Gandhi Tea Party Quote Campaign FAIL
I’m always impressed with Republicans and their dependence on quotations to attempt to settle any political or policy argument.
The latest incarnation of this trend is a quote attributed to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi that’s been making the rounds of Republican circles, used to defend criticism leveled at the Tea Party movement and to seemingly usher in the GOP’s pre-ordained victory in 2010:
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.”
Too bad Gandhi never said it.
It was actually said in a 1914 U.S. trade union address made by Nicholas Klein, as he described the stages of a winning strategy of nonviolent activism and progressive reform:
“And, my friends, in this story you have a history of this entire movement. First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you. And that, is what is going to happen to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.”
So I have three suggestions for Republicans:
One – Don’t depend on quotations from anyone to win your arguments for you. I don’t want to hear any more Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Payne or Sam Adams quotes taken out of context.
Two – Everything posted on the internet isn’t true. Please check your facts before you cut and paste.
Three – Understand the irony of misapproating a quote that was actually said by the representative of a labor union known for its support for “social unionism” and progressive political causes.
Tags: Gandhi, Gandhi tea party, Gandhi Tea Party quote wrong, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Nicholas Klein
I think if you’re expecting honesty and critical thinking from the teabaggers you’re going to be doomed to disappointment.
The law of irony is enforced, once again.
Of course my favorite misplaced quotation was the attribution of “to thine own self be true” to the Bible when it was actually Shakespeare. I forget who did this, but it was a female conservative columnist (I forget who).
Sam Adams – damn good beer (so I hear)
Mr. Burns: I’ll keep it short and sweet — Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business.
My favorite Gandhi quote:
“I think it would be a good idea.”
When asked what he thought of Western civilization.
Teabaggers are the most gullible wingnuts and that is saying something, because garden variety wingnuts are pretty effing gullible.
I always liked that quote. It has been used by progressives, too. Anyway, I am enjoying the ridicule stage.
That’s classic Rob. A great article and further example of the dishonest approach, the right wing takes, for furthering it’s own political agenda.
-Paul A.
In every gun thread some Wingnuts will claim that Thomas Jefferson said something to the effect that people who beat their swords into plowshares will farm for people who don’t.
Of course Jefferson said no such thing, but that doesn’t stop them from quoting it. It is as if their simple minds need to latch onto quips, proverbs and bumper sticker slogans in order to make sense of a dangerous and tricky world of ideas in which everything isn’t black and white.
i for one would LOVE to see the bagz all go on a hunger strike. But I really doubt all those fat white people could go more than a few days without stuffing their gullets with walmart pizza.
What a failure of a blog:
First, who’s to say your union thug didn’t copy it from Ghandi. Second, tea partiers are not using the quote to win, just to point out the lefts predictable response (predicted by anyone who has said the quote – doesn’t matter who). Third, the quote represents a natural psycological reaction – just explains it rather nicely and simply. Fourth, Dante Cullpepper said the same thing, does that mean it’s his?
So, based on all of the negative attention the ‘comedy’ channel has been giving to Tea Parties, it’s fair to say we are the ridicule stage and approaching winning (see ya in November!)
Total Reading Comprehension Fail.