I found that a tremendous number of the observations in this post by Coleman Hughes in City Journal resonated with me. By all means read the whole thing but consider this remark:
Combine all three of these observations [ed. the three factors in the title above] and one arrives at a grim conclusion: as long as we have a non-zero rate of deadly shootings (a virtual certainty), and as long as some shootings are filmed and go viral (also a virtual certainty), then we may live in perpetual fear of urban unrest for the foreseeable future.
Sadly, I think he’s missing one factor: incentives. The incentives actually push in the direction of perpetual fear of urban unrest.
I truly commend Mr Hughes’ consolidated recitation of perspectives and facts that I think a number of us already know from various sources. I’m reminded in particular of the comment I made on these very pages that the whole rioting scheme was based upon a lie. And of a certain doctor’s snark that white shootings never happen, to which I could only shake my head and retort, “comedic relief.”
But I think Mr Hughes totally whiffs on the elephant in the room.
I don’t know “those on the Right” who deny that police have bad actors, and that an effort to redress this is needed. I do know “those on the Right” who reject the current repugnant narrative about systemic racism in policing, so well debunked by Mr Hughes.
I also don’t know “those on the Left,” well, Democrats in general, who believe in the same narrative. Yes, policing, like any profession, requires updating in practices and quality control. Tell us something we didn’t know.
However, I do know the far left. And Mr Hughes swings and totally misses. Both Antifa and Black Lives Matter are fundamentally anti-capitalist organizations who intentionally seize upon the racism theme to foment social discord for their real objectives. It takes very, very little research to discover this. Its in the how-to manual for Christ sake. Its taught in academia. Its the plan.
I wonder how Mr Hughes could write a nice piece but tip-toe around the elephant dung.
Coleman Hughes is an intelligent, intelligent, and well-spoken young commentator whose posts at Quillette and other blogs I have read. But he simply cannot admit to himself or anybody else that his initial support for BLM is not just wrong but dreadfully wrong, that it is an organization that was always dedicated to grifting and violence for the sake of societal overthrow. Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray could never ever be his brother or father or son.
He also makes the mistake of assuming legal gun ownership or lack thereof affects policing. It is the illegally acquired guns that are being used to do the majority of the shootings, not the legally. Legal gun owners are very much aware how so many on the left want to eliminate the 2nd Amendment, and go at great lengths to give the left as small a target as possible. Witness the total lack of violence at the 2A protest in Virginia some months ago.
It was nice of him to explicitly acknowledge that we do have systemic racism among the police. As he notes police are more likely to beat up black people that white. For conservatives that doesnt count, but if you are the one being beaten I think it matters a lot. It is nice that he believes there is no difference in the rate of shootings, but you need to use a specific statistical method which has major flaws to reach that conclusion. We should also acknowledge that since police dont have to report a lot of their killings we can be sure our data is accurate.
“Its the plan.”
Absolutely. No one would ever get upset enough about being shot and beaten up enough to protest. Must be some other motive. Must be why ever 20 years or so we have major race riots. Those Antifa have been around a long time. Why, someday you might even find one.
“Legal gun owners are very much aware how so many on the left want to eliminate the 2nd Amendment”
There has never been a serious, even half serious attempt to eliminate the 2nd Amendment, but the NRA and the gun manufacturers of the world thank you for spreading this false idea.
Steve
Guns are easy to get.
Does anyone really think that Rayshard Brooks was trying to get the officers TAZER?
He went from cooperative to violent in a split second.
If I were a cop I’d resign yesterday.
While Drew cant find any Antifa, we do have a report of a far right killer. Note this is from the Air Force Times.
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/06/16/air-force-sergeant-charged-in-killing-of-federal-officer-in-california/
Steve