there is a rather prevalent brand of self-described "Centrist" who absolutely loves the "oh, both sides are as bad as each other" refrain - a refrain which simply isn't backed up by any form of reality in our CURRENT political climate. Not to say it has always, or will always be the case, but right at this moment, one side is causing far more problems than the other, and it isn't even a particularly close run thing.
I disagree it's significant that Farage is a visible far-right figure (is he even far-right?). I'd say it's more significant how much far-leftism like identity-politics/outrage-culture is pushed in the media (including from the chattering classes on social media).
Reading through this again it's clear some events have no centre. The Christchurch massacre is one where there's only one correct response: condemn the ideology behind the attack, blame the murderer, blame his ideology and its adherents, mourn the victims and show solidarity with the victimised community. People are people and all are of equal worth regardless of where they live, what they look like or what they believe. It's your words & actions which define.
I saw an article where Milo Y has been banned for speaking because of his remarks on Christchurch, when i tracked them down I saw him blaming the Hard Left for pushing people to Hard Right actions. For the record this is an intolerably-hateful opinion and not one I subscribe to. Once you begin to murder innocent people whatever cause or reason you think you had is gone.
I'd also like, for the record and in light of Christchurch, to change my opinion: now I see that Far Right extremism is a bigger problem than Far Left extremism. I'd also now go so far as to consider Far Right terrorism as at least as high a threat in the West as Islamic terrorism is.
My wider views on Islam in Europe, anti-Trump mania and leftist identity politics remain unchanged, the discussion of these subjects should still be fair game as long as handled with balance & respect.
