One good thing — I guess — about the current situation (I mean the widespread violence, not the COVID-19 pandemic) is that it has a lot of people paying attention to the news. But even good things can be carried too far.
Around 5:30 Monday, I get a text from my close friend, a liberal, who usually monitors CNN for word that Dr. Anthony Fauci has been fired. He has been hoping that would happen for weeks so he would have something else to hate President Donald J. Trump for. Every time there was a briefing without Fauci, he was sure he was “gone.” Being wrong never stopped him.
Monday, he was panicked because, I am quoting, “Trump just brought in 9 trucks full of national guard to WH grounds.”
I replied, “Cool. Some bad actors there,” meaning surrounding the White House. Fires had been set the previous night, one in St. John’s Church, one in AFL/CIO headquarters.
He said, “Not cool. Soldiers on grounds of WH. Crazy. He is escalating things, not defusing them.”
My reply was to send him the above picture I had taken a few hours earlier at City Hall. “Strength deters violence,” I wrote. The Pennsylvania National Guard was supplementing Philly cops. A number of other cities have called in the guard as a preventative measure.
“This isn’t Russia,” he wrote.
“That is moronic,” I replied. “Need to see the fires the anarchists set? Wake up. We are under attack.” As I write that, it seems hysterical. But is it correct?
That conversation seems to summarize the difference from the left and the right.
Around 5:40 p.m., the city announced a curfew beginning at 6 p.m., even while several hundred protestors were moving down the Parkway toward City Hall. Clearly, they will be in violation.
In mid-afternoon Terrence Floyd, George’s brother, went on TV to say rioters and looters are not acting in his dead brother’s name, that he was peaceful, and those promoting violence are doing great harm.
There are three elements to this. There are the protestors, those acting peacefully in the name of George Floyd and racial justice, such as those above.
Then there are the special interests among them, those hoping to foment trouble, those spitting on and provoking the police, throwing bottles, rocks and fireworks. I fear firearms will be next.
Then there are the looters, who are acting not on conscience, but on avarice.
The first group deserves our support, up until they violate the curfew. After that, if peaceful, they should be gently taken into custody, or softly moved off the streets.
The other two — those using violence, arson and/or looting — must be dealt with swiftly and severely. The “don’t escalate” philosophy used that first night in Minneapolis failed and encouraged more violence the following night. It emboldened them.
As to troops, national guard or active duty, it has been done before, more than once. Perhaps the most shocking in memory was President Dwight Eisenhower sending the 101st Airborne to Little Rock, AR., to enforce integration orders.
In 1992, federal troops were sent to Los Angeles during the massive riots following the Rodney King beating. King appealed to those who claimed to support him, to no avail, to stop the violence.
My liberal friend couldn’t stand that Trump called for troops.
“You’d prefer surrendering the streets to the mob?,” I asked him.
That’s pretty much where it ended, with the curfew in effect, and the sound of sirens outside my Center City windows.
This isn’t Russia. Is it still America?
Stu,
In answer to your question, It’s MAGA. My question is, as Tony might say, Are you coming out from the “dark side?” 😁 We hear your voice, now we need your vote.
Great piece!
Tom
HAPPY MONDAY !!!
people !
As Tony would argue,Come on over ! The dark side has done far too much damage ! Will the public ever wake up to the obvious ? You just can not keep blaming everything on our President . At some point, common sense should come back to the masses. We don’t deserve to live like this. We are better than this. Come over from the dark side .
stay well,
VOTE !
Tony
Stu, your liberal friend fits the saying, “Never right but always certain.”
That is funny, but he is not even certain. His mind is open a crack.
The gods must be on Trump’s side. I expect his poll numbers will rise a few points.
Agree
Your liberal friend would not be too happy if the store that belonged to him was looted. He would not be too happy if the neighborhood he lived in was destroyed He would not be too happy if he was beaten to within an inch of life
If this were ‘like Russia,’ the rioting and looting would have been over in hours and hundreds would be lying dead in the streets. And the demands of black leaders for more supermarkets to serve the black community ring tragically hollow now that the Shop Rite at 52nd street has been trashed and looted. Do you think there will be a rush by Acme or Giant or others to open a store in a war zone?
He would not be happy, but he would “understand” if he were beaten by a black guy.
A white guy? He’d kick his ass. He used to go into bars to pick fights with longshoremen — for fun.
first, I like your photo. It is dramatic. (Reminds me of the British in the then Palestine.) Then, what is the banner “I love trans POC?”
Stu, did you smell the smoke last night?? I went out this afternoon to see our neighborhood. Even the shoemaker and the pharmacist were broken into. What did they need the poor shoemaker? did you know that our convinces store was broken into.? I am sur you will find out who is behind these acts. Keep in touch. and stay safe. regards, sad bella.
The sign mean I love transgender people of color. It is irrelevant. Stay safe.
Stu, great read when do our democrat leaders take blame. Also can you get a question answered that no one asked I would love to see the permits that were filed for the protest As a member of a mummers club we are charged for police presence on 2st I wanted to know who was paying for the police here thanks buddy keep up the great work
I doubt they got permits. They just “showed up.” Had they asked, they would have received.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Stu,
I suspect that “liberal” is the wrong term for the friends of the neo-liberal, media dogmas of unlimited admiration for “diversity” and the unlimited protection of officially recognized victimhood. Our convictions opposing the excesses of the use of force by the police are supposed to justify any and all means of “protest”? –It seems that rioters and looters are to enjoy the status of protesters? Diversity is indeed a good thing, but it is not an absolute good so that more of it is always better.
Justice is in fact a product of civilization, and that is good reason to defend our civilized life together first off –even when this requires the Governors sending in the National Guard. They would have neglected their public duties by not doing so.
I recall often seeing a few police officers positioned on Chestnut Street near 15th. This was a noted location of minor disorders and rowdy “flash mobs.” If they had been there in recent days, then the looting in Center City might never have got started –or spread from there to the neighborhoods. Once the riotous looting generalized, then, of course the police needed backing from the PA National Guard.
Apparently looting of the Da Bruno store in Center City was prevented by the owners simply standing outside the broken windows protecting it. Your picture of the PA National Guard around City Hall is equally appealing. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
There is no justice in rioting and looting. We cannot defend the rule of law by allowing or sympathizing with mob defiance of it. Our ground for opposing murderous excesses of policing is included in the defense of the rule of law.
H.G. Callaway
I used liberal for my friend because he is 80 and slightly too sane to be a progressive.
Avarice is too fancy a word to describe looters.
Indubitably. (Or, OK)
Listening to KYW radio this morning, it was apparent the station goes out of its way to avoid the words ‘rioters’ and ‘looters.’ Strange to hear these criminals being called agitators, demonstrators, marchers, extremists, etc. It is especially funny when the local TV stations (3, 6, 10) use the same words even as their cameras show thieves running out of trashed and looted stores. I guess it’s all part of the dumbing-down of the English language. Or the dumbing-down of the American public.
It is the strange idea of some journalists to note “take sides.” Next word to be banished will be “criminal.” They already got rid of “illegal.”
Question for STU or a Stu reader
How is it these rioters always seem to find bricks in the street to throw at windows.
I have walked many miles thru Philly and have never seen a brick laying in the street.
Does soros get the bricks wholesale?
They bring them.
I don’t think so.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/06/01/whats-the-real-story-with-random-piles-of-bricks-appearing-in-cities-where-riots-are-raging-928682
Very interesting but inconclusive.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/06/must-see-exclusive-mysterious-stacks-bricks-delivered-numerous-us-cities-evidence-riots-organized/
POI…In my day, late 60’s, we built a pipe or wood A-frame on top of the pumpers hosebed, then threw a large heavy tarp over it, tied it down, in effect a tent with a flap. When we had a run we stood on the pumpers back step, as usual, and if shit started flying, we would crawl up under this makeshift tent for protection. It worked for bricks I remember. Never was shot at. They don’t ride the backstep anymore, enclosed side door. Can’t remember what Ladder trucks did?
Some pumpers and Ladder trucks were so old they’re cabs were completely open and they would wood frame them to protect to a degree both driver and officer. Bach then we made our own maps, too. City didnt. Happy they care more about the firefighters now!
Although I believe they were shot at by MOVE.
Tom
One other thing I’m sure you all would agree with……this is not about George Floyd!
George’s own brother said that and condemned the violence.
I remember the ‘60s when firefighters were shot at in NYC. A frame smart idea.
Back then, my father-in-law was FDNY lt. He told stories that curled my hair.
Nice play on words!
Met many NY FFers in Fl. One guy and his wife were married 76 yrs, he was 97. Pulling out from a shopping center on to a major highway he was broadsided. He died instantly, his wife a day later.