I believe violence is never the answer. I'm sickened by the assassination, and I'm praying for the families and everyone affected in MN. I'm saddened by the lack of coverage or discussion about it from the right, and I desperately wish that our president would try to create peace and unity rather than be the instigator #1 of chaos and violence. #nokings
Of course, violence as a first or second choice is never the answer. However, as a man of color living in Iowa, I am reminded that the rights that I enjoy (at least currently) have come via confrontation, civil unrest, and violence of the 1960s, to and of folks of color. People can only take so much suppression and oppression before they explode. The question to be considered is this: What combination of events pushed people to the point of violence?
Of course, no sensible person condones violence. Had the killer’s friend said he was a Biden supporter you would not have even put that line in your column. And, that’s why the public’s trust in the media is so horrible.
Hi Dean, your claim is false. I would have included whatever we knew about the suspected killer, regardless of whether he supported Biden, Trump or someone else.
It may not be acceptable for people in this country to be violent simply because our laws require peaceful solution over armed conflict and fist fights. With that said, and our acceptance of this, violence is aaborant behavior. When the rules are not fair, and peaceful solution is not part of the social contact, Fighting back is the only solution that makes sense. When the Jews were pushed into the Ghettos in Poland they accepted the situation to avoid worse punishment. In the end, it became apparent not fighting back was going to insure the "final solution" would happen and the only sensible thing to do was to fight back in anyway you could. Even today we have police officers and others who have difficulty understanding their role as a "peace" officer, first and foremost not enforcer, which creates huge problems in certain contexts. (ie. George Floyd) Many things are not so clear cut, and weighing the consequences of our actions over taking control of a situation never are clear in the heat of the moment. Sometimes they are not much different than what was faced by the Jews in the Polish ghetto! I guess the acceptance part needs to be determined after the fact more so than prior to the violence in many cases. Often, just as in war, to the victor goes the spoils, whether it makes sense or not.
First, I really enjoy your newsletter. Now to your questions. I have expected something like what occurred in Minnesota to happen, but not there. Out East or down South yes. But I fear this is just the beginning. The Trump supporters have been whipped into a cult like frenzy and have been made to believe that anyone who is not a MAGA Republican is an enemy. And that has been easy when you look at the average MAGA supporter and see that they are on the same intellectual level as those who join religious cults. (Saw a video a while back. MAGA person was defending Trump. His statement was "Why is it that all the college educated people vote Democrat?)
2nd - Throwing things at the police. Not acceptable, but people in situations like that do not always have the time to rationalize things out. Mother nature kicks in. Good old "Fight of Flight". Then again, we need to ask the question "Is it acceptable for law enforcement officials to fire non-lethal weapons, smoke bombs, flash-bangs and tear gas at non-violent protesters who are expressing their constitutional rights in a civil manner? Reference LAPD last evening opening fire on a peaceful protest per NBC News.
3rd. Trump calling in the military. Unconstitutional up front. But then, hey, he and his legal advisors see him as above the law. (Thank the Supreme Court for that!)
4th. Is violence ever justified. American history says YES. What would have happened if the colonists had just slunk away when the British Army came marching in. Lexington. Concord. If not for standing up for what they believed in, we would all be singing "God Bless the King" today. We are seeing today a "regime" in Washinton holding America hostage to its outlandish ideals. All you need to do is read the Declaration of Independence to see the similarities of the grievances of then to what is coming out of DC today.
Thanks for your time, Dave. Keep up the good work!
I believe violence is never the answer. I'm sickened by the assassination, and I'm praying for the families and everyone affected in MN. I'm saddened by the lack of coverage or discussion about it from the right, and I desperately wish that our president would try to create peace and unity rather than be the instigator #1 of chaos and violence. #nokings
Dave:
Of course, violence as a first or second choice is never the answer. However, as a man of color living in Iowa, I am reminded that the rights that I enjoy (at least currently) have come via confrontation, civil unrest, and violence of the 1960s, to and of folks of color. People can only take so much suppression and oppression before they explode. The question to be considered is this: What combination of events pushed people to the point of violence?
Of course, no sensible person condones violence. Had the killer’s friend said he was a Biden supporter you would not have even put that line in your column. And, that’s why the public’s trust in the media is so horrible.
Hi Dean, your claim is false. I would have included whatever we knew about the suspected killer, regardless of whether he supported Biden, Trump or someone else.
Trump has repeatedly condoned violence.
I'm sorry. I didn't catch your qualifier. You said "no sensible person ...." Never mind.
It may not be acceptable for people in this country to be violent simply because our laws require peaceful solution over armed conflict and fist fights. With that said, and our acceptance of this, violence is aaborant behavior. When the rules are not fair, and peaceful solution is not part of the social contact, Fighting back is the only solution that makes sense. When the Jews were pushed into the Ghettos in Poland they accepted the situation to avoid worse punishment. In the end, it became apparent not fighting back was going to insure the "final solution" would happen and the only sensible thing to do was to fight back in anyway you could. Even today we have police officers and others who have difficulty understanding their role as a "peace" officer, first and foremost not enforcer, which creates huge problems in certain contexts. (ie. George Floyd) Many things are not so clear cut, and weighing the consequences of our actions over taking control of a situation never are clear in the heat of the moment. Sometimes they are not much different than what was faced by the Jews in the Polish ghetto! I guess the acceptance part needs to be determined after the fact more so than prior to the violence in many cases. Often, just as in war, to the victor goes the spoils, whether it makes sense or not.
First, I really enjoy your newsletter. Now to your questions. I have expected something like what occurred in Minnesota to happen, but not there. Out East or down South yes. But I fear this is just the beginning. The Trump supporters have been whipped into a cult like frenzy and have been made to believe that anyone who is not a MAGA Republican is an enemy. And that has been easy when you look at the average MAGA supporter and see that they are on the same intellectual level as those who join religious cults. (Saw a video a while back. MAGA person was defending Trump. His statement was "Why is it that all the college educated people vote Democrat?)
2nd - Throwing things at the police. Not acceptable, but people in situations like that do not always have the time to rationalize things out. Mother nature kicks in. Good old "Fight of Flight". Then again, we need to ask the question "Is it acceptable for law enforcement officials to fire non-lethal weapons, smoke bombs, flash-bangs and tear gas at non-violent protesters who are expressing their constitutional rights in a civil manner? Reference LAPD last evening opening fire on a peaceful protest per NBC News.
3rd. Trump calling in the military. Unconstitutional up front. But then, hey, he and his legal advisors see him as above the law. (Thank the Supreme Court for that!)
4th. Is violence ever justified. American history says YES. What would have happened if the colonists had just slunk away when the British Army came marching in. Lexington. Concord. If not for standing up for what they believed in, we would all be singing "God Bless the King" today. We are seeing today a "regime" in Washinton holding America hostage to its outlandish ideals. All you need to do is read the Declaration of Independence to see the similarities of the grievances of then to what is coming out of DC today.
Thanks for your time, Dave. Keep up the good work!