Chances are if you're reading this, you just heard about Hilary Clinton's speech about the Alt-Right, and you're probably wondering "what the fuck is the alt-right? I don't trust Hilary to give an honest representation of anyone." And to that I say, you're absolutely right in your assessment, Clinton's speech was full of half truths, hypocrisy and flat out lies about what the alt-right really is. But this is absolutely OK, because for the first time the alt-right has been given national attention.
Whether for better or worse remains to be seen, so allow me to give you an honest look at what the alt-right really is.
What it is
The alt-right is a largely amorphous political movement intent on defying everything that is considered taboo in today's society, in the same way the new left did in the 60's. Everyone from MRA's to ex-Ron Paul supporters and isolationists to neo-reactionaries to racialists and actual racists have found a home in the Alt-right, brought together by their frustration at both sides of the current status quo and a tribal desire to preserve their own culture. While Hilary may have you convinced that the alt-right is made up of the lowest dregs of society there are many within the Alt-right who are far more intelligent and eloquent than your average skinhead. Take for instance Vox Day, an American science fiction writer turned activist for the New right, who developed this list of what the Alt-right should be. Another notable example is Mike Cernovich, who is the most influential writer you've probably never heard about. He was responsible for obtaining and leaking this image right after the Dallas sniper attacks.
He was also one of the minds behind the #Hilaryshealth campaign which caught media attention. Lastly while he does not and never has identified as alt-right, but has become the De Facto face of it, we have our lord and savior Milo Yiannopolous, who is currently on a crusade to make conservatism cool again.
What it is not
It is not the resurgence of 1980s skinheads. As much as the Alt-rights opponents wish this was the case it simply isn't true. The Alt-right is more concerned about joking about the upcoming race war rather than actively and eagerly planning it. While yes much of the rhetoric that comes that from the Alt-right is inflammatory and what some could consider racist (which lets be honest doesn't mean much these days) it is done out of a desire for mischief and transgression rather than out of genuine hate for somebody.
Yes, white nationalism is a major part of this philosophy but very often race is used as the laziest shorthand for culture in these kinds of conversations. A more appropriate term for the alt right would probably be "White Patriotism" or pride in ones European heritage and culture rather than the belief that white people are better than everyone else.
Many in the Alt-right wish that the Neo-Nazis over at Stormfront didn't exist. Mainly because they're the people in the group who take the joke too far. So if we still want to pretend like this handful of people represents an entire group of people lets at least be consistent and do the same with feminists, Black Lives Matter and Muslims.
The future of the Alt-Right
While many in the Alt-right will disagree with me I don't believe the Alt right will be the saviors of the west that they claim they are. They will certainly help in the near future by desensitizing people to mean words and ideas but it will be at the cost of a new set of totalitarian ideas, but I can promise you people will be much more willing to fight this brand of social justice rather than our current brand.
The great takeaway from this is that the alt-right is a bit like a tire fire. It's not going to be easily extinguished, and its gonna be burning for at least 4 years. So you might as well pull up a chair and watch it burn.
