Silence is one thing, refusing to affirm is another

Here's the thing, Tennessee Legislature.

You can just be quiet about it, and tell yourself and your constituents that, hey, hating Nazis is the default position, of course we do, we don't have to say so. And as long as nobody brings it up, you can get away with that.

BUT.

Once somebody does bring it up, the game changes. If somebody says, I think we should announce publicly that we hate Nazis, and your response is dead silence and refusing to advance the resolution? Now you're saying "We won't say we hate Nazis."

Now you're saying "We don't hate Nazis."

You're saying you actively refuse to “strongly denounce and oppose the totalitarian impulses, violent terrorism, xenophobic biases, and bigoted ideologies that are promoted” by the groups.

Is that really what you want to say?


Source: The Tennessean, March 14, 2018