As stupid as it may sound, this question has provoked my thinking for a long time. If somebody goes out looking for a fight, and they walk into a bar and provoke it, that seems pretty straight forward to me. My religious upbringing, of course, talked about turning the other cheek. And indeed, Buddhist thought is certainly chock full of suggestions that no matter what the occasion, if you find yourself in the midst of violence, you are almost certain (note almost) to be somewhat to blame for getting yourself there.
The Trump rallies appear to be getting violent. People can debate about whether Trump is racist or not, I think that's beside the point. What doesn't seem to be beside the point is that in the midst of Trump's diverse crowd of white dudes, there are more than a few who do not like black people. If it seems an established fact that a Trump is likely to have more than a few people who don't like black people, is a black person who shows up basically begging to get their ass kicked? I would say no of course, but clearly, it's a manipulative move daring the Trumplings to respond. And more and more, they seem happy to do so. Ironically, black people may be doing for the Republican party what it can't do for itself, which is make Trump look bad.
The thing about protest is that if you are really trying to bring change, you have to make people uncomfortable. In essence, disrupt their copacetic, iddilic day to make them think about something they don't want to think about. The Tea Party did it. They arguably haven't accomplished a whole lot yet, but they have put fear into a lot Republicans who felt they were safe from district challenges. Black people disrupting a white event though seems to really piss a lot of people off. I'll admit, it annoyed me when they jumped in Bernie's shit. Not enough that I wanted to cold cock someone, but it was annoying. But it's also made me take a fresh look at how I view race issues.
So who's to blame here? Trump for telling people he'll pay their legal bills if they kick some ass, or protestors who show up to a place where they know there are neanderthalls just waiting for a reason to kick someones ass?
Or is this all Obama's fault for creating racial divisiveness?
ReplyDeleteTrump is saying what a lot of people think. That is, if you're an ass hole and deliberately cause a comotion be prepared to occasionally get punched in the eye.
ReplyDeleteSo the first amendment should only be followed if people with counter views speak them quietly?
DeleteTrump has accused Bernie Sanders of sending his supporters to disrupt Trump's rallies. And now he has threatened to send his supporters to Sander's rallies and further has promised to give legal aid to any of them who are arrested. This is getting really scary.
ReplyDeleteGOP political consultant Stuart Stevens, who was a top strategist for 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, said Trump’s rhetoric is “almost verbatim” what segregationist George Wallace was saying in his third-party 1968 presidential campaign. What did the Democrats do? They rejected Wallace.
DeleteTrump has already been compared to Hitler and Mussilini, now Wallace. This is a different time and place. The real Brown shirts the other night in Chicago were the leftest Sanders supporters. The black lives matter crew also stifled Bernie 1st amendment rights a short while back. It is de rigure for university socialists to shun open debate. Trump may be a lot of things including a world class big mouth but he would relish an open forum against any or all of the progressives and socialists.
DeleteI just hope that Bernie wins Ohio and Illinois this week. The country need the exposure of these wicked ideas.
William. Trump is a progressive.
DeleteMick. Trump is a hybrid.
DeleteThe GOP convention this year may make 1968 look like Romper Room.
ReplyDeleteYep, if they were smart they would reject Trump and limit the damage to the party. Of course Trump would just run anyway, and they would lose, but they would exit with a modicum of dignity. Live to fight another day.
ReplyDeleteBasically Mick the Republican party as you knew it and we're comfortable with ended in 2010. If the established statists do not nominate the person with the most delegates the party of Lincoln will be no more.
Delete1773-2009
If Trump wins a majority of delegates but not enough to win outright Pfunky is right. His rabble will tear the streets of Cleveland apart. Trump speaks the talk of hate and race ever more discretely then Ronnie Reagan ever thought of........
DeleteUnfortunately the age of turning the other cheek has past. Donald Trump although reflected in your disdain is not the root cause of this. The country has been seriously divided for a long long time. Ad one of your heroes ric the Reverend Wright would say, America's late 1960's chickens have come home to roost.
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ReplyDeleteThis is what America has become a place where people gather to hear their candidate and assholes from the other party show up to keep people from hearing the message of the candidate.
Is the neanderthal the person who attempts to hear the message or the people who show up to disrupt the political system.
And Max, when your wrong, your wrong.
ReplyDeleteWas just asking a question Lou, didn't really think I was making a statement. But for the record, anyone who hates someone just because of their race is a neanderthal asshole.
DeleteI am beyond tired of this garbage
DeletePeople need to grow up
On. Both sides
DeleteNo argument there.
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