2008 Woodie Awards
I Hate Media Lies About Skinheads
The Hate section--Just a few things to avoid... or change!
Nick Panyk
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Opinion
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Uh oh! I just opened up a whole new level of political incorrectness… or did I? If you know anything about me you know that I've dedicated a large portion of my life (nine long years) to fighting extremist scum, whether they be racial supremacists like Neo-Nazis and Zionists or merely repulsive like fascists, communists, socialists, jihadists, Neo-conservatives, Neo-Evangelicals, and Neo-liberals. Intellectually, physically, spiritually, and politically I've fought for the Republic and the ideals our nation was founded upon.
Aren't they all the same?
Why then do I not add Skinheads to the list of filth I struggle against? It seems if you ask anyone today about Skinheads they will, with cold eyed certainty, weave you a tale of brutal and violent Neo-Nazis and KKK cross burners slamming to White Power music. However, when you ask the same individuals whether they feel the same way about Black, White, Asian, Arab, Hispanic, or Native Skinheads dancing to their Ska, Hardcore, Reggae, Oi, punk, Rocksteady, and Soul their minds are blown. Skinhead culture and music is a global community that encompasses all religions, races, nationalities, and political ideologies. They've survived and thrived despite over forty years of attempts from society and the upper class to persecute and wipe them out.
This is not to say that racist Skinheads don't exist--all cultures have racists or extremists within them. However, an overwhelming majority of Skinheads today simply don't fit the stereotype that the middle and elite classes have made for them. In terms that privileged middle class white culture can understand: Nazis are to the Skinhead culture as Charles Manson and his followers were to the Hippy movement. While a significant part of Hippy culture embraced Manson and sent him thousands of fan letters, most, as I understand it, rejected what he stood for. Skinheads have quite a bit more racial and national diversity to their culture than Hippies, but you understand the general point. A racist is a racist, and a Skinhead is a Skinhead… to accept white power ideology you must deny the rich heritage that is the Skinhead.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Garry Johnson
posted 5/11/08 @ 8:58 AM CST
My name is Garry Johnson - I am also known as THe Punk POet and Oi The Poet...
My latest book is The Story of Oi - the 100% true story of SKINHEADS.
published by
www. (Continued…)
Durshka
posted 7/14/08 @ 7:14 AM CST
I am glad I don't live in the States. In other countries, which may not be as politically correct all the time, being a skinhead is *just* a haircut! Not a sign of anything, not a life choice, just a way to cut your own hair that means that you don't have to go pay for a barber every time. (Continued…)
benedette
posted 9/25/08 @ 3:22 PM CST
i'm from Indonesia....and i would like to say that here in my country there's alot of skinheads but ad Durshka say they maybe looks like "just" a haircut. (Continued…)
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