The White Privilege to Terrorize

[babylonsister]

https://johnpavlovitz.com/2020/05/01/the-white-privilege-to-terrorize/

The White Privilege to Terrorize
May 1, 2020 / John Pavlovitz


As a white man watching the Michigan protests of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home orders, all I could think was:

Black people don’t get to do this.
Muslims don’t get to do this.
Latinos don’t get to do this.
People who don’t look like this don’t get to do this.

They don’t get to swarm American capitol buildings in tactical gear with high-powered weapons, screaming in close proximity to police officers.
They don’t get to dress up like Call of Duty cosplayers and attempt to physically intimidate politicians into bending to their wills.
They don’t get to get to stop traffic in city streets decked out like they work at the Death Star and brazenly wield semi-automatic rifles.
They don’t get to terrorize decent people and walk away.

Only white people get to do this.

This violence is a singular privilege afforded to caucasian men in America.

snip//

This is MAGA America in its dawning renaissance of outward racism, showing us what is at stake as we approach another election. We aren’t just choosing a president or party to steward us through the coming years, we’re making a statement on what we will and will not tolerate as a people.

What we witnessed in Michigan was an act of terrorism, by the very definition of the word. We have seen many such acts this week, and if November allows this malevolence another four years, they will seem tame. The self-appointed soldiers in the army of the lord will grow more brazen and become more violent in their holy war to make America whiter—so decent white people need to resist them in the streets, on social media, and at the polls.

I fully suspect people of color will oppose this presidency in large numbers, because they see the disparity.

What I hope and pray, is that more white people, especially those who claim to be Christian, will also stand to reject the supremacy and racism that yields such willful homegrown terrorism; that we will use the unearned currency of our privilege to declare this violence un-American and inhuman and unacceptable.

White terrorists can no longer have a friend in the White House—not if we really want to make America great.

[unblock]

1. hitler's sa and ss threatened the opposition in the reichstag as they voted on the enabling act

allowing armed people to threaten and intimidate politicians in a legislature is extraordinarily dangerous to our democracy.

no one should have this privilege. i agree with your point that no one other than white people (in fact, right-wing white people) would be allowed to get away with this crap, but *no one* should be able to do this.

elected politicians conducting official business while unknown angry, heavily armed people shout at them from the high ground?

that's crazy. if i were in the legislature, i would make parliamentary points of order until my face was blue to have the area cleared before any further business was conducted.

[Laelth]

2. k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t

-Laelth

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Bingo!

Pavlovitz nailed it.

[Jamastiene]

4. Why are more people not outraged that they can get away with

being heavily ARMED while protesting at government buildings? Meanwhile black kids, minding their own business most of the time, WHILE UNARMED, get shot dead every time we turn around?

Cops are really RELAXED around ARMED WHITE right wingers and get OVERLY PARANOID and TRIGGER HAPPY around any UNARMED BLACK people. It is glaringly obvious. Once you notice/see it, you cannot unnoticed it or unsee it.

We need to demand that cops are put through training to learn not to be that way. Until they learn to see their own behavior and see how wrong it is, nothing will ever change. Nobody wants to see cops as less than heroes, but a lot of times, they are just plain not heroes. A lot of times, they are less than heroes, either by shooting some unarmed black kid and getting away with it or by being part of the organization (all the rest of the cops) that "investigates" itself and finds itself not guilty of any wrongdoing.

There needs to be an outside investigative group to investigate cops when cops kill unarmed black people and those doing that investigating need to be kept away from the police and especially away from police culture, so they are not assimilated into it to become corrupt too. That is the key to it too. Keep them away from police culture so they do not become too chummy with the racist police culture. That is a big part of the problem right now. Once any outside group becomes too chummy with racist police culture, they become just like them and are less likely to be unbiased when they do investigate. They need to be kept away normally, to stay unbiased.

Who am I kidding? Something that logical and unbiased having control over out of control racist cops will never happen in America. Let's face it. Americans don't want it bad enough or it would already be happening. Americans need to want it bad enough.

[old guy]

5. Follow the trail back to the Bundy clan.

They got away free and clear and have been an inspiration to others. It will continue and people will die.

[calimary]

18. I look at those goons with their big ol' bad-ass guns (hmmm... somebody overcompensating?)

and I find myself immediately wondering "what could possibly go wrong?"

What could possibly go wrong? And with hotheads like these, yelling, screaming, shouting, working VERY hard to intimidate and bully (as in, bully the governor AND those they see as contrary state legislators), brandishing all these military-style assault weapons, and turning the heat up all around them, emotionally, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

[llashram]

6. 21st century

trump brownshirts terrorizing the populace to begin to try to cow us into obedience to their fuhrer. Hitler did the same thing with Rohm's brownshirts. I wonder if trump still has as one of his heroes, hitler? Christians have already been cowed by their obedience to their preachers and pastors telling them that god put trump in the office to turn back the clock to the "good old days".

As long a trump is in office, the klan and every other group of white supremacists/terrorists will have a good friend in the current occupant(s) of the WH.

You could not be more right and my unease is growing exponentially with every 'incident' such as these.

[wnylib]

14. Please be careful about sweeping generalizations

and more specific about WHICH Christians are "cowed by their preachers and pastors that god put Trump in office."

I am white. My pastor has NEVER so much as implied such nonsense and has encouraged people to take a stand against such attitudes. I would not be in that church if it was any other way there.

Also, there are many black Americans and other minorities who are Christian who certainly do not buy into the ignorance of RW extremism andv
terrorism.

[llashram]

23. no generalizations here

I was a devout Christian for 20 years. Involved in a church for 5 of those years until the racism of American Christianity hit me square in the face. After that incident which resulted in my leaving organized American Christianity, I researched American denominations of Christian from the founding of the country of America in 1776. I am glad I left the hypocrisy and lies. You can believe what you will, so shall I. The American Christian experience in many a mainstream denominations made me sad. Especially the Southern Baptist denomination. And now we have trump who many Christians have embraced.

[wnylib]

27. It's clear from what you say that

you had a life changing experience due to racism, and you were and are entitled to make your own choices and decisions about it.

Racism certainly does exist in Christian churches in America, as in most aspects of American life. As Reverend Dr. King said, Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America.

Rev. King was a Christian. I don't believe that he was racist.

As a woman, I have encountered appalling sexism and misogyny in some church members, but not all. Sometimes an entire congregation or denomination is misogynistic. Others take a strong stand against misogyny.

I have seen examples of implicit or unconscious racial bias in "mainstream" white church members. But I have also seen mainstream white churches invite people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds to conduct workshops regarding race relations and the need for whites to face their own implicit biases. I have been a guest at a black church's study program on the US constitution, with a black friend of mine. They welcomed me warmly. There was no racism there at that meeting. Not overt, at least, i know people in my own church and in other churches who work actively in the community on behalf of civil and human rights and equality, and to overcome systemic racism.

I notice that you qualified your view in your last sentence, saying "many Christians" instead of "all."

I wonder how so many Dems here at DU, who write off all Christians as a racist, negative, harmful force in the US, are also strong supporters and admirers of Christian political leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Andrew Cuomo.

That's why I say that it's a sweeping generalization to call all Christians racist, bigoted, brain-washed Trump supporters.

I have some familiarity with the history of Christianity in America regarding race and ethnicity. I know about colonial white Christians using their own interpretations of religious teachings and principles to justify enslavement of Africans and Native Americans, and to slaughter whole villages of Native Americans, including women and children. This was in New England as much as in the Southern colonies and later states.

I am aware of what forced assimilation boarding schools did to Native American children, and that most of those schools were run by various Christian denominations.

I also know that it was Christian churches, led first by Quakers, who opposed slavery, spread the abolotionist movement, and played a role in the underground
railroad. I know that there were numerous Christian churches in New England that took a stand against President Andrew Jackson when he defied a SCOTUS ruling and forced the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chicasaw, Seminole, and Creek people to leave their homes and territories to walk the Trail of Tears to "Indian Territory." It was churches that protested and tried to stop Jackson.

Some of my own ancestors participated in some of those events - from both sides - which is why I became aware of them and learned more about them.

[llashram]

28. I am never

going to say ALL of any race, religious denomination, gender are good or bad. I have met both sides and many left me empty. I am sceptical of all since my research has shown me a vast majority know of the ills of this culture and some try to change these ills. Yet many, many will not rock the boat out of fear of losing what they have. I got mine and Damn everyone else is their motto. Treating the least of us....as you would...etc, etc I know you have read. Greed coupled with the ability of the rich and powerful to manipulate the malleable with religion as one of their tools to spread and maintain racism, bigotry and misogyny has kept this nation always on the verge of Civil War II. And with Trump, we are now closer than ever and among a few very important reason we have Trump is because of religious leaders of mainstream denominations pushed him upon us as God's choice. What a blathering lie.

I have studied all you mentioned and wholeheartedly agree with your example(s)

As I said you have what you know and believe as true of the American Christian experience and I have what I know as having experienced and seen in my American Christian experience.

Being an American has taught me powerful lessons on greed, hypocrisy and the ability to see Americans in a very revealing light.

[wnylib]

29. When you say that "mainstream" Christian

leaders pushed Trump on the American people through their churches, I wonder which churches you consider mainstream. There are liberal, moderate, conservative, and fundamentalist extremists in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. You will even find those group divisions within one Christian denomination, which is why there are splinter groups in most denominations.

To me, mainstream Christian denominations in America are: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal. I grew up in one of those and am now a member of another one. Four of those denominations have some very conservative branches, but the progressive ones are the largest and main group.

I have listened to sermons that called upon members to take action on behalf of the asylum seekers at the southern border and the people detained in US concentration camps. They did not mention politics or parties, just compassion and moral responsibility to take a stand on behalf of fellow human beings. After some well known fundie clergy made bigoted public comments, I heard a sermon in which the pastor said he was proud to be part of a faith group that has compassion for women seeking abortion, and cares enough about social and racial inequality to take action on behalf of the dignity and rights of all people. The sermon got lengthy applause, right in the middle of the service.

That denomination was part America's history of slavery and attacks on Native Americans in the 1600s and early 1700s. They were also part of the abolitionist movement in the 1800s. Today they have a national network of programs, funds, attorneys, and other professionals to promote human rights and dignity. Times change, and so do the people.

I am not proselytizing. IMO, people are free to believe or disbelieve what they want. My own beliefs are far more metaphorical than literal. I am only pointing out that there are religious organizations, even Christian mainstream ones, that are not only NOT part of Trumpism, but that actively promote and live other values.

[llashram]

30. okay

[dalton99a]

7. Kick

[gratuitous]

8. This is very true

Be sure, when discussing this, that you use the proper words: terrorists; violence; subverting the will of the people; violence and threats to overturn election results they don't like; outlaws; and vigilantes.

This isn't a disagreement or an exchange of differing viewpoints. This is terrorism by a minority faction to get its way through violence when they couldn't prevail by popular vote.

[wnylib]

17. You are absolutely correct.

No soft-peddling euphemisms. Call it what it is. Terrorism, subversion, attempted coup by RW terrorists.

Remember, American terrorists Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh were connected to Michigan militias.

[Yavin4]

9. Black people can't even take a knee during the national anthem at a football game

without getting death threats.

[58Sunliner]

10. I hate these people. I know they are not good in any sense of the word.

White liberals/women don't do this either. Just think if the women's march had showed up in army fatigues with guns.

[lunatica]

19. There are women in this group of rioting terrorists

and children were there too. All of them White and Trump followers. They shouldn’t be let off the hook. The women know what they’re doing and are willing participants.

[58Sunliner]

25. No they shouldn't. If I had my way I'd fine them for exposing their kids.

If they were not arrested for terrorism. My point still stands, if this was how the participants of the women's march showed up, they would have screamed to high heaven. Every march I have ever attended has to worry about the police, no matter what your skin color, if you are protesting and are not right-wing/conservative. Being white doesn't give you a pass on not being assaulted by the police, or having the police look the other way if the other side does. I have seen it too many times. Law enforcement has a lot to answer for. These people are using the flag for home grown terrorism. I am talking about protests, not community policing violence.

[iluvtennis]

11. Well said. nt

[DENVERPOPS]

12. Great commentary Pavlovitz

The first thing I noticed in all of these MAGA demonstrations was the inaction of the Police..........

THAT and THAT ALONE, is the most frightening part.........

I think it would absolutely stun the nation if there was a poll of police across the nation, on which side the majority of them are on....

Ditto with the people in the military........

The military leaders, in allowing Trump to Pardon the convicted Navy Seal was a travesty of justice........same with demoting the commander of the aircraft carrier for trying to do what was best for the sailors aboard his ship.......

[marieo1]

13. STAND UP AMERICA!!!

I live in northern Minnesota and I am appalled these creeps get away with this. I am shocked and dismayed. I thought policemen and cops were there to protect

all of us but apparently that is not so anymore. Donald Trump and the NRA is behind all of this. DJT should be immediately jailed and sent to prison for creating

riots, terriorists and people (DJT included) that are trying to subvert our government. STAND UP AMERICA!!! DJT has given permission to these pukes to harass

the governor of Michigan because DJT has harassed her. Git rid of DJT and his ilk.

[PennyK]

15. These armed terrorists storming a state Capitol building

Would they have insisted on their right to go swimming in public pools before we got polio vaccine?

[ZenDem]

16. It's fear of the 2nd Amendment

Look at how easily people are tear gassed, shot with rubber bullets, arrested...killed...for exercising their 1st Amendment rights. Unarmed, peacefully protesting, maybe some raised voices. Yes, yelling is a threat, I guess.

Now...look at all of the protests where these insecure, paranoid, white assholes are playing soldier. Screaming inches from the faces of cops, clinging to their guns, rifles, knives and not one raised finger. Not one threat of arrest.

Why the fuck is this happening? Because yelling and unarmed protests don't have lobbyists as powerful as these assholes. The 2nd Amendment is a money maker. We don't dare try to infringe on THEIR rights. Fucking snowflakes couldn't win a battle with a three-legged kitten unless they were armed.

Thanks for the article, babylonsister! You pissed me off.

[wnylib]

20. Nobody has mentioned something

that seems obvious to me.

Trump and his enablers would love to see these protests turn violent. It would give him an excuse to proclaim an emergency in Michigan to justify using armed troops to "protect" protesters and their 1st and 2nd amendment rights. Arrests would further paint the MI governor as heavy-handed, dictatorial, and a threat to personal liberties if these terrorists were arrested.

Attempts to arrest the terrorists would be resisted violently by them. They would become heroes of the extreme right and a rallying cry for violent resistance to "liberal dictators."

The terrorists would love to be arrested, so they can start a violent revolution through their resistance.

[ananda]

21. I don't understand why this is tolerated.

I just don't get it.

[Celerity]

22. normalcy bias nt

[Martin Eden]

24. Pavlovitz rocks!

Always worth a read.

[ck4829]

26. K&R