There was a murder. Her name was Heather. If you haven’t seen the hashtag, you should. She was killed while standing up for what she believed in and for opposing what she found abhorrent about American society. She was a Bernie Sanders supporter.
The reaction to it wasn’t entirely expected. However, it can be understood why so many people have gotten so upset. There was a murder.
Tiki-torch wielding fascists descended upon Charlottesville, NC determined to hold a Klan rally. The counter-protest was met with a Dodge Charger. What we learned is that those who engineered that car designed it to accelerate. We saw it go very fast both in forward and reverse. Heather Heyer was murdered. In the same incident, nineteen other people were injured. In a separate incident, a man was beaten to a bloody pulp.
People are urging others not to take it any more.
I tried to be sensitive when telling that part of it, but you and I both know that Drumpf’s supporters are vile. I would like to expect better of them but I don’t really know if I can. Yes I can. Here’s the video:
I have to stick to what I know I can do. I know that I can reach out to the Progressives. I know that I can reach out to the Berniecrats and to the other Sandernistas who just like me saw a glimmer of hope and who still had “the Bern” kindling in our hearts. Many of them have simply been overwhelmed by first experiencing election fraud at the hand of the DNC and then being blamed for Hillary’s loss to a game show host. With a member now murdered, some members are now talking about “self-defense” and after watching this murder and mayhem, who couldn’t imagine tempers getting hot. After watching almost two dozen people mowed down by someone who used the term, “magic” to describe what happened in concentration camps, many are scared, angry, worried or worse.
So, I’ll get down to it. Is it right or wrong to want to physically harm the “alt-right” members. I’ll answer just as succinctly. It is natural to feel as if you would want to harm them but that would be counterproductive. I know you might be someone who says that if something isn’t done it isn’t going to stop. I’ve even heard people making the argument that Hitler needed to be stopped and that it was done with violence. What I am telling Americans, particularly young Progressive Americans is that such a response is that for which the fascists are hoping.
Imagine a four foot wall of sandbags lining every curb in America. Imagine a tank or artillery at each major intersection. Imagine a curfew in all major cites from the time the sun goes down until first light. This is the America that the MAGA crowd would insist upon if any civil unrest were reported on major media. That’s the moment that these sick people have all been waiting for. The Bill of Rights would be suspended.
These are the consequences of the Progressive movement not maintaining composure during this emotional time. Losing Heather Heyer is a big deal. Losing more lives and plunging into overt militarism wouldn’t be better. Anger is a natural emotion but we have to resist the urge to be ruled by it or sadness or fear.
I’m not trying to tell you that it isn’t 1945 and so that’s why you can’t fight Nazis in the streets with your bare hands. What I’m telling you is that these Nazis in 2017 are far more dangerous than Hitler’s original Nazis because they have the U.S. military under the command of the most dangerous individual that anyone could ever imagine being inaugurated– he is a hate filled game show host. He is one of the most privileged individuals walking the earth and beyond not being able to see your problems as you would, he sees you as the problem. If he doesn’t have you already on his list of friends, then he and those who support him believe that you are the enemy.
So, what can we do? As simply as I can put it, stay calm. This is a situation where the cooler heads will prevail. If cities aren’t being burned to the ground then there is no need for curfews, no need for tanks and no need for martial law. If you guys can manage to stay that calm, the “alt-right” will look like they do now, the problem. If those who oppose them decide to take matters into their own hands, the situation would turn grim in only a few hours. I know that we’re good people and that we’ll win, if we’re good. What I mean is for you folks to keep making memes and to keep posting what you feel the public should see. Keep assembling but be wary of those who seek to turn peaceful protests into riots.
Someone asked me, “why would anyone do that?”
I gave the truthful answer: “They sell riot gear.”