Why do people talk about the "radical right"?

[conuly]

Whatever happened to the word "reactionary"? Is there a difference that I'm not seeing?

Comments

[polydad.livejournal.com]

How about "insane fascists"?

[conuly]

We could call them Nazis too, but unless they actually display the traits of fascism (or Naziism), we're wrong. And so far, they're not quite there yet.

[polydad.livejournal.com]

I disagree. There are fourteen defining characteristics of fascism, and Bushco. easily meet all fourteen. (I don't have the list handy, but google "Bush" and "Fascist" and you'll probably find it.)

They're not Nazis, because they don't belong to a National Socialist party, which is the defining characteristic. Nazis in spirit, sure, but not in practice.

best,

Joel

[snale.livejournal.com]

I just hate that the word "right" is used for their position. It seems to automatically imply that they're... uh... "right".

[conuly]

That's a quirk of the anti-sinistral English language.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's the Romans who are really to blame.

[polydad.livejournal.com]

Ah. Here it is:

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

best,

Joel

[conuly]

This is distressingly ignorant, I know - but how does one pronounce "Joel" in English? I know that the el means "God" and that the name itself means "The lord is God". I know that it was apparently quite a popular name in Biblical times, as several Bible-people have that name.

I can't pronounce it.

(Sorry for the hijack of my own thread here)

[dandelion.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Stupid double meanings. It reminds me of a line in a song- "right becomes wrong and left becomes right". Ironically, the song is actually about going to war ("and they sing as they march with their flags unfurled / today in the mountains, tomorrow the world")

Couldn't you get a Communist reactionary, for example, Connie? The "right" is there so you don't confuse them with those damn Commies, probably.

[conuly]

Well, no. Because "right" and "left" aren't of Latin origin. Also, because anti-lefty prejudice is widespread, even in areas without significant Roman influence.

And because the whole reason the right is the right is because the conservatives in France used to sit on the right side of the Legislative Assembly.

[feasel.livejournal.com]

My dad's name is Joel. We always pronounced it as though it rhymed with "hole." I've also heard it pronounced "joe-el" with two syllables.

[snale.livejournal.com]

:) That was really just a lame joke in reference to your comment about the "sinister" nature of the left. My 10th grade Latin master always made a big deal about left-handed students having a sinister nature. She thought she was hysterical.

Thanks for the tid-bit about the "right" terminology originating in France. That's really interesting!

[polydad.livejournal.com]

Rhymes with "hole." You're a first; I've never had anyone have problems with it before.

I only know one biblical figure with the name, a minor and rather pessimistic prophet. Would fit in very well with modern times.

best,

Joel

[conuly]

Latin teachers always make the same jokes.

[conuly]

There's at least eight, I just checked Wikipedia.

[aberrantangels]

Why not? bellatrys (before she burned out) repeatedly informed us that Godwin's Law has been repealed for the duration, and explained why this was the case.

[sophysduckling.livejournal.com]

*cautiously raises hand*

I think it's because there's a difference. The "radical right" refers to neoconservatives, who seek to use the Roosevelt system of government to advance their agenda instead of "turning back" to the pre-FDR (pre-Wilsonian, really) governmental style, which is what reactionaries want.

An example of the difference is the Republican Congress under Clinton cutting off farm subsidies, which was reactionary, and President Bush reinstating them for political benefit, which was neoconservative.

Furthermore, neocons tend to be more interventionist than the typically isolationist reactionaries (paleocons and libertarians). "Radical right" also carries the connotation of Christianity, which reactionary doesn't have (or, at least, I think it doesn't; correct me if I'm wrong).

Oh, and--Hi, I'm Kathryn, and I'll be your reactionary for this afternoon (followed you over from book_icons b/c I'm bored and have nothing better to do than stalk interesting journals).

[conuly]

That's a nice, intelligent answer.

And thanks :) I do the same thing.

[polydad.livejournal.com]

How about "insane fascists"?

[conuly]

We could call them Nazis too, but unless they actually display the traits of fascism (or Naziism), we're wrong. And so far, they're not quite there yet.

[polydad.livejournal.com]

I disagree. There are fourteen defining characteristics of fascism, and Bushco. easily meet all fourteen. (I don't have the list handy, but google "Bush" and "Fascist" and you'll probably find it.)

They're not Nazis, because they don't belong to a National Socialist party, which is the defining characteristic. Nazis in spirit, sure, but not in practice.

best,

Joel

[snale.livejournal.com]

I just hate that the word "right" is used for their position. It seems to automatically imply that they're... uh... "right".

[conuly]

That's a quirk of the anti-sinistral English language.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's the Romans who are really to blame.

[polydad.livejournal.com]

Ah. Here it is:

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

best,

Joel

[conuly]

This is distressingly ignorant, I know - but how does one pronounce "Joel" in English? I know that the el means "God" and that the name itself means "The lord is God". I know that it was apparently quite a popular name in Biblical times, as several Bible-people have that name.

I can't pronounce it.

(Sorry for the hijack of my own thread here)

[dandelion.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Stupid double meanings. It reminds me of a line in a song- "right becomes wrong and left becomes right". Ironically, the song is actually about going to war ("and they sing as they march with their flags unfurled / today in the mountains, tomorrow the world")

Couldn't you get a Communist reactionary, for example, Connie? The "right" is there so you don't confuse them with those damn Commies, probably.

[conuly]

Well, no. Because "right" and "left" aren't of Latin origin. Also, because anti-lefty prejudice is widespread, even in areas without significant Roman influence.

And because the whole reason the right is the right is because the conservatives in France used to sit on the right side of the Legislative Assembly.

[feasel.livejournal.com]

My dad's name is Joel. We always pronounced it as though it rhymed with "hole." I've also heard it pronounced "joe-el" with two syllables.

[snale.livejournal.com]

:) That was really just a lame joke in reference to your comment about the "sinister" nature of the left. My 10th grade Latin master always made a big deal about left-handed students having a sinister nature. She thought she was hysterical.

Thanks for the tid-bit about the "right" terminology originating in France. That's really interesting!

[polydad.livejournal.com]

Rhymes with "hole." You're a first; I've never had anyone have problems with it before.

I only know one biblical figure with the name, a minor and rather pessimistic prophet. Would fit in very well with modern times.

best,

Joel

[conuly]

Latin teachers always make the same jokes.

[conuly]

There's at least eight, I just checked Wikipedia.

[aberrantangels]

Why not? bellatrys (before she burned out) repeatedly informed us that Godwin's Law has been repealed for the duration, and explained why this was the case.

[sophysduckling.livejournal.com]

*cautiously raises hand*

I think it's because there's a difference. The "radical right" refers to neoconservatives, who seek to use the Roosevelt system of government to advance their agenda instead of "turning back" to the pre-FDR (pre-Wilsonian, really) governmental style, which is what reactionaries want.

An example of the difference is the Republican Congress under Clinton cutting off farm subsidies, which was reactionary, and President Bush reinstating them for political benefit, which was neoconservative.

Furthermore, neocons tend to be more interventionist than the typically isolationist reactionaries (paleocons and libertarians). "Radical right" also carries the connotation of Christianity, which reactionary doesn't have (or, at least, I think it doesn't; correct me if I'm wrong).

Oh, and--Hi, I'm Kathryn, and I'll be your reactionary for this afternoon (followed you over from book_icons b/c I'm bored and have nothing better to do than stalk interesting journals).

[conuly]

That's a nice, intelligent answer.

And thanks :) I do the same thing.