The Mask Is Off
The mask is off in Berkeley, precisely because the masks are on. Masked Antifa thugs with black shirts and red flags–quite a chilling combination, no?–set upon a small group of individuals whom they declared to be Nazis. But, unlike in Charlottesville, there wasn’t a swastika in sight–or even an tiki torch. Instead, a small group of Trump supporters–including those with names like Irma Hinojosa (I’m sure her friends call her Billy Bob, or maybe even Nathan Bedford) attempted to stage a rally, and were attacked by the Antifa types, who labeled everyone in sight (other than them) Nazis:
Andrew Noruk, who was wearing a T-shirt denouncing both the Republican and Democratic parties when two young women came up to him and started yelling at him.
“You’re a Nazi,” they shouted, leaving Noruk, who said he came out to protest Trump supporters, confused.
Poor, poor, deluded Andrew. If you aren’t one of them, you are a Nazi.
How ugly did it get? This ugly. And by the way, Shane, since the victim is “apparently” alt-right, does that make it OK with you? Sure not sensing any outrage in your coverage or your TL.
Also note the tremendous heroism of the black shirted thugs. Ten or so vs. one. Sticks and shields vs. nothing.
Where were the police, you’re asking? Um, they did a full on Sir Robin, and ran away–buggered off; scarpered. Shameful. I understand that this is the Berkeley PD’s new headgear. It’s appropriate in sooo many ways.
This should be–but of course won’t be–a clarifying moment. First, we see that if there aren’t actual Nazis around, that is no impediment to Antifa–they’ll manufacture one out of any material at hand. And indeed, anyone who isn’t full on Antifa likely qualifies as a Nazi in their book. But apparently the most useful of the idiotic–or is it the most idiotic of the useful?–like Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio are totally cool about delegating the task of Nazi-designation to this lot.
Second, this strips away some of the ambiguity present in Charlottesville. There were no plausibly violent Nazis massing in Berkeley, yet there was violence anyways. It had to have come from the left, and there is graphic evidence that it came from the left. So if the left engages in violence in someplace like Berkeley when they had to imagine a far-right provocation, it is highly likely that they engaged in, and came with the intent of engaging in, violence in Charlottesville when there were large numbers of their main enemy present.
In other words, things like Berkeley are a natural experiment that sheds light on the causes of political violence in the US. Viewing such experiments, it is beyond farcical to absolve the left of any responsibility for it in places like Charlottesville.
This is why I am saying that the mask is off. Events like those in Berkeley (and the threat of similar violence that led to the cancellation of a rally in San Francisco) reveal the aggressive and violent agenda on the far left. It is not resistance or reaction. It is a driving force.
Would that the useful idiots paid attention. But then they wouldn’t be idiots, or useful.
Third, there were other leftists protesting in Berkeley. These included relatively mainstream groups like the Democratic Socialists of American (recall that Bernie Sanders identifies himself as a democratic socialist). Yet the DSA was chanting Antifa slogans.
Is this entryism (a well-known tactic advocated by Trotsky, among others)? That is, has Antifa infiltrated the DSA and is pushing it in a more radical direction? Or more disturbingly, are mainstream left groups, heretofore non-violent, embracing a more violent and confrontational–and non-democratic–ideology?
I will note that the grotesque imbalance in media treatment of Antifa and other hard left groups on the one hand and Nazis and White Supremacists on the other does suggest a mainstreaming of communism that is extremely disturbing. Indeed, the mainstream media refuses to look seriously at Antifa violence, and when it acknowledges it, rationalizes it as a form of idealism, thereby whitewashing black shirted thugs spouting a red ideology.
Fourth, in some jurisdictions, law “enforcement” is ceding ground to violent individuals and organizations, which will beget violence and the Weimarization of America.
Meanwhile, here in Texas, we see spontaneous acts of civility, charity, and civic action under increasingly dire circumstances. These acts cut across racial, ethnic, and class lines. For instance, the man with the airboat festooned with a Confederate flag logo picking up strangers–including African-Americans. Which, alas, set the SJW set into a frenzy on Twitter, though I’m guessing that if they were in the water and he pulled up, they wouldn’t go all Japanese sailor mode and chose to drown rather than be rescued by an “enemy”. We are also seeing commitment to duty, hard work, and courage displayed by law enforcement and military personnel (including notably state and national guardsmen and women). We are seeing (for the most part) professional competence displayed by state and local authorities working under very trying conditions.
There are many Americas. I know which one I prefer.
‘Antifa’ is an abbreviation of ‘anti-American fascist’.
Comment by dearieme — August 28, 2017 @ 5:36 am
Looks like you made it Professor (knock on wood). Radar looks encouraging. These labels are disgusting. All the claimed barabirc “alt-righters” in Houston area are out helping anyone that they can. Houston gives the lie to these labels. Incredibly diverse and yet everyone gets along and helps out no matter who is in need. Honor and humanity are deeper than these superficial lables manufactured by people without honor and who provide lip service to humanity.
WAPO is aghast that Houston wasn’t under mandatory evacuation. The Texas Gulf Coast will rebuild without years of recriminations and whining and scapegoating by Texans. On the other hand WAPO etal will focus on exactly that.
Comment by pahoben — August 28, 2017 @ 6:14 am
There’s an easy fix for Communist nut-jobs that is applied quite successfully in many parts of Europe: Allow them to run for office. As wannabe-renegades, left-leaning media flatters their egos. However, suddenly finding that nobody actually wants to vote for them ought to take the wind out of their sails.
Comment by Hiberno Frog — August 28, 2017 @ 7:54 am
You didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that once Antifa got to decide who was a “Nazi” (a political party that ceased to exist over 75 years ago) they would use it as an excuse to beat up anyone they felt like attacking. Are Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney this stupid? Were they actually the 2012 GOP candidates?
Comment by Thomas Jefferson — August 28, 2017 @ 9:32 am
@Thomas Jefferson–Yes, they are that stupid. And cowardly.
@Hiberno Frog. Alas, a feature of the US system is a bug in that regard. The equilibrium in the US system is two party dominance, with virtually no possibility for other parties to get legislative representation. Parliamentary systems are different. The loons have enough of a chance that it’s worth trying.
Anarcho-tyranny, in living colour.
Stay safe there Prof.
Comment by Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — August 28, 2017 @ 12:47 pm
@GSRoLB–Wilco. Doing my best.
@GSRoLB-Definitely. And what colors. Fascist black (ironic no?) and communist red. I also think it is ironic that red and black are classic colors of some “blood and soil” nationalist groups in eastern Europe (e.g., in Ukraine). So those sporting the gang colors of blood-and-soil nationalists do battle with those shouting “blood and soil” as a battle cry–which actually happened in Charlottesville.
That’s why Berkeley is so clarifying. You don’t need real Nazis for the anarcho-tyrants (or anarcho-terrorists) to get violent. Anybody who is not them will do as a Nazi stand-in and punching bag.
The rally in Berkeley was promoted as an anti-communism rally. We are back in the days of Comintern when anyone who is anti-communist is painted as a fascist. And the media repeatedly characterized the anti-communists as “far right.” Appalling.
If anyone in the Houston area is interested spacecityweather.com is a very good meteorological site that pride themselves on non hype analysis for the Houston area. They are currently sponsored by Reliant Energy.
Comment by pahoben — August 28, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
@pahoben-Thanks. I’m so over they hype. I’ll check it out.
Pahoben, the WAPO shriek is the difference between right and left writ small. They can’t believe an opportunity to control the people was wasted, and can’t imagine why people should be allowed to decide and take responsibility for themselves. That’s just not the swamp way. My thoughts and prayers are with the great people of the great state.
Comment by Dh — August 28, 2017 @ 5:58 pm
[…] I would argue that the snowflakes are already making the rules and have large swathes of the state on their side, plus the whole of the media and academia. As Streetwise Professor notes: […]
Pingback by The Dangers of Antifa Overreaching | White Sun of the Desert — August 29, 2017 @ 1:22 am
@Dh
Thanks Dh. You nailed it.
Comment by pahoben — August 30, 2017 @ 12:25 pm