What comes after, “No, you move.”

In recent years, a quote from Captain America (written by John Michael Straczynski) has become popular. It was popular at first because it embodied a specific sense of the hero as a man. Now it’s becoming popular because it has suddenly turned important in this day and age, and that’s terrifying.

Here’s the quote:

“Doesn’t matter what the press says. Doesn’t matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn’t matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: The requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world – “’No, YOU move.’”

I know a lot of people who love to quote that, who have pictures of it on their facebook wall, who proudly call themselves fans of Cap. Good on them, be a fan however you want to be.

But before you start lecturing me on how punching a fascist is wrong, please consider the following: What happens after Cap says “No, YOU move” to the person he’s standing up to?

Kumbayas? Hugs? A montage where the bigot cries a tear and changes his mind? The swelling of orchestral music as the whole middle America small town moves to stand with Captain America and the fascist shamefully hangs his head and walks away?

He’s saying “No, YOU move” because he’s not going to be the one to give in. And planting yourself like a tree beside the river of truth does not mean standing there and politely asking the fascists to stop being mean. It means you fight for the position you’re holding. It means you dig your heels in and you don’t move.

If you quote Captain America and you love that line, please consider for a moment that what comes next isn’t a happy acceptance and end to all bigotry. It’s usually Cap punching a Nazi in the face.

comics antifa captain america no you move