05-15-2023, 12:53 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-15-2023, 12:53 PM by danbrotherston.)
(05-15-2023, 11:22 AM)dtkmelissa Wrote: While this is about a specific (American) incident, I think the overall points in the article addressed well much of what's being discussed in this thread - for those interested in reading: https://darrellowens.substack.com/p/ment...essness-on
It's a good article, and really covers the main issues.
I think my biggest take away from the incident was that the specific incident is not that illustrative...random "killings" happen from time to time, we can't for sure know the motivations of the man, and the jury should be tasked with that job.
What IS illustrative about the incident is the media and political response. Where a significant portion of the US punditry and political class are arguing that killing someone (intentionally or not) is a perfectly acceptable response to a disruptive "other" person. This attitude is the most dangerous thing the GOP has been doing, and it's not a new thing. From the various states which have legalized stand your ground murders, intentionally driving your car through protestors, driving a heavily armed teenager to murder people at a protest, the GOP is increasingly sanctioning killing people, and that is the first (or maybe, second, or third) step to genocide/fascism.
It's been said before, but it's worth saying again...Americans who wonder how they would have acted in 1930s Germany...they have their answer. Americans need to be at the polls, but also in the streets. The GOP bringing them moderate prosperity cannot be enough to placate the people, or we will live through truly dark times.