A good read that actually looks at the current information objectively.
IS THE OSLO GUNMAN REALLY RIGHT-WING?
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:25pm by Jonathon M. Seidl
As the world thirsts for information on the details surrounding the bombing and mass shooting in Oslo, Norway, the narrative has turned to gunman Anders Behring Breivik and his political affiliations. Quickly, he has been labeled âextreme right wing,â but is that really the fairest designation given what we know thus far?
According to several outlets, Breivik identified with some conservative causes. But the more one digs, the more one finds that Anders Behring Breivik holds the views of a racist, bigoted, zealot that really canât be fit into a neat box.
The Atlantic has pulled together the overarching mainstream narrative thus far on Breivik: heâs a Christian conservative who didnât like Muslims. Hereâs how they write it:
But is that an oversimplified explanation?
Consider this: The Daily Mail opens its profile on Breivik with some information that would seem to shake up any simple explanation of who he is or what he believed:
Itâs also important to note that the terms of American politics are not easily transferable to European politics. Often, the extremes in Europe are communists on the left and fascists on the right. In America, âextreme right wingâ has been hijacked to label conservatives who adhere strictly to the Constitution, or who fight for legal immigration. (Some on the American left have even succeeded in making âextreme right wingâ synonymous with the Tea Party.) In Europe, however, the term could mean zealous nationalists and militant fascists.
So, an âextreme right wingâ individual in Europe is not always an âextreme right wingâ individual in America. Thatâs important to note, as the designation will undoubtedly make the rounds in the attackâs aftermath.
Considering what we know about Breivik, then, could it be that the term âextreme right wingâ is a misnomer? Especially considering that when you start dealing with extremist groups and individuals who fall well beyond the fringe, their beliefs often blur â they handpick a tenant from the right and bastardize it, grab an ideology from the left and skew it, and then create their own belief system.
Breivikâs beliefs â and the actions he implemented â may show he and his ideology are as fuzzy as they come.
IS THE OSLO GUNMAN REALLY RIGHT-WING?
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:25pm by Jonathon M. Seidl
As the world thirsts for information on the details surrounding the bombing and mass shooting in Oslo, Norway, the narrative has turned to gunman Anders Behring Breivik and his political affiliations. Quickly, he has been labeled âextreme right wing,â but is that really the fairest designation given what we know thus far?
According to several outlets, Breivik identified with some conservative causes. But the more one digs, the more one finds that Anders Behring Breivik holds the views of a racist, bigoted, zealot that really canât be fit into a neat box.
The Atlantic has pulled together the overarching mainstream narrative thus far on Breivik: heâs a Christian conservative who didnât like Muslims. Hereâs how they write it:
But is that an oversimplified explanation?
Consider this: The Daily Mail opens its profile on Breivik with some information that would seem to shake up any simple explanation of who he is or what he believed:
Thatâs certainly a mixed bag. And some of that information would seem to hint at a possible extreme leftist position, perhaps anarchism, would it not? It certainly doesnât reflect the views of a conservative Christian, as he claimed to be.
Itâs also important to note that the terms of American politics are not easily transferable to European politics. Often, the extremes in Europe are communists on the left and fascists on the right. In America, âextreme right wingâ has been hijacked to label conservatives who adhere strictly to the Constitution, or who fight for legal immigration. (Some on the American left have even succeeded in making âextreme right wingâ synonymous with the Tea Party.) In Europe, however, the term could mean zealous nationalists and militant fascists.
So, an âextreme right wingâ individual in Europe is not always an âextreme right wingâ individual in America. Thatâs important to note, as the designation will undoubtedly make the rounds in the attackâs aftermath.
Considering what we know about Breivik, then, could it be that the term âextreme right wingâ is a misnomer? Especially considering that when you start dealing with extremist groups and individuals who fall well beyond the fringe, their beliefs often blur â they handpick a tenant from the right and bastardize it, grab an ideology from the left and skew it, and then create their own belief system.
Breivikâs beliefs â and the actions he implemented â may show he and his ideology are as fuzzy as they come.