Most people I run into who talk nonviolence, seem to think it’s some kind of basic axiom, that only by being squeeky clean and never hurting a fly, can lefty activists retain any credibility. And even though I’m a believer in nonviolent activism, I hate it that so many people assume nonviolence is some kind of reflexive, unthinking basic premise from which we all must begin. It’s exactly what people grumble about “political correctness”.
I don’t think nonviolence is a good idea because it puts you on a higher moral ground than your opponent, I think that’s bullshit. Nonviolence is a good idea, because it is more likely to get us the most people what we want in the end. And it’s never cut and dry. No revolutionary movement is going to accomplish its goals without somebody somewhere doing something regrettable, and a certain degree of rudeness, hurt feelings, even physical injury are going to be an inevitable byproduct of any effective social change. You think the industrial revolution happened without violence? You’re reading the wrong history.
So here’s my take on this: It was not necessarily a bad thing that this guy threw some fruit at the Trumpster, and we shouldn’t necessarily throw shade at him for not having exhausted all his nonviolent options…
But neither do I think he’s much of a hero either. When I watch a monster movie, I’m always cheering for the scientist who wants to bring the beast down alive for study, even when that plan gets a lot of guys with guns killed. And in the same way, this Trump monster needs to be brought down with logic and words and rationality, not with thrown projectiles of any type. Fascist creatures like this one are kind of like the Borg, the more energy you throw at them, the stronger they appear to be.
So, yeah. great video. We all love seeing a bad guy get ketchup on his face. But the guy who threw it isn’t a hero, and he isn’t really helping, even if we briefly feel better for it.
