Well, what a week, eh? At writing, it’s been about six days after Trump supporters made their way into the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. A few people have died as a result and several arrests have either been made or are in the process of finding and prosecuting participants.
One of the most glaring aspects of the event is how it’s portrayed in the media… no surprise. Whereas the BLM riots during the summer of 2020 were “mostly peaceful,” the mob of unarmed, big-dick-energy Trump supporters were involved in an “insurrection” and a “threat to our democracy” sparked by the words of President Trump.
An insurrection. Threat to our democracy. As if those men and women who stormed their way in did so – without weapons – with the intent of taking over the government. And I assume the guy in the Viking garb was to be installed dictatorially as our new leader.
Hyperbole much?
Now, have whatever opinion you want on the matter. I happen to think it was a dumb move on everyone involved, especially in the age in which everything is recorded via phone cameras. The people who have been and will be arrested should have certainly expected it.
And what did it get them ultimately? The popular narrative in the media rehashes the “Bad Orange Man cult and its racist members” narrative. Biden will still be installed as the president on January 20. Trump will spend the rest of his life in Mar a Lago. So where’s the upside? What was it all for? Again, dumb move.
Regardless, this wasn’t an insurrection, revolt, or coup de tat as it’s being portrayed by the corporate press and those on the Left (but I repeat myself). It was a bunch of people caught up in a moment and let it get out of hand.
As mentioned above, the narrative that’s being touted everywhere was predictable. Despite all the talk of healing and unity, the Left-leaning institutions are ready to classify all 71 million Trump voters as irredeemable racist cultists. That’s who they have to live with, and I suspect that the now Democrat-controlled federal government will take steps to marginalize these folks as an act of retribution. That may be hyperbolic, but their rhetoric certainly doesn’t have the undertone of unity.
It’s already begun, not at the federal level, but by one of the DNC’s private-sector arms: big tech. Google and Apple either have or are warning that they will remove Parler – a Twitter-esque social media app popular with right-wing folks – if those who run it don’t begin censoring some of the content published by its members.
In addition, President Trump’s accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. have been permanently deleted. As well, many prominent right-wing voices have received the same penalties. As an anarchist, I truly believe that private companies should be allowed to do what they wish in regard to their platforms.
But let’s discuss “unity” and the behaviors it would take to achieve it, if that’s really the intent of the stated goal.
If those who run these platforms were truly interested in unifying the country, Facebook would create Conservative Facebook, Twitter would create Anything Goes Twitter – versions of their platforms in which people can express their views freely. Not ban people with whom they disagree under the guise of “safety” or promoting potentially violent rhetoric.
Now let’s say that all 71 million people who voted for Trump are actually these terrible racist cult members as they’re currently being portrayed. Those on the Left have to learn to live with them. If they think silencing them or taking away their ability to communicate will make them go away, make them see the light, or neutralize them, they’re really dangerously oblivious.
Right now, the best thing we can do is make it easier to let people voice their frustration. Because if they can’t type or make mouth sounds to do so, it can only manifest in violence.
They’re private companies, yes. But everyone on both sides of the aisle should be calling them out on this if we want to see a genuine effort at unity.
And let’s be honest: the only reason those on the Left won’t is because they know they’re not the ones who will be silenced.
So with what are we left? More contempt from both the Right and the Left? More animosity as voices are suppressed? More inevitable violence as a result?
How about this – we stop sharing one political system that isn’t and cannot possibly meet the needs of 330 million people with AT LEAST two divergent and irreconcilable cultures. Then neither side can live in societies based on the principles they hold, and they need never worry about the political participation of those of whom they cannot stomach the sight without wretching or becoming instinctively angry.
The election of Joe Biden will not bring the country together. It will get worse, guaranteed. Let’s take the steps to avoid that and begin the process of peaceful separation. The logic in this will become more evident as Americans grow wearier of fighting with whom they perceive as mortal enemies. Until then, how many more will become more disenfranchised? How many more incidents of violence will occur? How many more people will die as a result of supporting a political institution that cares not one iota about them?
Enough is enough. Let’s hasten the day when we wish each other the best life possible and go our separate ways.
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