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Army Bob: Alt-left violence could beget more violence

Let’s talk about left wing violence and why it is growing.

The progressive/socialist movement will tell us it is fine to assault Nazis because they are violent, it is fine to punch out racists because they are evil, it is a good thing to assault bigots or homophobes if they say offensive things that are micro-aggressions.

A number of years ago, we adopted a term called “fighting words.” Before that it was not acceptable to assault anyone based solely on speech. The new argument is that some incorrect words or groups are so vile, physical assault is justified.

So, to rationalize violence the alt-left is calling any folks names who disagree with them, on the basis that merely disagreeing with the left on any issue makes you a sexist, racist, bigoted, homophobic, Nazi. Every one of us who voted for President Donald Trump are free game for left wing ridicule and assault.

The “protesters” at University of California Berkley and NYU justified their violence by using the rationale that conservatives are Nazis and alt-right. The use of violence and arson to deny first amendment rights is not only called for, but noble and commendable.

The U.S. Constitution grants the right of free speech to all; speech, not assault, arson or destruction of property in the name of free speech. It is more than a bit scary that the leaders of the left are justifying violence when they say it is understandable that some turn to violence against President Trump because he is a deplorable and unredeemable racist, Nazi, bigot, as is everyone who agrees with him on any policy. Most reasonable people think the hyperbole is way over the top, but not the most hard-line alt-left 5% of America, or some 16 million people.

Turning disagreement into hate is a dangerous path to travel, but a road we are currently on. If the violence escalates the real danger is that the right will be threatened to the point of feeling a direct danger to them or their families. The left can vote, talk, chant, sing, hum and shout, but the left using words to justify violence and then committing violence is alarming.

A study of revolutions and insurgencies tells us it is the most radical 5% of a group who start the violence. If successful, many will join them, but normally not even close to a majority.  The media is a major part of this movement, not by calling for violence but by fueling the fires by justifying the use of over the top language and dehumanizing designations for those of whom they disapprove.

Every military ever fielded harbors a hatred for the enemy. It is hard to kill a person you like, so the enemy is vilified, and insulting names and stereotypical pejoratives are used like Nazi, Racist, Bigot, Homophobe, Sexist, Jap, Commie, Rag Head. The American left is pitching its rhetorical tent on that treacherously slippery slope, stereotypically dehumanizing their opponents, numbering in the tens of millions of good Americans, to justify violence. It is more than a little bit concerning that our friends on the left are using over the top pejoratives to refer to the majority of the good folks in Martin, Dorr, Hopkins, Wayland and Moline.

Senator Bernie Sanders, the leader of the most devoted, has openly and often called for revolution, “political revolution” sure enough, but aren’t all revolutions political, even the most violent ones? The basic reality is that the violence the radical left will commit will be mostly on the two coasts, and on colleges and universities, places where the political and popular support exists for the violence and we find a sympathetic judicial system and enabling media.

Time for the good folks in the alt-left to take a breath and calm down; President Trump will be President for at least four years. Protest, sing, publish, chant, march and scream, but violence will only unify the right against the left, and violence may be met with violence; we as a nation do not need that.

To our friends on the left, pick up your sign, bull horn and costumes, but put down your Molotov cocktails and bricks; protest is protected speech, firebombs are not.

4 Comments

  • The sad thing about all the protests and violence is that it may well be counter productive to what the liberal left desires. That is to regain political power in America.

    It is a fact that there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in America. Although some Democrats deserted the party for this election, there were those in the Republican Party that could not vote for Trump. The deciding factor in most elections is those voters considered independents. They do not subscribe to a particular ideology. Their desires and motivations are the more tangible results and promises of any political campaign. Things like a better job, better health care, safety in their neighborhood and the security of their country.

    That being said, the current violence of the demonstrations/protests, as well as the idiocy of wearing “Vagina Costumes” and the obstruction of the Democratic Party, to letting the new President, are contrary to what the independent voters of our society cast their ballots for. If the liberal left is to ever take back political power in America, they must not just incite their own supporters, they must lure back those independents that elected Donald Trump.

    It is my opinion, that unless Democrats strive to quell the idiocy and violence and replace it with some common sense communication of their agenda, their current efforts will result in what a bad child would receive, a “Spanking” in the next mid-term election. Which would further enhance the ability of the current administration to move its agenda forward. So far, liberals have been shooting themselves in the foot, with such actions as being absent from Senate committee hearings for cabinet designees, grasping unfounded rumor and presenting it as fact (later to be found false) and promoting unrest and insecurity in America. In a sentence, they are making fools of themselves in front of an audience that will soon determine their fate. And who in their right mind would cast a vote for anyone that would portray themselves as a fool? Bad enough that we have enough of them in office that at least have the sense to hide just how foolish and out of touch with society that they are. The obvious ones will suffer a fate they have brought upon themselves.

  • Mr. Moras,
    Bob,
    The left is in a battle for the hart and head of the Democratic Party, the fighting is over the left or far left controlling things. Your observation that they need to move more to the center is spot on.
    Thanks for the comment.

  • We are all Americans and we have the freedom of speech. Unite America! This is our home. All things come to pass. I think President Trump is trying to make us safe and he is trying to upgrade our government, which it needs. Drain the Washington swamp!

    • Mr. Williams,
      Mike,
      Drain the swamp indeed. The Washington bureaucrats/media are swamp things bottom feeders that need to have their power reduced. The media needs to report the news not invent/manage the news, the bureaucrats need to serve the people not have the people serve them.
      President Trump’s numbers keep going up and the media can’t stop it, it drives them nuts.
      Thanks for the comment.

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