I believe if everyone who was against the current oligarchy started placing guillotine stickers everywhere, like you might for a favorite band, people would feel less isolated in their distaste for the current system.
And in an ideal world those who the guillotines are for might realize just how much they are in the minority.
But a guillotine is not a weapon of war. It’s not even something that the powerless can use against the powerful. Quite the opposite, actually.
Which makes the guillotine is a terrible symbol for a revolution. Not only is the symbolism ahistorical, but the actual history directly contradicts the supposed symbolism. The modern people who invoke the guillotine as a symbol of revolution are making the exact same mistake that the French Revolutionaries made.
As a side note, was it a mistake to bomb, kill, and invade nazi Germany?
If violence was not the answer there, what was the answer?
I don’t feel like you’re putting in the same effort I am in having a sincere discussion.
Twice now you’ve ignored my point about how fascists were defeated in the past. And you’ve seemingly understood none of what I’ve said, leading you to ask questions on information I’ve already given.
Your concerns are misplaced.
It looks like you ninja-edited in the second part of your comment. I was responding to the original that only had quotes of prior comments and nothing else.
No. But it would be a mistake to start bombing political rallies today, for example.
I do apologize for the ninja edits, I try my best not to do them or at least keep them to a few seconds after the initial post.
With that said, with your answer of “no”, it sounds like you do acknowledge that violence has a part in defeating fascism. Do you agree that we are currently facing a wave of fascism?
And I have not suggested bombing political rallies.
I’m saying that the bombing, etc. of Nazi Germany was a justifiable level of force under the circumstances. I’m splitting hairs and making a big deal over the difference between “force” and “violence”. I think it’s important to know exactly where that line is so as to avoid stepping over it, so I’m not just being intransigent and clinging to a minor point here.
The guillotine symbolizes to me a clear stepping over of the line from justified force to mob violence. And I think we would be better off if everyone shared my opinion.
So in our current situation in which the state is:
What is the justified level of force + violence to respond with?
But that’s not what it means to the public, which is why it is being brought up so much in these conversations.