The Civil v Violent Tipping Point May Be Right Here Right Now
Families are splitting. Divorces, in laws, siblings and paternal divides now exist along old left v right political lines from kinder days. It was not really that long ago when we were at a similar point for completely different reasons. I think of the days of anti Vietnam war protests and anger and the resultant anti government violence. Some terror was secular. Some religious. Weather Underground (WUO) was making real bombs and blowing up property, sniping at police and enabling riots. A list on Wiki here. Back then bombings were powerful and all too common.
We are there again. Where? At the cusp of much more serious violence. Last weeks news was a thankfully amateurish castor bean/ricin attack of Trump, Mattis and others. Yesterday and today a string of bombs. They say pipe bombs. But still these are improvised explosive devices. Time will tell how powerful or well made. I have a word for those who are inciting, enabling or doing any of this. Stop.
The only legitimate violence is strict unequivocal immediate self defense. Ask any soldier that fought. Any civilian that ever even fired a gun in anger hitting a bad guy or a wall, knows it’s a terrifying prospect even for the trained. None of the above is it. Bombers and snipers and mass shooters have a cowardly aspect. I respect the (name witheld) guy flipping my July flags back right side up and arguing a lot more than a sneak. The restaurant customers that see a political figure and have a loud word are being uncivil. But it’s just words even if profane words.
Of course it’s not helpful that the POTUS fans the flames rather than calming things most of the time. Proud boys fighting antifa is not an event anyone sane wants to see.
The weapon at hand right now is the mid terms, and the weapons we always have. Our intellectual strength, numbers, ability to work grass roots meetings plus through all the media with alacrity and intelligence. Our networks.
We have to be careful. Watchful. If anyone is to get to us it should not be easy where we can make it difficult. Not sure who will step back from the tipping point and who will continue to push.