On Riots And Unrest

I wasn't going to write about this subject, but I have to share my thoughts. 

As any American should be, I am appalled and disgusted by what happened to George Floyd, a man who lost his life due to police brutality.  No matter what race you are, nobody deserves to be treated like that; no one needs to have their life snuffed out in such a way.  This is an event that didn't have to happen. 

Having said that, it sickens me to watch what's happening on the streets of America.  Yes, what happened to Mr. Floyd is unquestionably wrong; but "two wrongs don't make a right".  These riots are violence for the sake of violence, and destruction for the sake of destruction.  We know, or should know, better. 

The problems confronting us cannot be solved by threatening the lives and businesses of others; they can only be made into bigger problems.  And to paraphrase Sean Connery in "The Rock", I don't quite see how you honor the dead by killing more (Note 1) .  Rioters, it's time for you to GO HOME. 

(RADIO ANNOUNCER: Now we come to the portion of the piece where Matty B gets political.  This is a trigger warning! If you are easily offended or angered, take cover in your "safe space" now!)

Well done, Mr. Radio Announcer, thank you. 

Ahem. 

Sickened as I am by what's going on, I can't help thinking about what's led up to this chaos and destruction.  You see, it is what the radical left has wanted all along.  This is no longer about George Floyd; it's about tearing down a system with which the left disagrees, and doing so by force. 

For those of you shaking your heads right now, let's review the last year or so, shall we?

First, the left and their cohorts in the media told us that Russian influence decided the 2016 election.  For month upon month, all we heard from them was "Russia this, Russia that".  Radicals on the Democratic side advanced a campaign of intimidation; basically, agree with them or you will be silenced, "by any means necessary". 

Then, when some started to question their motivations, the left tried a new tactic; push to impeach a lawfully elected president.  This resulted in an impeachment trial before the United States Senate, even when witness after witness said they knew of no evidence suggesting any wrongdoing by President Trump.  Thankfully, the Senate did the right thing, and dismissed the BS charges.  Isn't that when Democrats first warned of "blood in the streets" if they didn't get their way? (Yes, it was)

That brings us into March of this year.  With the failure of the impeachment trial to produce their desired result, the left had to come up with something new.  Although I'm not saying that they directly caused this to happen, what rears its ugly head, so to speak? We must be talking about COVID-19! In the ensuing months, we have seen the onset of panic, authoritarianism, and disruption of almost every facet of American life.  "Never let a crisis go to waste", right, Rahm Emanuel? (Note 2)

Now, we reach the present day.  The crisis over the coronavirus has reached its peak.  America is beginning the process of re-opening and recovering.  So...."fourth verse, same as the first".  What's the plan this time, do you ask? Violence, and actual "blood in the streets".  

I won't mince words here.  These protests may have started out peacefully, but they are no longer peaceful.  The riots that we see aren't even about George Floyd anymore.  They are about the radical socialist left, and their fervent desire to take down the capitalist system (and its government) by use of terror and violence.  Race has nothing to do with it, economic condition has nothing to do with it, JUSTICE has nothing to do with it. 

The only thing that matters (to them) is that the left take advantage of their opportunity to finally reach their goal, which is to remake America in their twisted, Socialist image. 

It doesn't have to be this way.  Whether Democrat or Republican, Socialist or Conservative...if you want change, seek it at the ballot box, and through serving your community. 

As the Mayor of Atlanta exclaimed, "we are better than this". 


Note 1: Quote paraphrased from Sean Connery in "The Rock", Hollywood Pictures, 1996.  Director: Michael Bay. 

Note 2: Rahm Emanuel is a former Chief of Staff for Barack Obama.  He later served as a mayor of Chicago.