Neo-Nazis on the Train

[Hack&Lube]

Today I was leaving downtown and I saw an old man wearing the HD vision wraparounds today on the train and that was not the wierdest thing I saw on that train because standing around him were two neo-nazis. Not sure which Alberta based group they belonged to. Aryan Guard? (I just popped over to read their forums, senseless, scary stuff.)

Shaved heads, swastika tatoos, matching boots with red laces, matching jackets with skulls saying "Schutzstaffel" (SS).

The multicultural train-car full of people kept their distance and avoided eye-contact. Funniest thing was that one of them was carrying "Work Alberta" employment assistance pamplets that had a picture of a non-white person smiling on it. I guess they were trying to find work. Good luck in that get-up.

[JiriHrdina]

Years ago me my friends thought it would be smart to go see a midnight showing of "Romper Stomper" at the Plaza.

Ended up being us four and about 30 skinheads.

A little uncomfortable.

Sadly Calgary has more than a few of these idiots running around.

[Stumptown]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Years ago me my friends thought it would be smart to go see a midnight showing of "Romper Stomper" at the Plaza.

Ended up being us four and about 30 skinheads.

Did they figure out by the end that it's a pretty anti-skinhead movie?

[Locke]

Sorry, I was on my way to a costume party...

[RougeUnderoos]

I don't mean to make light of that shooting at the Holocaust museum today, but you gotta think some of these neo-Nazi types saw the news today and thought "damn, this is hopeless. A 90 year-old man with a rifle is the best we can do, and he didn't even kill any Jews".

I know, I know, we can't just ignore them, but these people are literally too stupid to organize a dog-walk.

Sporting visible swastika tattoos is a nice gesture though. It's like a badge that says "I'm going to be a loser for the rest of my life".

[Locke]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I don't mean to make light of that shooting at the Holocaust museum today, but you gotta think some of these neo-Nazi types saw the news today and thought "damn, this is hopeless. A 90 year-old man with a rifle is the best we can do, and he didn't even kill any Jews".

I know, I know, we can't just ignore them, but these people are literally too stupid to organize a dog-walk.

Sporting visible swastika tattoos is a nice gesture though. It's like a badge that says "I'm going to be a loser for the rest of my life".

As much as I hate to, I have to disagree with you. Calgary's Aryan Guard is quite well organized and fairly intelligent. The last several times they have held 'rallies' it was the people protesting their rallies that were spending the night in jail.

People underestimate this group and others like it constantly, the entire concept that: ;they're neo-nazi skinheads and I'm not ergo my IQ should be a coupla hundred points higher' argument is pure BS.

Too often I've seen the people that oppose their viewpoint being the immature individuals that break the law at a rally and are escorted away. The people that, IMO, are right, are the ones making the stupid mistakes and end up being taken away.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Locke

People underestimate this group and others like it constantly, the entire concept that: ;they're neo-nazi skinheads and I'm not ergo my IQ should be a coupla hundred points higher' argument is pure BS.

My IQ is 75, so I wouldn't say that.

I get what you are saying, but I think you give them too much credit. These fools have been raising their arms and shaving their heads for decades but what have they accomplished?

Far as I can tell, they are a rotating crowd of misfits who'd be hard pressed to get a job at a gas station.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

These guys are absolute clowns and I have had to work with their type in the past.

That being said I have no problem with having white pride or being proud of the accomplishments of your ancestors, white power or (fill in the blank) power on the other hand is a scary thought in my view because it conveys a message of hatred.

[lucky1]

and to think these friggin scum pro-create......its a scary scary thought
That poor little girl that was taken away from her parents 'cause they sent her to school with swastikas drawn on her arm...nniiiiiiiiiiicce
I really hate people sometimes

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Stumptown

Did they figure out by the end that it's a pretty anti-skinhead movie?

Yeah they weren't happy about that - they were yelling at the screen the entire time. Needless to say I didn't tell them to "shush up".

[Nuje]

It doesn't take a huge brain to know that as a neo-nazi, you're not well-liked. Definitely agree that the resistance needs to get their heads checked as well. Idiotic things. It's not much more intelligent than rival sports fans fighting really. Better reason? Technically, yes. Extremely hypocritical to break the law upon sight of some freaks? Absolutely.

I have heard of family members who my grandmother (turning 95 next week, and alive) grew up with, who hid Jews in their crawl spaces and attics.

Really, while freedom of speech is our right, racism is a crime. They're allowed to proclaim their white pride. We know it's for the wrong reason, but they have that right. The second they condemn a race, I believe that is classified as a crime, and with most cellphones nowadays being capable of recording videos...simple.

Doesn't make the sane people look good when the loudest group of people who claim to not be racist is breaking laws.The best course of action is in my opinion, to get the Neo Nazis faces in the media as often as possible.

[FlamesAddiction]

I knew a guy who got mixed up with an Edmonton contingent of some skinhead group when he was a teenager. The only way he could get out was to leave the province.

[fatso]

Scary stuff...

I'm with Locke on this one. I think the general public largely underestimates most race-based gangs as being too stupid to accomplish much, but they're pretty organized. They have to be, because how else could they always keep getting new recruits despite the dead-endness that is that lifestyle? Plus, as much as I hate it, they have a right to their beliefs (subject to the limitation of inciting hatred/violence...) and finding new, more palatable ways to refine their articulations of those disgusting beliefs must require some degree of foresight and cleverness.

That said, I get that most people - including myself - are primarily scared of 'wrong-place/wrong-time' violence and if you can avoid that, it's easier to forget about their organizations and planning. I presume they just kept to themselves on the train...

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

These guys are absolute clowns and I have had to work with their type in the past.

That being said I have no problem with having white pride or being proud of the accomplishments of your ancestors, white power or (fill in the blank) power on the other hand is a scary thought in my view because it conveys a message of hatred.

Not to nitpick MMM, especially since I think I get what you mean, but what do you mean by this? I agree that white power garbage is just hate-filled. And certainly, people should be proud and interested in their culture and heritage. But what is 'white pride'? Simply being proud to be 'white'?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by fatso

Not to nitpick MMM, especially since I think I get what you mean, but what do you mean by this? I agree that white power garbage is just hate-filled. And certainly, people should be proud and interested in their culture and heritage. But what is 'white pride'? Simply being proud to be 'white'?

Well my ancestors were, well white. I don't see it being any different than black pride. Both groups of people have accomplished some pretty significant and monumental achievements in every aspect of life. Being proud of your background and of who you are is important - and that does include race. Not saying that this is a license to go around and stomp people for being different but rather showing a bit of pride in who you are. I don't know if that makes sense but that is just my view on it. I don't think that it is racist but some people might disagree - and I hope they don't

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by fatso

Scary stuff...

I'm with Locke on this one. I think the general public largely underestimates most race-based gangs as being too stupid to accomplish much, but they're pretty organized. They have to be, because how else could they always keep getting new recruits despite the dead-endness that is that lifestyle? Plus, as much as I hate it, they have a right to their beliefs (subject to the limitation of inciting hatred/violence...) and finding new, more palatable ways to refine their articulations of those disgusting beliefs must require some degree of foresight and cleverness.

That said, I get that most people - including myself - are primarily scared of 'wrong-place/wrong-time' violence and if you can avoid that, it's easier to forget about their organizations and planning. I presume they just kept to themselves on the train...

Because they pray on two very common traits in humanity:

1. People who aren't successful usually blame anyone but themselves for their failures.
2. People like to blame those that are different.

And it most certainly is not a white-only issue.

Not to nitpick MMM, especially since I think I get what you mean, but what do you mean by this? I agree that white power garbage is just hate-filled. And certainly, people should be proud and interested in their culture and heritage. But what is 'white pride'? Simply being proud to be 'white'?

Of course, being proud to be white is basically an admission to being racist in the eyes of our most hypocritical society. If someone tried to launch a white equivalent of any black pride endeavour, they'd get lumped in with the KKK in a damn hurry. Maybe we need to launch a NAAWP to protect our rights?

[Madman]

Can't they just buy a giant 5 ton truck and drive around with pictures of dead Jews and swastikas on it?

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Well my ancestors were, well white. I don't see it being any different than black pride. Both groups of people have accomplished some pretty significant and monumental achievements in every aspect of life. Being proud of your background and of who you are is important - and that does include race. Not saying that this is a license to go around and stomp people for being different but rather showing a bit of pride in who you are. I don't know if that makes sense but that is just my view on it. I don't think that it is racist but some people might disagree - and I hope they don't

No, I don't think you're being racist at all. In fact, I bet we're pretty much on the same page with this stuff, though I do think your logic is flawed.

First, I'm not sure I get how accomplishments can be traced back to skin colour. Seems to me the accomplishments you're talking about are attributable to culture and not skin colour, unless by 'race' you really mean 'ethnicity'.

But, second, I typically hear the 'white pride' is analagous to 'black pride' argument. While I do think BOTH skin colour prides are misguided, the analogy does not hold in my opinion. Black pride, as I understand it, is largely a response to the fact that in North America black people lost their history through forced migration. The mid-20th century black pride movement was a response to black people not having the specific histories/ancestries that we agree people likely have pride in. I'm not sure that logic still holds, but we're talking about very recent history now.

To put it another way, don't we already have white pride in a number of different forms? Isn't there an Irish club, an Italian club, etc? Seems to me those ethnic prides already encompass white pride but in a much more specific, thoughtful, and interesting way.

Meh.. it just seems to me that 'white pride' is a redundant and misguided concept.

[DESS]

Originally Posted by fotze

I don't understand taking pride in things you had nothing to do with or didn't even exist when it happened. Taking pride in a sports team is about the extent that pride should reach and that is even hard to wrap your head around at times.

I was going to say this as well. Plus, if you're going to be proud of the accomplishments of your white ancestors, you should also feel shame for their failures. I'd rather not take personal responsibility at all for the actions of individuals in history.

Plus while you're feeling proud to be white, keep in mind who committed the atrocities towards Jews, gays, etc. in WWII. It wasn't a bunch of black guys.

[DESS]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Doesn't make the sane people look good when the loudest group of people who claim to not be racist is breaking laws.The best course of action is in my opinion, to get the Neo Nazis faces in the media as often as possible.

Bad idea jeans. I'm sure they'd love the publicity and I don't see what good it would do, particularly when they aren't even really causing too many problems (that I know of) in this city. Getting their faces on TV will embolden them to be even bigger ######s and give credibility to their cause where it isn't due.

Not saying we should ignore them, either. This is one of those times where vigilante justice would be quite effective. They know how to intimidate and entire LRT full of people by doing nothing but standing there, their style of dress/demeanor conjures up horrific images for everyone and minorities in particular - they are doing something morally wrong with every step they take dressed and tatooed in such a way, even if it isn't illegal.

They need to be beaten with the body of their friend on the left.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by DESS

I was going to say this as well. Plus, if you're going to be proud of the accomplishments of your white ancestors, you should also feel shame for their failures. I'd rather not take personal responsibility at all for the actions of individuals in history.

Plus while you're feeling proud to be white, keep in mind who committed the atrocities towards Jews, gays, etc. in WWII. It wasn't a bunch of black guys.

Great post.

I used to live right by Bergen-Belsen. Crickets don't even go there. Its the most eerily silent place.

These Calgary-based "neo" nazis may be intelligent and methodical, but they're also punks playing with s*** they don't understand.

Thorough beatings are in order.

OR...fight fire with fire. Have an opposing group ramp-up their efforts in getting a lot more multi-cultural specific events together. It'd be great for the city, I think.