I fell down a rabbit hole yesterday and found out that when the video of Richard Spencer being punched was posted there was this huge internet discussion of whether or not it was OK to punch Nazis. Honestly, I am kind of stunned that this is a topic up for discussion. I feel like I’ve lost my mind. When did we begin to worry about the morality of punching a Nazi in the face? When did we care about the feelings of Nazis? What the fuck?!?

The movies that I grew up with, The Star Wars franchise, and the Raiders of the Lost Ark franchise were all about defeating fascism and Nazis. Indiana Jones literally punches Nazis in Raiders – like, a bunch of times.

 

The comics that I grew up with are all about defeating Nazis. Defeating Nazis is a part of our cultural fabric. Punching Nazis is as American as apple pie.

Or so I thought. Why is this even up for discussion? It disturbs me that it is.

I am not a violent person. I would never walk up to someone and punch them without provocation. I am all about peaceful protests. Martin Luther King and Gandhi are personal heroes of mine.  But Honestly. Nazis are the bad guys. Nazis have always been the bad guys. If I am in a position where I am provoked, or someone around me is  in danger or provoked by a Nazi, and if punching a Nazi in the face seems like the right thing to do in that moment, fuck yes I am going to punch a Nazi.