Despite some media itching for violence, the Virginia Gun Rally has finished without incident.
Antifa groups apparently chose not to show up, and perhaps this shows that Antifa is an integral ingredient in the violence we see in street protests.
It was good to see that there wasn't any violence at the protest - despite there being roughly 22,000 people present, with many being armed. All it could have taken was one idiot, and the whole thing could have been a bloody, self-defeating disaster. But there wasn't. Not one.
Whereas some on the alt-right/white nationalists will get punished and/or arrested for edgy memes and banter or even downright offensive speech (which is still Constitutionally protected), Antifa can engage in doxxing, harassment campaigns, and unprovoked physical violence against innocent, though perhaps disagreeable, bystanders and counter-protesters.
Although the alt-right/white nationalists are deemed to be extremists who are prone to violence and threats, I can't think of an instance where the presence of Antifa hasn't led to violence, let alone increased the likelihood of violence; and though it often takes two to tango and those who tussle with them are responsible for doing so, Antifa is an agitating force that seemingly operates with little consequence.
Whereas some on the alt-right/white nationalists will get punished and/or arrested for edgy memes and banter or even downright offensive speech (which is still Constitutionally protected), Antifa can engage in doxxing, harassment campaigns, and unprovoked physical violence against innocent, though perhaps disagreeable, bystanders and counter-protesters.
Although the alt-right/white nationalists are deemed to be extremists who are prone to violence and threats, I can't think of an instance where the presence of Antifa hasn't led to violence, let alone increased the likelihood of violence; and though it often takes two to tango and those who tussle with them are responsible for doing so, Antifa is an agitating force that seemingly operates with little consequence.
I wonder if the non-violent conclusion to this pro-Second Amendment Rally, coupled with the lack of Antifa will get people thinking about Antifa's role and responsibility in fomenting agitation and aggression.
That said, there are other things to be gleaned from this protest: the pitiful obeisance some interviewees showed to the media was on full display. We were treated to clips of individuals desperately trying to convince the interviewer that the rally wasn't racist; that gun rights are gay rights; and that minorities need guns too in order to protect themselves from oppression.
Here's the thing folks: there is nothing you can say that will make your enemies NOT think it is racist or homophobic or transphobic or bigoted in someway, and so flying your LGBT Gadsden Flag looks desperate. No one will believe you when you say 'Gun Rights are Trans Rights' - they'd be more likely to think that your trying to pull a fast one on them by smuggling in your bigotry under the guise of tolerance.
The media doesn't call you 'racist' because they think you are racist, even if they do. They call you racist so the debate becomes about racism instead of whatever cause you are working for. It deflects from the issue at hand and forces you to spend the time to wipe off the filth that has been smeared on you.
This is something that is a bit different from my standard view of things. Typically, I think it is flawed to view politics as one team versus another, and that a win for your team is a zero-sum game for your opponent. Winning isn't necessarily about your team coming out on top: winning is about getting your ideas to prevail. So, when we see LGBT folks and Blacks and Latinos protesting in favour of the Second Amendment, that looks like pro-Second Amendment ideas spreading into communities that help form the Progressive Coalition (which is pretty much anyone who isn't a straight white male).
Those folks can certainly join the protest, and their presence does trip up the standard narrative being woven by the media. However, one has to be wary of how elite narratives of white supremacy, racism, homophobia, and the like can be used to re-frame an issue and hijack a movement of protest that has a very specific goal.
In short, the media isn't the friend of those at those protests: no matter how many check-boxes on the Oppression Bingo chart they can knock off. Getting your ideas to prevail within the media won't work if you, as an enemy of the media, start to express ideas and attitudes that the media promotes. They make you look like you are caving to their narrative by buying into their premises, and falling for their framing.
This rally was about an inalienable right to bear arms in the United States. Virginia was a test case to see how quickly that right can be eroded. Luckily the protest didn't give any ammo to those wishing to secure its demise - though perhaps they'll just plow through with it anyway.
When looking into the face of your enemy, and when faced with propping up elite narratives:
Just say 'no'.
