The whole ethos of punk music is essentially right wing in a political sense, although perhaps 'conservative libertarian' would be a better phrase than right wing (the whole DIY thing, independent music labels as small businesses, ideas of individual thought and action being free of suppression etc.) which is odd since lots of people involved in punk would probably identify themselves with the left, especially in Britain.
It was therefore no fluke that punk preceded Thatcherism and later Reaganism. It was the vanguard of the new right.
Of course one shouldn't confuse 'right wing' with racism which is something separate.
In my opinion listening to genuinely racist punk music like Skrewdriver means that you are validating the sentiment behind the music, which is of course race hate.
You can't simply say that you are enjoying the music, not the words and be taken seriously. It's like saying a black and white minstrel show would be acceptable because you like the vaudeville , not the offensive racial stereotypes. You couldn't possible say its fine to like SS marching band music because its quite stirring but don't support anti Semitic genocide. In those cases the whole form of the art is tainted by its context and purpose.
But freedom of speech is incredible important. I will support the racists right to freedom of speech while completely opposing the racist on every other count. Without freedom of speech we are in a much more dangerous state than one where bitter, failed, ignorant human beings spew their projected self loathing on to alien people and cultures.
|