the most dishonest and pointless trash I can imagine. Like I give a fuck if someone is wearing a top hat and a monocle as they wage an eliminationist campaign against brown people and curb-stomp me for being a race traitor.

Anyway, here are two very good rebuttals to the piece that you should definitely read:

1. killermartinis at Wonkette: New York Times's Nazi Profile Was Better in Original German.

2. Anna Merlan and Brendan O'Connor at Splinter: Here Are Some Facts and Questions About That Nazi the New York Times Failed to Note.

I will just end with this thought: It simply isn't necessary to "humanize" Nazis. We are well aware they are human. What is critical to convey and report is not their humanity, but their diligently cultivated refusal to acknowledge the humanity of the people who are targets of their vile hatred.