[Freeciv-Dev] Re: Why fascism is bad but not communism (was Re: New Nazi cityset attached...)

[ccrayne@xxxxxxxxxxx]

In <Pine.LNX.4.10.10008041955170.7455-100000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, on
08/04/00 
   at 09:13 PM, Reed Meyer <rdm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:

:Unlike most of the protests against fascism-in-freeciv on this message
:list which are derived from emotion rather than reason (this has been
:admitted to by one of the protesters), the above argument is rational and
:has a logical flow.  Unfortunately, as in much of life, people will blind
:themselves to reason.

In that last sentence, which is clearly true, lies the fatal flaw with
your rational argument. The fact is that certain symbols, slogans, and
epithets carry an emotional charge so great that they cannot be overcome
by any arguments -- no matter how rational, nor how many times repeated.
For this reason, people who have any consideration for other peoples
feelings refrain from using them. Those who ignore this common curtesy do
so at their peril.

As a real life example, my wife and I visited the USSR some years ago. To
pass the time on the long flight, she brought along a book titled, "The
Key to Rebecca", which happens to have a swastika on the cover. When this
novel was discovered by the Russian customs inspector in Moscow, our warm
tourist welcome turned suddenly, and quite clearly, chilly. Fortunately,
we were part of a VIP tour, and after the inspector spent several minutes
(which seemed like hours) determining that the book was NOT Nazi
propaganda, he handed back the volume, and let us rejoin the rest of the
group.

Although the US prides itself on the right of free speech, we currently
have a parallel situation in South Carolina, where, until only a few weeks
ago, the Confederate Battle Flag flew over the State Capitol. As a result
of massive protests by those who equate that flag with the support of
slavery, the flag has now been moved to a separate, nearby, monument. It
remains to be seen if this token concession will still the flames of
discontent.

So, to those who seriously propose to add a swastika to Freeciv, don't be
mislead by the relatively civil responses which you may receive on this
list. People will hate you, and will curse your name.