Reykjavík Grapevine - 18.06.2010, Blaðsíða 14

14
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 08 — 2010
One of the oldest blogs in Iceland is VefÞjóðviljinn
(“The People’s Will, on the Web”—The WebWill for
short). The blog, launched in the mid 90s, is run
by a curious mix of neocons and libertarian fringe
elements of the conservative Independence Party. Along with
AMX—an internet news-outlet run by a similar group—the
WebWill serves as the nerve centre of the right wing blogo-
sphere in Iceland, and is a reliable source of Freeper style
wingnuttiness in Icelandic, taking the most extreme viewpoint
on the subject du-jour. For the connoisseur of right wing crazy,
the WebWill is the go-to place in Iceland.
One could therefore count on the WebWill to address the
trial of the Reykjavík nine. And boy did they deliver! Rather
than focusing on the Reykjavík nine, they decided to serve one
of its specialties: The vast poop throwing left wing conspiracy.
The trial of the Reykjavík nine has provided the right wing
fringe with an opportunity not only to rehash this alternative
history narrative, but to anoint the Reykjavík nine as the Bol-
shevik vanguard of this imaginary Left-green conspiracy and
attack on parliament.
Ever since the government was forced out by the mass pro-
tests of the winter of 2008-9, the Independence Party’s right
wing has been trying to sell a narrative that frames the pro-
tests as ‘remote-controlled’ by Left-green MPs. See, the pro-
testers were really socialist stooges who laid siege to Alþingi,
pelting it with rocks and human faeces. Yes, human faeces.
The parliament, however, was saved by the police, which was
supposedly in constant and immediate danger from the blood-
thirsty mob of poop throwers. This narrative always includes
a story of how the protesters attempted to set the house of
parliament on fire.
In this narrative the WebWill, AMX, and the various wing-
nut bloggers position themselves as defenders of Western
traditions and decency, law and order, decrying the fact that
the protesting mob was not subject to more police brutality.
Throughout the protests, they repeatedly called for the forma-
tion of a militia that would be deputized to defend parliament,
and to ensure the protesters got what they deserved.
Like all good conspiracy theories, this alternative history
narrative contains elements of truth: Someone did indeed
pour a small amount of flammable liquid on the wall of the
Alþingi and set it on fire. However, there was never any danger
of the building catching fire, and protesters actually rushed to
the scene to put the fire out. There is one confirmed instance
of the police being attacked with rocks, but the police also
confirmed that the attackers were well known criminals, and
again, the protesters who were present defended the officers,
facing down the attackers. All of this has been extensively cov-
ered by the Icelandic media. As to the excrement throwing,
well, rumour has it that in January or February 2008 the police
stopped a couple of teenagers bearing poop in a small plastic
bag.
Whether the right wing actually believes its version of his-
tory is an open question. But their alternative history narrative
serves a purpose: To delegitimize the protests.
But the alternative history also plays a second, perhaps
more important purpose, as it plays a crucial part in the
warped world view of the right wing. The obvious explanation
for the right wing rage that has been on display since the pro-
tests is that these people have trouble coming to terms with
having been ousted from power. The Independence Party had
been in government since 1991; since 1944 they have been out
of power for a grand total of a little over a decade.
Many conservatives have therefore come to believe that
they are entitled to rule, and that any government without
them is somehow illegitimate. An entire generation of young
right wingers has never known an Iceland that is not governed
by the Independence Party, and it is these people who have
been the most vocal proponents of the vast left wing conspir-
acy theory.
This kind of development is not restricted to Iceland. In the
United States the Republican party responded its loss of pow-
er by going full blown crazy, embracing the Tea Party move-
ment and conspiracy theories of the likes of Glenn Beck and
Orly Taitz, demanding Obama show his birth certificate and
fuming over “Maoists” in the White house.
While the wild eyed ranting of the WebWill and Glenn Beck
might be amusing, and on occasion LOLworthy, there is good
reason to worry about this development. If the right begins to
believe its own conspiracy theories and narratives of alterna-
tive history, there is a very real danger they will, once back in
power, take concrete steps to address the imaginary threats,
organising a right wing paramilitary to defend parliament from
the poop throwing Bolsheviks.
The Poop Throwing Left Wing Conspiracy
Opinion | Magnús Sveinn Helgason
Comic | Hugleikur Dagsson
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