Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a professor dedicated to studying extremism, published an article on MSNBC in March 2022 asserting that physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle were associated with white supremacy. The article cited Hitler's interest in boxing and jujitsu as an example. It also mentioned the establishment of mixed martial arts and boxing gyms by far-right groups in various countries, focusing on training far-right nationalists in violent hand-to-hand combat and street-fighting techniques.
Miller-Idriss's article on MSNBC received widespread ridicule from readers. Despite this, she appeared on PBS's "NewsHour" to discuss the findings of a study conducted by the American University's Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, a group directed by the professor.
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According to Miller-Idriss, the study found that America has a disproportionate share of violent deaths by terrorism and extremism due to easy access to firearms. She noted that some young people in the study felt a strong connection to gun culture, believing that guns made them stronger or better and were integral to their identity. The professor expressed concern over the fact that young people who identified with gun culture tended to have higher scores on racial resentment and male supremacist ideas.
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PBS host Laura Barrón-López explained that the study arrived at this conclusion by asking survey participants if they agreed with statements such as "women cannot help but be attracted to those who are higher in status than they are."
Miller-Idriss highlighted a correlation between respondents' views on gun culture or the Second Amendment and higher scores on racial resentment. Barrón-López pointed out that 22 percent of those surveyed believed that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to overthrow the government.
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Miller-Idriss argued that persuasive and manipulative rhetoric, as well as false information online, were pushing young people towards these extremist views. She suggested that addressing the issue of misinformation would be relatively easy by preemptively debunking it with video content and teaching digital literacy skills.
According to the professor, this proactive approach is essential for strengthening democratic resilience and should be implemented early and frequently.
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