What to do with militant extremists in our midst?

Its a
question Americans have faced before
Oct 2
Posted by Choctaw Doc
A lot of people are wrestling with how this
country should deal with militant Muslims in our midst. I think most of us have no issue
with American Muslims who do not advocate for anything at odds with our US civic virtues
and democratic traditions and practices. Concerns naturally arise with US-based Muslims who
post, preach and otherwise advocate for the things we hear being said by members of the Islamic
State (ISIS, ISIL) and other radical Muslim groups. Many advocate deporting anyone who
engages in this sort of thing. Of course, we have homegrown militants in our midst, among them
neo-Nazis and Klansmen who preach things that inspire hatred and sometimes violence on the
part of their members and sympathizers. One could argue are they are citizens and enjoy certain
legal and constitutional protections which renders deportation or quarantine a nonissue, but
then some extremist Muslims in the US also are citizens (Some born here). Deporting a US
citizen to the country their ancestors came from might be emotionally satisfying to some folks
but it would open a door that could quickly be abused by the state.
Has America faced the issue of how to deal with antidemocratic, intolerant ideologues in modern
times (20th century forward)? Sure thing. In the 1930s there were more than a few individuals
and organizations that wanted to see Nazism replace democracy in the US. Some were
immigrants (many of these, Germans), others naturalized citizens and others US born. More than
a few spokesmen for and leaders of prominent pro-Nazi organs wound up running afoul of the
law and in jail or prison. A few were deported and others interned in camps built to house enemy
aliens and such after America went to war with Japan and then Germany. The solution then was
pretty much this: Outspoken Nazis were rebuffed by their fellow citizens, monitored by law
enforcement especially the FBI, and prosecuted when they did anything illegal and were caught.
Yep, the people back then were doing pretty what we are doing now with extremists and
antidemocratic elements in our midst (With the exception of establishing internment camps).
Should we do more? I guess your answer to that depends on how much freedom you are willing
to sacrifice for your sense of security. Its not an easy equation to work out without risking
opening the floodgates to terrorism on one hand and turning American into a police state on
the other.
Whatever your answer, Id wager many of you reading this will find certain remarks made back
in 1938 by Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Henry (on the heels of the conviction of a group
of Nazis in Suffolk County, NY State) appealing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYWlSmn2Ou4
The salient part is 45 seconds into this 1m:23s video. Quoting Mr. Henry, If these persons
prefer some other form of government let them get out of the United States and stay out.