No wooden reading of a script here:
https://youtu.be/YA8M13AEYr0
Unlike you and unlike the media, before I make a statement I like to know the facts.
—Donald J. Trump
How many people do you think believe that? I think Trump does, and I think he is being sincere in this press conference. He’s trying to say what he believes rather than playing to his base. The Wall Street Journal once argued Trump doesn’t lie because at any given moment he believes what he says and lying implies an intent to deceive. I think his saying he likes to know the facts is an example of that.
That said, do you think he has a good point? That there were good people on both sides at Charlottesville? If not there, what do we do when some people want to protest peacefully and others turn the protest violent?
The Seattle Police learned a few years back, during the WTO protests, how to deal with potentially violent protesters. The key seems to be: plan in advance on how to segregate the groups, control weapon use, etc. Look at that picture of Charlottesville’s “good people” with their riot shields. Those are not “good people”; those are people planning to give and receive violence. That was not permitted in Seattle this weekend, and the protest was overall peaceful.
Of course there are “good people” in both groups. To me, that’s not the issue. The Seattle police took it for granted that that was the case and focused their efforts on folks on both sides who came lusting for violence. I also have an opinion on whose opinions I share and respect, yes. And it’s sometimes hard for me to respect “the other side” and their right to peacefully assemble and speak. But I have no problem with limiting violent assembly, I do not confuse that with “free speech”.
That to me is the big issue. Thanks for commenting because I haven’t seen that many articles on how to avoid the violence. Trump is making things worse but hand wringing about him doesn’t solve the problem. I had a lot of trouble finding an article describing exactly what happened in Charlottesville.
I also worry about groups I agree with peacefully protesting and having agitators turning the protests violent, completely discrediting the protest.
I would rather not comment, as I am not an American.
Sounds reasonable to me.
me too
I honestly don’t know what to say. this trend of outspoken violence and insurrection on all sides has me depressed if I let it.
most days I don’t let it. but sometimes it just all becomes too much.
it even leaves me some days wishing I could make rummy’s comment on this post.
we live in such a gun culture now in America. that alone is frightening enough.
you saw the picture of the Nazi guy on the news talking about carrying no less than 5 guns wherever he goes every day … as he threw them on the hotel bed. plus a knife.
ALL of the guns except for the machine gun (AK7) that was in his bag … came off of his own body. he was very proud of all his weapons.
in our state (among many others I’m sure) they are now allowed and some do openly carry guns on our university and college campuses.
THAT is what we should be afraid of. but of course they’re now turning cars into weapons all over the world too. who or what spawned these people?
I just don’t know. but it’s real. and it’s here to stay. until what? it becomes an all-out revolution?
We’re living in a time of upheaval, but so what else is new? One of your favorite authors is Marcus Aurelius, if anything his world was even worse. What would he say?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/art-of-the-deal-donald-trump-resign-us-president-predict-tony-schwartz-a7898526.html
I too have difficulty with this and similar american topics…