Monday, March 29, 2004
Parallel universes
Crosblog's resident agent provocateur, Mithras, points me towards an interesting connection being drawn. Apparently, a rightish blogger named Matt Margolis went to an anti-Bush rally with pro-Bush signs, propaganda, etc. They either behaved professionally or made asses of themselves, depending on who you ask, and as a result, got knocked around by some of the local anti-Bushers. This has swept the blogosphere, with left-wing sites either voicing the unequivocal condemnation that makes you proud to be an American, or engaging in rhetorical gymnastics to try and get across the idea that Matt needed his ass beat without actually saying it. (Most of the ones I've seen opt for the former, God love 'em.)
Then there is the attempt to draw a parallel to a truly horrific event. David Neiwert describes a truly outrageous, unforgiveable act of violence, apparently committed solely because the victim took an online cheap shot at Bush. More details here. Apparently the idea is that the far more severe nature of the second assault proves that right-wingers are more committed to violence, less tolerant of diverse viewpoints, and generally less pleasant people to be around. Two points.
1. There is some question as to whether or not the assault mentioned in the second story even happened. It supposedly occurred in Atlanta, where I live, and there has been nothing about it on the local news broadcasts or in the newspaper. Commentors on the above posts claim to have called the Atlanta Police Department and been told nothing of that sort has been reported. I'll admit, the fact that it hasn't been reported anywhere is odd, but Neiwart is standing by his story for the moment, and is asking for patience while he verifies. I have no reason to doubt his sincerity, so let's proceed on the notion that it happened, exactly as described. I will note that Margolis' story has been reported in the mainstream media.
2. I don't get the connection. First off, the Atlanta assault occurs as a result of a few wingnuts going off on their own. No connection to any group, organization, party, anything. From this we are supposed to draw conclusions about "the right", "conservatives", "Bush supporters", or whoever. Meanwhile, Margolis and company are attacked by people at an organized rally, by actual groups, organizations, parties, etc. From this, we are right-wing Fox News drones if we draw any conclusions whatsoever about "the left", "liberals", "Bush opponents", or whoever. (Snippy remark - I assume it would be OK to draw the conclusion that "It's terrible, the things that awful George Bush makes people do")
The people in Atlanta and the folks in Boston are assholes, to varying degrees. (How big assholes the guys in Boston are to be determined by the amount of damage they would have done if they'd had free reign, the way the guys in Atlanta apparently did. Getting a fight broken up before you have a chance to cripple someone doesn't make you a better person than the guy who actually did cripple someone.) Give the folks in Boston a few months in jail for battery, send the pricks in Atlanta to prison for 20 years for aggravated assault. Neither event has to say anything about any larger movement, unless said larger movement chooses to adopt them.
Which they won't.
Crosblog's resident agent provocateur, Mithras, points me towards an interesting connection being drawn. Apparently, a rightish blogger named Matt Margolis went to an anti-Bush rally with pro-Bush signs, propaganda, etc. They either behaved professionally or made asses of themselves, depending on who you ask, and as a result, got knocked around by some of the local anti-Bushers. This has swept the blogosphere, with left-wing sites either voicing the unequivocal condemnation that makes you proud to be an American, or engaging in rhetorical gymnastics to try and get across the idea that Matt needed his ass beat without actually saying it. (Most of the ones I've seen opt for the former, God love 'em.)
Then there is the attempt to draw a parallel to a truly horrific event. David Neiwert describes a truly outrageous, unforgiveable act of violence, apparently committed solely because the victim took an online cheap shot at Bush. More details here. Apparently the idea is that the far more severe nature of the second assault proves that right-wingers are more committed to violence, less tolerant of diverse viewpoints, and generally less pleasant people to be around. Two points.
1. There is some question as to whether or not the assault mentioned in the second story even happened. It supposedly occurred in Atlanta, where I live, and there has been nothing about it on the local news broadcasts or in the newspaper. Commentors on the above posts claim to have called the Atlanta Police Department and been told nothing of that sort has been reported. I'll admit, the fact that it hasn't been reported anywhere is odd, but Neiwart is standing by his story for the moment, and is asking for patience while he verifies. I have no reason to doubt his sincerity, so let's proceed on the notion that it happened, exactly as described. I will note that Margolis' story has been reported in the mainstream media.
2. I don't get the connection. First off, the Atlanta assault occurs as a result of a few wingnuts going off on their own. No connection to any group, organization, party, anything. From this we are supposed to draw conclusions about "the right", "conservatives", "Bush supporters", or whoever. Meanwhile, Margolis and company are attacked by people at an organized rally, by actual groups, organizations, parties, etc. From this, we are right-wing Fox News drones if we draw any conclusions whatsoever about "the left", "liberals", "Bush opponents", or whoever. (Snippy remark - I assume it would be OK to draw the conclusion that "It's terrible, the things that awful George Bush makes people do")
The people in Atlanta and the folks in Boston are assholes, to varying degrees. (How big assholes the guys in Boston are to be determined by the amount of damage they would have done if they'd had free reign, the way the guys in Atlanta apparently did. Getting a fight broken up before you have a chance to cripple someone doesn't make you a better person than the guy who actually did cripple someone.) Give the folks in Boston a few months in jail for battery, send the pricks in Atlanta to prison for 20 years for aggravated assault. Neither event has to say anything about any larger movement, unless said larger movement chooses to adopt them.
Which they won't.
