June 29, 2015

A preview of coming attractions

editor:	Gurmeet Singh

The motivations of murderers used to be something speculative; we would ask what on earth possessed someone to commit something so brutal, perhaps chancing upon a significant bit of evidence. The Catcher in the Rye, Led Zeppelin, Satanism; signifying evil and undoubtedly supplying motivation and purpose for a heinous act. It’s been notable then that this kind of speculation is filtering out of mainstream discussion, and has been replaced by discussion of the authors or preachers who definitely provided motivations for the attack. Indeed, these days, we’re discussing their take on the crime.

Charleston, South Carolina. The events of two weeks ago, where 21-year old Dylan Roof entered a church and killed nine people, have provided ample talking points for people the world over. Most people are sure it was a racist attack. Others have called it the random act of a crazed young man. Gun laws have come under scrutiny, the character of religion in the US has been analysed, the ways in which black and white people live together has been deconstructed – Obama’s presidency has been called an abject failure for not uniting people in bonds of mutual esteem. And Harold Covington called the attack “a preview of coming attractions”.

Covington, a right-wing sci-fi author is also the founder of a white-supremacist group, the Northwest Front, and has an astonishing record of racially-motivated aggression, ranging from participating in pro-segregation Rhodesian politics, to setting up one of the first neo-Nazi websites on the internet. His anti-Semitism and racism, outlandish ideas for a haven for white Americans in the pacific North West, and general intellectual indolence might make him look like a regular right-wing wacko. But two things mark him out:

• He’s influential, with Dylan Roof citing Covington’s North West Front as among one of his inspirations.
• He’s a (relatively) good writer.

Part of the problem with all fringe politics is its inability to convey a coherent and compelling message. Covington fills a gap in the neo-Nazi scene with articulate phrasing which makes him appealing to those people interested in racist agitation, but probably tire of bombastic slogans.

Covington, while condemning the Charleston killings as “gun lunacy”, seemed to suggest that they formed part of a wider social trend of white power which will culminate in revolution, where liberal whites will be among the victims, as well as non-whites, Jews and others.

It’s tiresome to write about this. Tiresome because of the tedious ins and outs of its wack-job make-up, as well as its reduction of disgusting human acts to utter triviality – it’s tiresome, but necessary , because acts like Dylan Roof’s continue. They happen everywhere in different forms – sometimes neo-Nazi, sometimes Islamist and while it may seem like a generalised discussion of anomie glibly elides over the differences in psychology of different groups, one thing remains clear: some people are dangerously disaffected and will find inspiration and guidance in dangerous places. That’s why it’s important not to be sucked in when we discuss things “post-racial” politics; we’re not, and we need to continue to work towards social harmony, because of, not despite setbacks.

Image: Harold Covington/ The Guardian