VIOLENT RHETORIC

 Here's what is setting me off today: A few days ago a New Hampshire legislator tweeted “Public Service Announcement: if you see a BLM sign on a lawn it’s the same as having the porch light on for Halloween. You’re free to loot and burn that house.”  (AP wire, 9/7/2020) The same day I saw a headline from Arizona about an armed militia man saying it was "open season" on blacks.  These are not "one-off" remarks.  This is the cult of Trump supporters.  

It is bad enough to have trolls attack you on Facebook or Twitter if any slight is given to the president or the Republican Party.  That has been going on for years.  It is escalating to actual physical altercations.  At the same time I'm seeing reports (from legitimate news sources) of sheriffs and other police officers opting not to enforce laws they disagree with.  This can't end well.

Switching to a separate but related topic, peaceful protests.  Usually, a gathering of protesters is observed by police, ostensibly to protect them, or others, should some law-breaking occur.  That becomes somewhat strained if the protest is against the police.  It is incumbent upon the organizers to maintain a peaceful and lawful demeanor.  They have got to recognize that their group will be infiltrated with those intent upon violent confrontation and they need to have a plan to stop it.  Obviously, that is not happening.  Likewise, they will have counter-protesters.  If BLM is to succeed, they need to follow the example of MLK.  And as for those intent upon burning and looting, lock 'em up.