Tyranny words

 

I am about fed up with the events of January 6, 2021 still being framed as an insurrection.  The charge is laughable on its face, but the lock step media, and those that suffer its' enthralling abuses, continue to cling to that word, and try to use the word itself, in lieu of any legal charges, as a way to influence legal and political events.

After years of trying to convince folks of how dire the misuses of that word are, the legal ramifications that misuse triggers, and having precious little success, I think it is time for a different tack.

Instead of trying to simply awaken the zombified consciences of folks who joyfully countenance the years long incommunicado incarceration of fellow citizens (most of whom, if guilty, are guilty of nothing more than misdemeanor trespassing), it might be constructive to look at why those Patriot Act measures were enacted in the first place.

The Patriot Act was passed in the immediate aftermath of 9-11.  The reason behind its' sweeping powers to deny due process, Habeas Corpus, and most other constitutional rights to people detained during a terrorist attack or some kind of serious insurrection is so that the detainees will not, since they are denied normal rights, be able to get released on bail and go to their superiors to inform them about what all they were questioned about.  Allowing our enemies to receive normal judicial process would enable them to use our legal system against us, not only returning captured combatants back to almost immediate combat, but also giving the enemy a serious advantage in the realm of military intelligence.  While the Patriot Act has some real problems, the idea of neutralizing and silencing enemy combatants during the heat of either invasion or insurrection makes a lot of sense.

Now let's take another look at January 6^th.  It is possible that some actually feared some kind of insurrection might be taking place that day.  Destruction and violence were in the air that afternoon.  By the next day, however, no honest person could say that an insurrection was underway.  Remember the purpose of the Patriot Act, which is to thwart any ongoing violent attempt to overthrow the government of the United States.

By noon on January 7, no one could say that they saw some kind of insurrection happening.  No government buildings were being stormed, anywhere in the country, no bullets were being fired, no demands were issuing from some hidden headquarters of the insurrection.  All of that is because there never was an insurrection, but there was a silly rally, followed by an extremely foolish call for a spontaneous, un-permitted parade followed by a stupid riot which might very well have been incited by government agents.

Insurrection is still being hurled as a political weapon though, and the liberal public that supports that call are the ones being as stupid as the rioters on J6.  They just chortle with glee at this charge, clinging bitterly to this means of punishing fellow citizens for their political opinions.  They don't seem to realize that those constitutional protections they rejoice at withholding from MAGAs, or whoever, are actually being taken from all of us, themselves included.  What stops the authorities, maybe folks like Dick Cheney in office next time, from declaring the latest Antifa action an insurrection?  Or more likely right now, the latest pro-Palestine blocking of a road, or storming of a building, or violent attack on some Jewish owned business.  All of those and many other political actions of the last few years are as much or more insurrections as the riot of January 6 was.

Nothing stops those in power from misusing language and the law in this way except the resolve of the people.  If we can't find the conscience and courage to stand up, as one people, and demand that our constitutional rights be honored, those in power will not be deterred from taking even more rights from us.  In other words, all you on the left, and those on the right too, had better wake up and smell the encroaching tyranny.