And if thou gaze long into an abyss...
I have something to say to them:
That should do for now. I may add more later.
1. Two wrongs do not make a right. If the right-wing does it, the way to counter it is with the truth, not by emulating them.
2. Whataboutery is not a valid argument. Nor is where-were-you-when. I have stood against these when used by the right- or the left-wingers, and I will oppose it when the liberals and centrists employ this line of argument.
3. Noise is not equal to voice. Just because you create a funny (but totally false) meme or post something outrageous (but untrue) and it gets you a thousand likes, shares, and retweets, it does not automatically make it a valid argument.
4. Ad hominem is the worst way to discuss or debate an issue. Attack the argument and not the person. Once again, two wrongs don't make a right. Just because some right-wingers employ slut-shaming, name-calling, sexist, ableist, ageist, or other slurs does not give you the right to use the same language. Why? Because it defeats the purpose and does nothing to convince the other party, or come to think of it, even your own side, where people like me are put off and step away from saying or doing anything to associate with you or your utterances/writings.
5. The opposite of Hindutva is not Islamism. By embracing everything Islamic and giving it a free pass for everything does not make you a liberal. It makes you a hypocrite. Be even-handed in your opposition because being Hindutvawadi, or Islamist, or even communist makes you an extremist, not a liberal. By emulating someone you are opposed to does not make you less like them, but in fact, reduces the ideological distance between you to mere hate. And hate is never a sufficient reason to oppose someone.
2. Whataboutery is not a valid argument. Nor is where-were-you-when. I have stood against these when used by the right- or the left-wingers, and I will oppose it when the liberals and centrists employ this line of argument.
3. Noise is not equal to voice. Just because you create a funny (but totally false) meme or post something outrageous (but untrue) and it gets you a thousand likes, shares, and retweets, it does not automatically make it a valid argument.
4. Ad hominem is the worst way to discuss or debate an issue. Attack the argument and not the person. Once again, two wrongs don't make a right. Just because some right-wingers employ slut-shaming, name-calling, sexist, ableist, ageist, or other slurs does not give you the right to use the same language. Why? Because it defeats the purpose and does nothing to convince the other party, or come to think of it, even your own side, where people like me are put off and step away from saying or doing anything to associate with you or your utterances/writings.
5. The opposite of Hindutva is not Islamism. By embracing everything Islamic and giving it a free pass for everything does not make you a liberal. It makes you a hypocrite. Be even-handed in your opposition because being Hindutvawadi, or Islamist, or even communist makes you an extremist, not a liberal. By emulating someone you are opposed to does not make you less like them, but in fact, reduces the ideological distance between you to mere hate. And hate is never a sufficient reason to oppose someone.
Remember: The opposite of Right-Wing is not Wrong-Wing.
That should do for now. I may add more later.
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