There have been so many right wing uprisings since 2017 it’s tough
to remember which was which. But this week, a jury in Charlottesville, Virginia
helped jog our memories. It awarded $25 million to victims of the deadly “Unite
the Right” riot back then.
Not that anyone will collect any money. Even if the
penalty withstands the inevitable challenges, the organizers are basically …
net-worthless. And at least one of them is doing time for a prior but similar
crime.
The news reports use the word “unrelated.” Technically and
legally, the word is correct. But in a broader sense, all these things are
related.
There’s thislittle difference between Charlottesville and DC ⅙, the Arbery case, the Rittenhouse case, and dozens or maybe
hundreds or maybe thousands of similar events, large and small. And the
differences are one of scale, not differences in basic ideas.
Enlarge the view and you find plenty of similar
circumstances. When did we get the idea that physical violence solves
problems? Probably before the stone age. But the Flintstones didn’t have
the technology of The Jetsons. Or the social media. So, today’s
bloodshed is just an evolution of something older than history.
You have to wonder what it would have been like had Facebook
been available in the earliest of early days.
Imagine NOAH live streaming The Weather Channel. “Guys, this
ship is about to sail.” Or at the very least posted an event invitation:
“Worldwide flood coming. Check one of the following:” “I’ll be there,”
“considering,” and “I won’t attend.”
How about Twitter: “The British are Coming.” Or if you
turned off your ad blocker and the first popup was for white hoods and sheets
on “on sale at Gimbels.”
What if you could buy a .38 on Craigslist?
Put the right tools in the wrong hands and history would not
be what it was. Oh, sure there would still be clashes. One in
Charlottesville would be seen in how-to’s on YouTube or cable news reports in
Newtown, CT and the airports in Gaza and Somalia.
Most of us aren’t inspired individually at birth to join
mass pillaging. It takes a village. And a camera or a podcast.
About that 25-million dollar fine in Charlottesville… the
court case is only the beginning. This- all is bound to wind its way up
the chain of appeals courts.
GRAPESHOT:
--Happy Thanksgiving Day from the staff and management of Wessays.
™
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome
to them. ®
Any Questions? wesrichards@gmail.com
© WR 2021
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