I added the note in the header because the topic is troubling AND its written more like an angry rant. Which is good at times, problematic at others - so read it with that in mind
Two years ago, I lived through a coup in Sri Lanka. It was stupid. The minority party threw chili powder at everyone in Parliament and took over by farce. Math, however, requires a majority and the courts kicked them out. They gave in. We’d been protesting for weeks and yay, we won.
No.
I didn’t know it at the time, but we had already lost. No one knew — but oh my God, what we lost. The legitimate government came back but it was divided and weak. We were divided and weak. We were vulnerable.
I added the note in the header because the topic is troubling AND its written more like an angry rant. Which is good at times, problematic at others - so read it with that in mind
I hate to be a nitpicker, but isn't the correct semantics for this as a tag? Something standardised like [conflict text], so people can filter it if they like? You can't filter by titles on Tildes.
I added the note in the header
I hate to be a nitpicker, but isn't the correct semantics for this as a tag? Something standardised like [conflict text], so people can filter it if they like? You can't filter by titles on Tildes.
I think this quote from the article is what will stick with me:
I think this quote from the article is what will stick with me:
American commentators say “we’re like the third world now” as if our very existence is a pejorative. Ha ha, you assholes, stop calling us that. You’re no better than us. The third world from the Sun is Earth. You live here too.
I posted a previous blog post from the same author because it seemed like a good story about what things were like in Sri Lanka. I don’t know what he’s saying here though. We’re going to see a...
I posted a previous blog post from the same author because it seemed like a good story about what things were like in Sri Lanka.
I don’t know what he’s saying here though. We’re going to see a wave of violence because that’s what happened in Sri Lanka? There doesn’t seem to be much basis for that.
The takeaway I got is that if there is a Trump coup, it's going to fail, there will be no overthrow of the government, and he will leave office like the Sri Lankan coup failed and led to a more...
I don’t know what he’s saying here though. We’re going to see a wave of violence because that’s what happened in Sri Lanka? There doesn’t seem to be much basis for that.
The takeaway I got is that if there is a Trump coup, it's going to fail, there will be no overthrow of the government, and he will leave office like the Sri Lankan coup failed and led to a more progressive government. The issue is Trump is planting the seeds of doubt that we may sow in the next few years, which will manifest as acts committed by local terrorists.
Really? Because I feel the exact opposite way, especially given so many recent events that seem to hint that there is likely only more violence to come, not less. E.g....
There doesn’t seem to be much basis for that.
Really? Because I feel the exact opposite way, especially given so many recent events that seem to hint that there is likely only more violence to come, not less. E.g.
CTRL-F for "The Terrorist Threat to the Homeland" to read the whole section... but of note:
Ideologically motivated lone offenders and small groups pose the most likely terrorist threat to the Homeland, with Domestic Violent Extremists presenting the most persistent and lethal threat.
Among DVEs, racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists—specifically white supremacist extremists (WSEs)—will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland.
I mean, sure, there has always been an undercurrent of right-wing, hate-based, domestic terrorism in the US... but lately it seems like all those groups masks are finally off (literally and...
I mean, sure, there has always been an undercurrent of right-wing, hate-based, domestic terrorism in the US... but lately it seems like all those groups masks are finally off (literally and figuratively), and a significant portion of them aren't even trying to hide their true intentions anymore. And significantly more people on the right (even politicians) are suddenly, openly and unashamedly publicly supporting those groups now, with many even calling for open violence and insurrection... all of which rather unprecedented.
I think the argument is that things are pushed towards a coup... first off its interesting because Sri Lanka often disappear in western news and the connection between western society and...
I think the argument is that things are pushed towards a coup... first off its interesting because Sri Lanka often disappear in western news and the connection between western society and "non-western societies" is often lost.
Fryar says he would go to war for Trump. He has joined the newly formed South Plains Patriots, a group of a few hundred members that includes a “reactionary” force of about three dozen - including Fryar and his son, Caleb - who conduct firearms training.
Nothing will convince Fryar and many others here in Sundown - including the town’s mayor, another Patriots member - that Democrat Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 presidential election fairly. They believe Trump’s stream of election-fraud allegations and say they’re preparing for the possibility of a “civil war” with the American political left.
“If President Trump comes out and says: ‘Guys, I have irrefutable proof of fraud, the courts won’t listen, and I’m now calling on Americans to take up arms,’ we would go,” said Fryar, wearing a button-down shirt, pressed slacks and a paisley tie during a recent interview at his office.
It's difficult to know what to conclude from this because for every person who would actually do it, there are a hundred or maybe a thousand who will talk tough, but it's just talk. And that's...
It's difficult to know what to conclude from this because for every person who would actually do it, there are a hundred or maybe a thousand who will talk tough, but it's just talk. And that's just a guess. The ratio is unclear.
I don't know about that? Though it's not made the news much this year, there have been a lot of mass shootings in the US. Legislative attempts to do something about it have mostly been blocked,...
I don't know about that? Though it's not made the news much this year, there have been a lot of mass shootings in the US. Legislative attempts to do something about it have mostly been blocked, and not much else happens.
It seems like whether terrorism is effective or not depends on how the country reacts.
That is the entire purpose of terrorism in a clinical sense, to inflict terror upon your enemy in a way that achieves your goals. So a philosophical question then: if someone commits an act of...
That is the entire purpose of terrorism in a clinical sense, to inflict terror upon your enemy in a way that achieves your goals. So a philosophical question then: if someone commits an act of terrorism, but the target(s) are not terrorized/afraid, is it actually terrorism?
I added the note in the header because the topic is troubling AND its written more like an angry rant. Which is good at times, problematic at others - so read it with that in mind
I hate to be a nitpicker, but isn't the correct semantics for this as a tag? Something standardised like
[conflict text], so people can filter it if they like? You can't filter by titles on Tildes.True point, will remember for next time. I just want people clicking the link feel like they know what they get you know?
No worries, your intent was correct :)
I think this quote from the article is what will stick with me:
I posted a previous blog post from the same author because it seemed like a good story about what things were like in Sri Lanka.
I don’t know what he’s saying here though. We’re going to see a wave of violence because that’s what happened in Sri Lanka? There doesn’t seem to be much basis for that.
The takeaway I got is that if there is a Trump coup, it's going to fail, there will be no overthrow of the government, and he will leave office like the Sri Lankan coup failed and led to a more progressive government. The issue is Trump is planting the seeds of doubt that we may sow in the next few years, which will manifest as acts committed by local terrorists.
Really? Because I feel the exact opposite way, especially given so many recent events that seem to hint that there is likely only more violence to come, not less. E.g.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Whitmer_kidnapping_plot
https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Base_(hate_group)#2020_arrests
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Nine_Angles#Terrorism_and_crimes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogaloo_movement#Criminality_and_violence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_boogaloo_killings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proud_Boys#Activities_and_events
And even the DHS seems to feel the same way as well:
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2020_10_06_homeland-threat-assessment.pdf
(which ironically was written while DHS was under Trump appointee Chad Wolf at the time)
CTRL-F for "The Terrorist Threat to the Homeland" to read the whole section... but of note:
That’s not what he was writing about, and it seems more of an ongoing thing though?
I mean, sure, there has always been an undercurrent of right-wing, hate-based, domestic terrorism in the US... but lately it seems like all those groups masks are finally off (literally and figuratively), and a significant portion of them aren't even trying to hide their true intentions anymore. And significantly more people on the right (even politicians) are suddenly, openly and unashamedly publicly supporting those groups now, with many even calling for open violence and insurrection... all of which rather unprecedented.
When you say suddenly, do you mean this year, or in the last month, or this week?
I think the argument is that things are pushed towards a coup... first off its interesting because Sri Lanka often disappear in western news and the connection between western society and "non-western societies" is often lost.
Really?
It's difficult to know what to conclude from this because for every person who would actually do it, there are a hundred or maybe a thousand who will talk tough, but it's just talk. And that's just a guess. The ratio is unclear.
Terrorism is just as effective when perpetrated by lone wolfs.
I don't know about that? Though it's not made the news much this year, there have been a lot of mass shootings in the US. Legislative attempts to do something about it have mostly been blocked, and not much else happens.
It seems like whether terrorism is effective or not depends on how the country reacts.
That is the entire purpose of terrorism in a clinical sense, to inflict terror upon your enemy in a way that achieves your goals. So a philosophical question then: if someone commits an act of terrorism, but the target(s) are not terrorized/afraid, is it actually terrorism?