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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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”.