RE: If you are calling yourself Alt-Right you might want to be careful... I debated and then was given some info
I can't say with absolute certainty that it was never used before white nationalists started using it, however I can say with certainly that they were the first to make the term known to a wide audience. In my observation, the thing that made it known to a very wide audience was 1) The white nationalist given credit for coining the term in 2010 (or thereabouts), Richard Spencer, had a celebration meeting somewhere near the Whitehouse after Trump won. In that meeting they espoused Nazi propaganda and even gave Nazi salutes. I found it to be pretty disturbing myself. 2) Trump appointing Steve Bannon who recently described Breitbart (which he ran until his appointment) as news for the alt-right'.
For better or worse, this has been what has defined the alt-right for most people and brought he term to their attention (I stand by my claim 'most' though I can't prove it to you). But seriously, check out the wikipedia article I linked to and this video of Richard Spencer:
These are the things that have brought the term to the attention to most Americans. The 'good' alt-right no doubt has certain views it is interested in bringing to the masses and certain things they want to 'educate' people on. Clinging to the 'alt-right' term will keep them from doing so, regardless of whether you or anybody else think it is fair or right.
I found this to be a pretty good summary of what has brought the alt-right into the public limelight (despite being from CBS): http://www.cbsnews.com/news/steve-bannon-and-the-alt-right-a-primer/
That video is in my original post by the way.
Sorry, lost track...
I actually was not disturbed by the salutes. I chuckled and got distracted.
Do you know why?
That was actually very close to what the official salute in the U.S. looked like until the Nazi's came around.
We changed it to hand over heart so we wouldn't be mistaken for acting like a Nazi, but the salute had essentially been that for some time until it was changed.
So the first time I saw that I got distracted by that little side jaunt in history and didn't really pay attention to the guy.
So until yesterday when my friend was naming that guy and sharing that post I didn't even know his name. :)
Yes, and that was a pretty good reason to change it. So given what that salute is associated with today, I think it gives a fair indication of what kind of people those are. Or they could just be ignorant (but I repeat myself). I first heard his name and 'alt-right' at about the same time (or not very far apart anyway). I think the same is true for most people that have heard of alt-right, hence the negative view of those calling themselves alt-right.
While I could be wrong, I doubt they made up that salute on the spot or are doing it to harken back to 1915 nostalgia.
Nah, I doubt that was their intentions. I remember vaguely thinking "These people are dumb" then noticing the salute and remembering that little bit of trivia that most people don't know.
I can't remember all the dumb shit I've seen. It doesn't stay in my memory as there is too much of it. I see it all over the place from all parties, and labels.
Lately those protesting, and rioting though have added a burst of speed to their group and I can't keep up with the amount of stupidity I am seeing/hearing from that area lately.
There are smart people too, but man do they appear to be outnumbered.