Please support THE CITIZEN'S VOICE with a donation HERE!
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
| Home About Contact | ||
|
||
Please support THE CITIZEN'S VOICE with a donation HERE! |
||
First Contact – Anti-Fascist Meets Peace Protesters in Bad DürrenbergIs there now a crack in the firewall? No one really knows. But what we do know is that a tenth-grade anti-fascist dared to attend the demonstration in Bad Dürrenberg on April 21, 2025, to publicly express his opinion. His right to free speech was respected by the peace protesters. This young man is likely Max Schneller. He is active with and for Die Linke in Weißenfels. He began his speech with the words: "I’m here because I personally – and beware, trigger word – am an anti-fascist." He stated that he finds it dangerous when history is twisted. In his view, this kind of historical distortion happens every day out there. He believes other opinions can be painful. He said he was fed up – addressing the demonstrators – "with how you present yourselves here as freedom fighters while marching side by side with fascists." This claim prompted loud laughter from the crowd. He went on: "Corona is in the past, but your loss of reality continues. While intensive care units were overflowing, you were complaining about masks as if they were the beginning of a dictatorship. Sorry, but if you compare a jab to a concentration camp, you have less protection on your head than on your face." Note: The claim that intensive care units were overflowing with COVID-19 patients has been demonstrably debunked. It is documented that hospital occupancy significantly decreased after the first lockdown in 2020. COVID patients made up only a small portion of hospital cases. This could have been known had people also engaged with recent history. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVl23nKuug The tenth grader continued addressing the demonstrators: "You call yourselves lateral thinkers, but you're not thinking laterally. You're thinking all over the place and reliably ending up in the deepest nonsense. Your research consists of five minutes of Googling and YouTube videos with more echo than substance." Note: Since "mainstream media" often leave things out and demonstrably report one-sidedly in line with the dominant narrative, platforms like YouTube are quite suitable for critics to share their findings publicly. In this sense, these platforms are more pluralistic than traditional mainstream media – although even on YouTube and similar platforms, massive censorship and restrictions on freedom of speech have occurred. He continued: "You're not just loud and ill-informed; you're completely convinced of your own delusion." Note: That remark could be turned back on the young anti-fascist – if not even considered an own goal. He added: "You say you’re being oppressed. You say you can’t say anything anymore. And yet here you are with a microphone, saying the biggest nonsense since the flat earth theory." Note: Max Schneller seems unaware that many contents on social media platforms have indeed been deleted. He may also not realize that critics are still being taken to court simply for attending demonstrations (example: breach of the peace with a piano – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yKoa2YQy6M). Or consider the cases of Ballweg and Füllmich, who are facing lengthy legal proceedings despite there being seemingly no merit to the accusations. These things are still happening. Aside from that, the tenth grader seems to believe he knows more than those who critically examine government policies – when he tries to link them to flat earth beliefs. And he goes on: "You know what really cancels you? Facts! Simple as that!" Note: This statement might actually be considered another own goal. Reading from his smartphone, he says: "You reject Western media, yet quote Russian propaganda. Call yourselves peace lovers, but cheer for a dictator bombing apartment buildings in Ukraine." Note: He clearly hasn’t delved into the historical background of the ongoing war. If you want to understand "the Russian", you have to listen to what "the Russian" says and how he sees things. That’s the only way to form an independent opinion. There are many independent journalists and media outlets showing how the war is viewed from Russia. Maybe Max Schneller should look at his phone again – and check out the Russian perspective. And he continues reading: "If you dig any deeper into your worldview, eventually Goebbels himself will greet you with a nod." Note: He’s clearly reinforcing his own prejudices. If his accusations were true, the demonstrators would probably have taken the microphone away from him by this point. Reference here: former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the sentencing of journalist Bendels to a suspended seven-month prison sentence for publishing a satire showing Nancy Faeser with a sign saying she hates free speech. That ruling seems to support the satire’s point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_5q6j-6q3Y Also worth mentioning is the action taken against Compact Magazine. You don't have to like these media outlets, but an anti-fascist should be able to recognize that this shows clearly fascistoid tendencies. He continues reading: "And then these pathetic comparisons: vaccination equals human experiments. Masks like Jewish stars. Lateral thinking like resistance against Nazis. You are not Sophie Scholl. You are people with Wi-Fi, delusion, and a victim complex." Note: He clearly experienced the “pandemic years” differently than those who know parallels from the past. Maybe, being a student, he had no problem with authority and found it easier to comply with school policies. Likely, it was all explained to him accordingly. He continues: "I'm here because I know: your talk is not harmless. Because I know how fascism begins – not with the first shot, but with the first trivialization. And I’m a student. I don’t memorize history. I understand why we need it. And I recognize when people start rewriting it." Note: I have my doubts. I don’t think he realizes that history is constantly being rewritten – even in recent years. Take the war in Ukraine. A few years ago, there were critical reports on Nazis and fascists in government circles, even in public broadcasting. There were also reports about the oppression of mostly ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine. Nowadays, these are hard to find – to uphold the narrative that Ukraine is defending our values, democracy, and freedom. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHANAtH9FlA. He goes on: "I am – trigger word again – anti-fascist because I’ve learned that neutrality in times of hate means standing with the perpetrators." Note: In theory, he thinks he’s learned that. But as he repeatedly insults and belittles those present, he clearly hasn’t fully internalized it. He continues his speech: "You wave flags that scream historical ignorance. You downplay the Holocaust. You talk about opinions where there’s actually hate speech. And when your speeches sound indistinguishable from those of anti-vaxxers or neo-Nazis, then you’ve truly lost the 'think' in lateral thinking." Note: He is likely referring to the black-white-red flag. This flag was seen after World War I as a symbol of a strong, "old" Germany. Those who wave it today may have that same strong Germany in mind. You don’t have to like it, but it’s part of history. On September 15, 1935, this flag was actually banned in the Third Reich. The only official state flag was the one with the swastika in red, white, and black. Incidentally, those are also the colors of the Antifa logo. He continues with blanket accusations, without knowing the individual life stories of the demonstrators. He repeatedly lumps everyone together and tries to label them all as right-wing extremists. This could be seen as incitement on his part. He concludes his speech: "I’ll say it clearly!" Addressing one of the demonstrators: "Opinion hurts – others, I know." A protester in the background replies, "We can take it." The tenth grader continues: "You are not the people. You are not the majority. You are a loud minority with too much Telegram, too little understanding of history, and no clue what injustice and oppression really mean. I will remain loud. I will remain clear. And I will remain anti-fascist. Not someday, not when it’s too late, but right now. And you? You can stay in your bubble – with your tinfoil hats and applause from the wrong people – but don’t be surprised when no one out there listens to you anymore." Note: In his final words, he once again delivered sweeping generalizations and outright insults. What seems important to him is to draw a line – but especially to exclude the demonstrators. Left-wing activists usually try to present themselves as tolerant and supportive of minority rights. That includes respecting other opinions. That didn’t seem to be the goal of his speech. The video does not show the subsequent discussion with the tenth grader, which was quite emotional on the part of some demonstrators. Nevertheless, Max Schneller is invited to engage in dialogue. At the very least, he took a first step. That’s certainly commendable. Many others would not have had the courage. If more dialogue happens and he engages directly with individual demonstrators and critics of the government, he may learn about their motivations firsthand – and discover that while there are many shared concerns among protesters, they do not all share the same opinions. Yet they tolerate each other. Demonstrators are also highly interested in understanding what motivates Max Schneller. And maybe Max Schneller will realize that he actually shares common ground with some of the demonstrators. One of those shared values might be a strong opposition to fascism – which isn’t exclusively a right-wing phenomenon. Fascism Can Be Defined as FollowsFascism is an authoritarian, often nationalist system of society and rule based on strict hierarchy, a leadership principle, a readiness to use violence, and the suppression of dissenting opinions. It seeks total control over public and private life, promotes a homogenous national community, and often sees itself as a revolutionary force against established political and social orders. Characteristics of Fascism (ideologically neutral): Authoritarianism: Rejection of pluralistic democracy; power concentrated in strong leadership. Nationalism: Glorification of the nation or culture; often accompanied by xenophobia. Collectivism: Emphasis on the community over the individual, with strong pressure to conform. Militarism: Glorification of violence, war, and discipline. Anti-pluralism: Suppression of political opponents, press freedom, diversity of opinion. Propaganda and Control: Use of media, symbolism, and mass mobilization to manipulate public opinion. Anti-liberalism and Anti-Marxism (historically): Rejection of individual liberties and classical class struggle theories – with varying emphasis depending on the variant. This definition deliberately avoids placing fascism on a left-right political spectrum and instead focuses on structural and functional traits of fascist systems. I can imagine that Max Schneller might recognize some parallels and tendencies if he took a neutral look at current political developments. Author: AI Translation - Michael Thurm | 23.04.2025 |
|
| Other articles: |
 | NEVER AGAIN IS NOW! Video Interview with Arnd EiertIn the interview, Arnd Eiert talks, among other things, about his motives for organizing demonstrations every Monday in Zeitz with fellow activists, as well as his experiences with... zum Artikel |
 | Time Travel with Charm – Reese and Ërnst Guide You Through a Different WeißenfelsWeißenfels, April 19, 2025 – What looks like a scene from a historical play is, in fact, a city tour – but not an ordinary one. When Reese and Ërnst take to the streets, hist... zum Artikel |
 | Paternalism by Politics! What the Released Emails of the “Mandatory Vaccination Working Group” Reveal About Our Understanding of DemocracyIt is a political disgrace that key information about government actions—especially in matters concerning fundamental rights and bodily autonomy—must first be fought for in cou... zum Artikel |
|
Support the operation of this website with voluntary contributions: via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/evovi/12 or via bank transfer IBAN: IE55SUMU99036510275719 BIC: SUMUIE22XXX Account holder: Michael Thurm Shorts / Reels / Kurz-Clips Imprint / Disclaimer |