I have always associated "radicalism" with the left-wing, but "extremism" seems more recent. For a long time "right-wing" was automatically considered some sort of extreme position that has now been redefined to include milquetoast conservatives of all stripes as "extremists".
'Radical' did mean 'leftist' by itself for a while--the left wanted change for a very long time, and 'radical' change--changing society at its roots, 'radix'--was the most extreme kind.
Yeah, past about 1960-1990 (depending who you talk to) or so they start to win and 'conservative' doesn't make as much sense as there isn't anything worth conserving for most people on the right anymore. Bill Maher is essentially 'conservative' of the 1990s. Now if you're on the right you have to be reactionary in a purely descriptive sense--arguing for going back to some time you prefer.
Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. ---Barry Goldwater
Its verbal memetics. The phrase "right-wing extremism" is associated now with large organized groups like Nazis, KKK members, etc. Meanwhile, "radical leftists" is associated with small splinter groups. It took decades of repetition of the memes in these ways to create the association, and nowadays they are iron-clad cliches.
This was deliberate by the Deep State press: all right-wing extremism is now by their definition highly organized and an imminent threat and therefore must be ruthlessly stamped out and investigated, while radical leftists are your well-meaning but slightly off cousin or uncle at family gatherings who's acting alone and just needs meds and hugs.
Large? Just how many members do you think the American Nazi Party and the KKK have? When Norman Rockwell was murdered in 1967 they numbered 500. I think most of the later survivors died at the end of The Blues Brothers movie.
It’s estimated that today’s KKK numbers around 3,000, according to the ADL, which is highly motivated to exaggerate the Klan’s size. Even that number consists of numerous splinter groups who call themselves the KKK but are not organizationally linked with other groups.
Compare those numbers with the American Communist Party, which has 15,000 members.
You're right. I should have qualifed that with "supposed large organized groups". I know the KKK/Nazis aren't actually large and are just basically 1 or 2 edgy teens per state. I guess I should have also pointed out that, to their followers, the Left has memed some kind of Vast Racist Conspiracy bubbling right underground, ready to goosestep all over them, even though it isn't true.
Closer to three times...I mean, we all know the answer, academics *are* radical leftists!
It was funny. There was an old MAD article that fascinated me to no end back from the 70s when I was a kid in the 80s, it had descriptions of 'Liberals', 'Leftists', 'New Left Extremists', 'Conservatives', 'Reactionaries', and 'Right Wing Extremists'.
Among the general patterns, everyone hated being called the next step more extreme (the new left extremists hated being called 'anarchists', the right-wing extremists hated being called 'fascists').
Also, both leftists and reactionaries kept their money in snap-clasp purses. I never got that one.
I have always associated "radicalism" with the left-wing, but "extremism" seems more recent. For a long time "right-wing" was automatically considered some sort of extreme position that has now been redefined to include milquetoast conservatives of all stripes as "extremists".
'Radical' did mean 'leftist' by itself for a while--the left wanted change for a very long time, and 'radical' change--changing society at its roots, 'radix'--was the most extreme kind.
Good point. The right was more “traditional.”
Yeah, past about 1960-1990 (depending who you talk to) or so they start to win and 'conservative' doesn't make as much sense as there isn't anything worth conserving for most people on the right anymore. Bill Maher is essentially 'conservative' of the 1990s. Now if you're on the right you have to be reactionary in a purely descriptive sense--arguing for going back to some time you prefer.
Just as something isn't a Conspiracy Theory if the NYT believes it, one isn't a left-wing radical if the NYT supports you.
And if you're a left-wing radical, the NYT usually supports you.
Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. ---Barry Goldwater
Its verbal memetics. The phrase "right-wing extremism" is associated now with large organized groups like Nazis, KKK members, etc. Meanwhile, "radical leftists" is associated with small splinter groups. It took decades of repetition of the memes in these ways to create the association, and nowadays they are iron-clad cliches.
This was deliberate by the Deep State press: all right-wing extremism is now by their definition highly organized and an imminent threat and therefore must be ruthlessly stamped out and investigated, while radical leftists are your well-meaning but slightly off cousin or uncle at family gatherings who's acting alone and just needs meds and hugs.
“large organized groups like Nazis, KKK members”
Large? Just how many members do you think the American Nazi Party and the KKK have? When Norman Rockwell was murdered in 1967 they numbered 500. I think most of the later survivors died at the end of The Blues Brothers movie.
It’s estimated that today’s KKK numbers around 3,000, according to the ADL, which is highly motivated to exaggerate the Klan’s size. Even that number consists of numerous splinter groups who call themselves the KKK but are not organizationally linked with other groups.
Compare those numbers with the American Communist Party, which has 15,000 members.
Norman Rockwell was murdered??!! You ruined Christmas for me!
Should be George Rockwell.
Christmas saved.
Thanks for the correction.
You're right. I should have qualifed that with "supposed large organized groups". I know the KKK/Nazis aren't actually large and are just basically 1 or 2 edgy teens per state. I guess I should have also pointed out that, to their followers, the Left has memed some kind of Vast Racist Conspiracy bubbling right underground, ready to goosestep all over them, even though it isn't true.
See also: The Handmaid's Tale.
Closer to three times...I mean, we all know the answer, academics *are* radical leftists!
It was funny. There was an old MAD article that fascinated me to no end back from the 70s when I was a kid in the 80s, it had descriptions of 'Liberals', 'Leftists', 'New Left Extremists', 'Conservatives', 'Reactionaries', and 'Right Wing Extremists'.
Among the general patterns, everyone hated being called the next step more extreme (the new left extremists hated being called 'anarchists', the right-wing extremists hated being called 'fascists').
Also, both leftists and reactionaries kept their money in snap-clasp purses. I never got that one.
Asshole DEMOCRATS probably gets some hits…
Richard Ingrams liked to point out how in British newspapers there were always “staunch Protestants” but “devout Catholics”.