I hate violence in real life. I abhor war, and hold those who use vandalism and/or assault to further their cause in great contempt, even when done for the sake of a cause I strongly support. I can understand people being angry, because I certainly do get pissed off; however, when people throw bricks through windows and set fire to vehicles, you can count me out. I am not afraid to admit that violence has tempted me, but I have always managed to canalize my angry energy towards more constructive activities, such as helping organize peaceful demonstrations, making signs, creating and sharing petitions, and contacting my elected representatives.
There is nothing wrong with getting angry. If we didn’t get ticked off over injustice, then society would not progress, and wrongs would not cease. Every societal reformer was angry. Martin Luther was angry when he wrote his 95 Theses. John Brown was angry when he staged his raid on Harper’s Ferry. Mohandas Gandhi was angry when he organized the Salt March. Rosa Parks was angry when she refused to surrender her seat on that bus. Everybody who took to the streets to protest the overturn of Roe v Wade was angry. Properly used, anger can be constructive as it helps bring about positive change.
Unfortunately, anger often leads to violence. People who feel that they are not being heard, especially when they are regularly trampled on, are often unable to squelch their brutish impulses, and thus they lash out. Look at all the violence against Israel and its allies that Palestinians have instigated.
We regard Gandhi and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as paragons of virtue because they used nonviolence to achieve their aims. We admire them because they appealed to humanity’s natural goodness and turned the other cheek. They preached nonviolence, and practiced it even when being brutalized by their wicked opponents.
On the other hand, sometimes nonviolence doesn’t work. Gandhi and King succeeded because the governments they fought against had some sense of human decency. Nonviolence didn’t stop Hitler – today we regard Neville Chamberlain as a jonquil-bellied coward thanks to his policy of appeasement, and mock his ultimately false promise of “peace in our time.” Meanwhile, we adore Winston Churchill because the latter stood up to the Third Reich and rallied the people of the United Kingdom when they stood practically alone against the Axis.
Many groups and organizations out there today preach the vile gospel of using violence against those they hate. We may have had a foretaste of things to come on 6 January 2021 when Trump’s vicious stooges carried out their violent putsch. What if they had done more damage? What if they had managed to grab the vote tallies? Would they have been able to prevent Biden’s official victory over the Tangerine Troglodyte? Several people died during the raid, and many were injured. Can we really be certain that is the last time Trump Chumps and wack jobs like Qanon will attempt something like that? Now that the Orange Ogre has been indicted and faces numerous charges, what horrid shenanigans are MAGA hat wearers plotting?
In times to come we could see more violence on the part of right-wing extremists. Conservative victories embolden them, while defeats piss them off. Just as any excuse will serve a tyrant, so any excuse will serve a hatemonger. They’ll find some justification, however thin, to open cans of whoop-ass.
And how should Progressives react? Peacefully – at first. With letters to the editor, peaceful demonstrations, contacting our elected officials, and signing and sharing petitions. However, if enough of us are hurt or even killed, if enough blood is shed, if our government representatives keep ignoring us, if the police keep taking the side of the bugnuts—
I don’t want to think about it. However, I have something to say to the conservative knuckle-walkers: A lot of the libs whom you want to “own” pack heat. And if necessary we will fight back. For your sake, and for this country’s sake, don’t push us too far.
Let us hope that we can avoid bloodshed. Unfortunately, the way this country is getting so polarized, the way the USA is coming apart at the seams, I fear that there will be blood in the streets – literally.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.