It's been 15 years since this retired, emeritus professor had the privilege of teaching Edinboro students. But now, as the new school year begins, there's some advice I need to give you.
Republicans elected an inflammable president. Maybe every time he bursts into flames some young Nazi embers will pop out. Nazi's march through Jewish & liberal neighborhoods to provoke people. They masquerade as free speech or prayer rallies. Mass news media will oversimplify and sensationalize their provocation. That makes a false equivalence with Antifa. But personal and political histories of Nazism and Antifa are quite different.
Murderers like Dylann Roof and
Hate movements like Nazism give off heat and [false, baleful] light. The Roof's are like vampire moths attracted to such light. Vampire moths can sting and bite. There's no evidence that Antifa youth come from such deforming home lives or commit unprovoked murder.
A commemorative of the Cable Street resistance says not "Kill the fascists," but "They shall not pass."
So what to do if there's a young Nazi in your room, dorm or class? Try to befriend and to educate him. See if he has friends that might be more open, but don't drink with them. Remonstrate with him, rebuke mildly. If he threatens specific individuals with great harm, you need to consider reporting this. Don't be [silent] "Good Germans."
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
1
