This might be my softest, most liberal opinion –and i have plenty of soft opinions–, but I don't think there's an inherent problem with allowing people who have done bad stuff to participate in a movement. At some point we have to believe in the ability for people to rehabilitate and overcome past choices.

My problem is with allowing these people to be close to positions of representativity and leadership, anywhere near where they can exert power, and that includes being anywhere close to vulnerable people. Want to do the paperwork/cook for the party soup kitchen? knock yourself out. Party leadership, senate, comms, or something public-facing? Nah, can't trust you. If you're serious about your regret for participating in the meat grinder, go pay reparations, improve yourself.

[–] purpleworm@hexbear.net 29 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Theoretically, it would be pretty important to have experienced military officers.

But we also need to be sure that they're actually repentant and not just an outed cryptofash like Plat seems to be.

[–] TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net 28 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

This is very far into the future of any movement in the global north though. As it stands, former troops would not be doing anything military. And it would take a huge amount of vanguard control of the military to prevent getting coup'd in the event of such an opportunity presenting itself.

[–] Le_Wokisme@hexbear.net 19 points 1 week ago

when we have seamen burning the officers quarters on their ship so they can't be deployed to venezeula we can have a discussion about those saboteurs being cool, but i wouldn't even put chelsea in charge of anything.

[–] AssortedBiscuits@hexbear.net 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Theoretically, it would be pretty important to have experienced military officers.

Officers within the US military are all reactionaries. They come from petty bourgeois backgrounds and either believe in the mission or are in it to jumpstart their professional career after their service.

[–] purpleworm@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

I agree. See the second sentence.

[–] SuperNovaCouchGuy2@hexbear.net 28 points 1 week ago

but I don't think there's an inherent problem with allowing people who have done bad stuff to participate in a movement. At some point we have to believe in the ability for people to rehabilitate and overcome past choices.

Yes, but only after they have been held accountable and brought to justice for helping commit genocide against the good people of Iraq and Afghanistan in service of american capital, of course.

[–] Horse@lemmygrad.ml 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

they should be tried by the people whose lives they wrecked, not arbitrarily "forgiven" by the people who benefitted from their actions

[–] SuperNovaCouchGuy2@hexbear.net 16 points 1 week ago

unironically extradite the bastard to both Iraq and Afghanistan, have him do another "tour of duty" as a criminal in chains, fucking fascist devil who helped a fascist army genocide over a million people and destroy their countries

[–] XxFemboy_Stalin_420_69xX@hexbear.net 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

At some point we have to believe in the ability for people to rehabilitate and overcome past choices.

why? i've never gotten a nazi tattoo or willingly signed up to murder brown children on the other side of the world, and neither have most working class people. why should we allow these scum to poison our society? how are we not better off without them?

[–] footfaults@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 1 week ago

I think that's a fair take