Because the US and Canada were both founded upon genocidal white nationalism. Until it is truly addressed and reparations to minorities paid, white supremacists will always have a foothold in North America.

[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 0 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

You think paying black people money will make white supremacists disappear? That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard.

[–] hpx9140@fedia.io 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

This is an uninformed, cynical perspective on what reparations are:

Here's a breakdown on what the term means, according to Amnesty International

An unwillingness to engage with or even acknowledge crimes and reprehensible action committed by colonizers at a societal level is a red flag. Reparations aren't meant to be a silver bullet against white power propaganda - just one of many steps needed to mitigate its spread over time.

[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Reparations aren't meant to be a silver bullet against white power propaganda

I agree, which is why I'm asking the person who said white supremacists will always have a foothold in North America until reparations are paid to explain how that is supposed to work.

[–] hpx9140@fedia.io 3 points 15 hours ago

Thanks for clarifying - I understand your position a bit better.

I'm willing to chalk up that detail in rockSlayers post as an aspirational, semantic slip delivered in the heat of the moment. Racists aren't ever going to completely disappear - that sort of toxic mindset has been with the species for as long as we've been around.

Keeping them contained and at bay is important though - and a big part of it is ensuring a sense of accountability remains present in the zeitgeist.

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Because you're unable to read, there were 2 separate parts. Acknowledgement of historic harms requires teaching the reasoning that led to historic harms and explaining how and why they led to harms. Reparations reverse historic harms.
There's more than 1 minority in North America that has suffered historic harms.
Reparations come in many forms, including but not limited to money.

You only think it's dumb because you're a dumbass.

[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I know what reparations are. Explain how reparations will make white supremacists go away. They could certainly help minorities feel better about the past but it isn't going to change how white supremacists see minorities or limit their indoctrination strategies. If anything, reparations give white supremacists another talking point when complaining about how repressed they are.

[–] hpx9140@fedia.io 3 points 15 hours ago

As mentioned in a separate response, reparations aren't a standalone cureall - expecting them to operate as such is myopic.

Additionally, responding to cultural injustices on the nazis terms is not a good idea. Going on the backfoot emboldens them further, and leaves the current generation believing accountability has limited range.