Helpful Score: 2
I was going to keep this only because it's apparently so hard to find but I honestly am not too sure I can sleep knowing this filth is in my home. And what if - God forbid - my daughter found it? At this point she wouldn't be able to make out the words that would concern me anyway but soon?
I didn't seek this book out - it actually came into my house via someone else who had no clue as to anything about the book yet knew I loved books - and I was interested when I saw the McVeigh statement on the cover. I've always been interested in banned, challenged and questioned books so I set it aside. Somehow, a couple years later I stumbled upon the GR listed and after seeing some reviews pulled it out.
And I'm not sure what to think. The Turner Diaries almost reads like some sort of sick, racial sci-fi book IMO. (It should probably be said that I'm *very* sensitive when it comes to all areas of race - any which way you can think of. My first four female best friends consisted of two black girls and two white girls, all of which I still speak to today. The first love of my life was a black man. The last person I was in love with was white. There are no color lines for me personally.)
So it doesn't need to be said that this bothered me to a great extent. This was, in a lot of ways, the projected view of an American Holocaust with whites taking the place of the Nazi's and any non-white taking the place of the Jew's and non-German's. And it's scary. To be sure, both views are scary. Our country shouldn't - and should never - be the way William L. Pierce describes it before his organization made their moves and it equally shouldn't be how he described it after.
The thing that kept hitting me hard was trying to imagine what it might feel like for a black person to read this book. (Any other non-white or even a white person to mixes races, is lesbian or gay, etc. is targeted here also but the main foe is the black person so I'll use that example for simplification purposes.) Then I thought that, wait a minute, I'd be targeted just as any black person would be according to Pierce's views. Actually, I'd be targeted for more than the racial mixing to be honest. So, in effect, I was able to imagine what that would feel like. And it didn't feel good.
I'll be the first person to say that racism goes both ways. I've had doors slammed in my face coming out of stores by black people who looked at me like I was shit on their shoe. And I've also stood in line in those same stores and listened to the awful comments some white people can make to each other. It goes all ways, all around. There's no escaping it sadly.
I think my biggest problem with the book and with the problem in general is the huge grouping that goes on. With the sheer number of people in the world, in America alone, the odds are against you if you group any race together. No one can - rightfully - say that "all" black people are this or "all" white people do this. It can't be truthfully said because no matter what there will always be that one (maybe one million +) person/people who don't fit into that statement.
This hurts to read. If you're like me (I've said enough for anyone to know if they agree or disagree with the basics of what I believe in when it comes to this) it will hurt. I suppose a white supremacist would enjoy reading these "diaries" but that's about it. I do agree with those that think it shouldn't be banned. I do agree that it gives you what could be a great glimpse into the mind of a man like Pierce.
I should also note the many, many parts in the book that are stomach turning. From the chemical burning of blacks and other non-whites/non-desirables to stringing them up from poles and lampposts and worse. It's very hard to read so be aware ahead of time for what you're in for.
I didn't seek this book out - it actually came into my house via someone else who had no clue as to anything about the book yet knew I loved books - and I was interested when I saw the McVeigh statement on the cover. I've always been interested in banned, challenged and questioned books so I set it aside. Somehow, a couple years later I stumbled upon the GR listed and after seeing some reviews pulled it out.
And I'm not sure what to think. The Turner Diaries almost reads like some sort of sick, racial sci-fi book IMO. (It should probably be said that I'm *very* sensitive when it comes to all areas of race - any which way you can think of. My first four female best friends consisted of two black girls and two white girls, all of which I still speak to today. The first love of my life was a black man. The last person I was in love with was white. There are no color lines for me personally.)
So it doesn't need to be said that this bothered me to a great extent. This was, in a lot of ways, the projected view of an American Holocaust with whites taking the place of the Nazi's and any non-white taking the place of the Jew's and non-German's. And it's scary. To be sure, both views are scary. Our country shouldn't - and should never - be the way William L. Pierce describes it before his organization made their moves and it equally shouldn't be how he described it after.
The thing that kept hitting me hard was trying to imagine what it might feel like for a black person to read this book. (Any other non-white or even a white person to mixes races, is lesbian or gay, etc. is targeted here also but the main foe is the black person so I'll use that example for simplification purposes.) Then I thought that, wait a minute, I'd be targeted just as any black person would be according to Pierce's views. Actually, I'd be targeted for more than the racial mixing to be honest. So, in effect, I was able to imagine what that would feel like. And it didn't feel good.
I'll be the first person to say that racism goes both ways. I've had doors slammed in my face coming out of stores by black people who looked at me like I was shit on their shoe. And I've also stood in line in those same stores and listened to the awful comments some white people can make to each other. It goes all ways, all around. There's no escaping it sadly.
I think my biggest problem with the book and with the problem in general is the huge grouping that goes on. With the sheer number of people in the world, in America alone, the odds are against you if you group any race together. No one can - rightfully - say that "all" black people are this or "all" white people do this. It can't be truthfully said because no matter what there will always be that one (maybe one million +) person/people who don't fit into that statement.
This hurts to read. If you're like me (I've said enough for anyone to know if they agree or disagree with the basics of what I believe in when it comes to this) it will hurt. I suppose a white supremacist would enjoy reading these "diaries" but that's about it. I do agree with those that think it shouldn't be banned. I do agree that it gives you what could be a great glimpse into the mind of a man like Pierce.
I should also note the many, many parts in the book that are stomach turning. From the chemical burning of blacks and other non-whites/non-desirables to stringing them up from poles and lampposts and worse. It's very hard to read so be aware ahead of time for what you're in for.
