Sunday, May 19, 2019

Milkshakes

A quick thought about milkshakes and eggs.

There was a huge amount of debate when Richard Spencer was notoriously punched about the rights and wrongs of violence directed against fascists. Personally,  despite being anti-punching pretty much anybody, I think that in the majority of cases is the US, armed antifa have a pretty clear claim to be acting in self defence.

However,  I think the egging of Fraser Anning and the throwing of milkshakes at Tommy Robinson and Carl of Swindon, are a hint at a better  tactic for the Left.

Firstly, as Walter Benjamin states, fascism is the aestheticisation of politics - and I think that exists on a continuum. I think the closer a politician is to fascism in terms of right-populism, the more important aesthetics is to them - and there is little less aesthetic than being doused in milkshake or raw egg.

Secondly (and most importantly in my view) it's very hard to make the case plausibly that an egg or a milkshake is a lethal threat. Richard Spencer could and did make a big deal of how being physically attacked proved that people were afraid of his ideas. American fascists were also quick to use the attack to justify an increased level of aggression at rallies.

To respond violently to a milkshake or an egg is a clear demonstration of weakness. Tommy Robinson, Carl Benjamin, and Fraser Anning (and their followers) have all done their best to portray themselves as victims, but it's always come off as faintly ridiculous - and fascism fears ridicule.

No comments:

Post a Comment