Comrade_Spood

It wouldnt be the Cree, it would be the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Abenaki, and Wolastoqiyik (maybe some others that I am not aware of).

I do read theory, but it is likely different than yours. I do not believe that landback or any of the change that is needed here will come from a politician. Especially if the strategy is to find a politician that is working class, holds all the right views, and has any viable chance of winning. I don’t see electoralism as a viable strategy, but when need be I feel the strategy is to find the most agreeable one and then apply external pressure (through direct action, protest, and advocacy) for the change we want. While Platner hadnt advocated for landback, he did advocate for queer rights (including trans), universal healthcare, divestment from Israel, and had the endorsement of the labor unions. That was as close to agreeable as I saw. Now I wasnt ever gonna campaign for him, and hell I didnt even think I was gonna vote for him, but I did see him as the most agreeable choice when the alternatives were Susan Collins and Janet Mills (who has a long history of blocking important legislature and being hostile to idigenous tribes). However with the rape allegations (his response to it being the cherry on top), it doesnt matter how agreeable I perceived him in the past. The only hope for an agreeable senate seat is if Platner drops out and Troy Jackson gets the seat. And frankly I do not have much hope for the electoral politics working out well here.

Instead I am going to hold course to direct action as the strategy I want to invest my effort into. If others want to put effort into other strategies, the 100% can. But I expect people to tolerate and respect where I am choosing to put my energy, just as I respect and tolerate where they put theirs (and not to assume I am just being an armchair politician).

This is all to say, thank you for apologizing and I appreciate you being amicable now. I apologize if this comes off blunt or like I am trying to get the last word in, that is not my intention. I just wish to explain myself so you have a better understanding where I am coming from with this, address any loose ends to the convo, and to just generally clear things up. And totally truce [pic related].

Also genuine question, are you from Maine?

I organize an activist and mutual aid group, so you can get off your high horse and stop accusing me of doing nothing. You saw one comment and assumed I am doing nothing. You saw through one window and think you can saw through my whole house.

And no, I wasnt defending him because I just think people can change. I thought he did change because of his apologies and beliefs. I felt the tattoo was not evidence enough against this because I could see scenarios where a former soldier, mercenary, and bluecollar worker from Maine would get a tattoo not knowing it was a nazi symbol.

Now leave me alone or I’m just gonna block you. I no longer have the patience for your bad faith scolding and demands for self-flagellation.

Edit: also thinking that someone making a couple comments on the internet giving the benefit of the doubt is somehow equivalent to nazi apologia or defending colonialism and genocide is, once again, crazy.

Edit 2: Also also, as someone pointed out, this person is a fucking victim blamer. So frankly they can eat shit. Crazy they think they got ground to stand on. https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/26963454

I am an anarchist, and anti-electoralist. All I have ever done to defend him was say that it is possible he had changed, and that I didnt like when people cherry picked quotes without also showing his later statements on those quotes, and that I was pissed about all these people outside of Maine all of a sudden having something to say about Maine politics.

I do my part in my community. I do not need to add electoral politics to “reparate” onto that list.

This is a crazily aggressive response that makes a lot of arrogant assumptions, and all at someone who is admitting they were wrong about half-heartedly defending a politician. No wonder people never admit when they are wrong.

Arguing with someone admitting they were wrong, and doing it as a two part comment, is genuinely insane.

As someone who did defend Platner, I will not shy away from the fact I was wrong. Whether or not he has changed since he was a mercenary really is irrelevant at this point. Rapists, whether reformed or not (and I do not believe be is reformed given his statement), should not hold positions of power. Platner needs to drop out and take accountability.

I don’t disagree with that, but I also do not feel it is antithetical to also believing that people are entitled to forgiveness by everyone.

People should be able to move past their mistakes and able to grow, but that doesnt mean everyone needs to forgive them. The families whose loved ones were killed by Platner do not need to forgive him, and neither do people who wish to stand in solidarity with those families. But that also doesnt mean we have to hold Platner’s past over his head while ignoring what he has done to grow into a different person.

Thats fair, and yeah you are right that he is not owed forgiveness. I apologize, I was wrong when I said otherwise. Frankly idk why I said anything to the effect he was owed it, that is my bad.

I can agree with you on that lol

Edit: deleted other comnent because I realized this comment wasnt made by the original commentor)

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I have already addressed that quote before in a different post. There is an interview where he renounces the beliefs he held in that quote. I do not care enough to dig it up, and if you care enough I trust you are capable of fact checking (this is not intended to be rude).

And I dont believe he should hold power either, but more so because I believe no one should. But I’d argue if someone believes he shouldnt win because of his past, then none of his competition deserve to hold power either as they are just as bad in different ways.

As for forgiveness. Thats your own personal choice so I don’t begrudge you not forgiving him. My issue is it feels most people shitting on him have no intention of ever forgiving him no matter what, and care more about ignoring what change he has made in order to paint him in a worse light. Informing people of his past is good, but not also bringing up how he has addressed and changed from that past is dishonest.

Edit: removed part about owing forgiveness

No, I am highlighting that if you arent going to vote for someone cause you view democrats as fascists (which isnt inaccurate), then you probably arent someone who is going to vote in the first place.

Like if Platner isn’t up to your standards then who is?

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You can just not vote because you don’t agree with it. You don’t gotta accuse everyone of being a neo-nazi. In fact, compared to every other candidate he is the least fashy of them all, which is ironic considering his fascist past.

If you aint gonna vote, then don’t. If you are gonna vote, then I don’t know how you can rationalize voting for anyone but Platner when you can see his competition.

Edit: Like I agree the Dems are fascists-lite pretending to be allies. I aint arguing that. That is an argument about whether or not to vote in the first place. This is an argument about if you are going to vote, who for.

Jesus fucking Christ, I don’t like politicians anymore than the next anarchist but the mental gymnastics it seems most lefties have been doing to convince everyone that Platner is still a bloody thirsty fascist merc is just insane. I dont know how you can be a leftist and not believe people are capable of change.

Like genuinely what is more likely? That Platner is a fascist who is faking support for progressive issues like trans rights, universal healthcare, etc to dupe all the leftists into supporting him; or that he actually has had a change of heart and just is dumb.

Do I trust him? No, but thats because I dont trust any politicians. But I find it a lot easier to believe he isnt the same gun for hire he was before, than to believe he is the only fascist out there that can hide his secret hatred of trans people.