I would like to draw your attention to the sound of a dog not barking: Following the slaughter in Tucson, consider what did not happen: no further violence, no retaliation against Loughner’s family or friends. Indeed, the only sentiments I have heard expressed about Loughner’s family have been those of concern and sympathy. The killer was not torn to pieces at the scene. He will receive a trial, with gold-plated legal representation, and, almost certainly, first-rate psychiatric care.
There were no riots. People were shocked and horrified, but they remained calm. They were generous with their time, their concern, and their prayers. Civilians — elderly ones — risked their lives to subdue the killer. Those who are professionally involved in responding to these sorts of situations performed their jobs with aplomb.
This in a nation suffering under a climate of simmering, barely controlled violence? Where are the riots?
It is a situation of a different magnitude, but I am reminded of what did not happen in the wake of 9/11. I am reminded of what did not happen in the wake of the Ft. Hood shooting and what did not happen after Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad’s attack on the Army recruiting center in Little Rock.
May I point out: This is not normal, if by normal you mean consistent with the experiences of the greater part of mankind over history. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated — not eons ago, but in 1984, and not in some savage corner of the world, but in civilized, pacifistic India — thousands of Sikhs were lynched in retaliation, a pogrom of unbelievable horror. The French have seen more political violence this month while debating rent control than we will see after an assassination attempt. Consider Theodore Dalrymple’s take on Algeria and Tunisia, and their recent unrest, and what it bodes for the future of Europe.
There was a bit of progressive scoffing at Rich’s column affirming his belief that the United States really is the best and finest nation there has been, but anybody who has spent much time abroad (or immersed in a newspaper, for that matter) knows that the level of civility and decency exhibited by Americans during times of crisis is remarkable. Exceptional, you might say.
There have been some shameful performances during this episode, from those who have attempted to profit by it, either politically or financially (a subject I plan to revisit in a bit). What is most troubling about those distasteful performances is not the momentary and transient gains that these malefactors may enjoy in their electoral standing, television ratings, or website traffic, but that these cheap and dishonorable attempts to gain from this horror inevitably corrode the underlying bonds that make this country such a remarkable place. And that makes me more fearful for my country than do the bloody deeds of a lone lunatic.
Re: 9/11 and riots. We did not have riots or attacks on Muslims or mosques. We did note wild celebrations in the Arab and Muslim world, however, and still did not riot.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLets not make ourselves (e.g. conservative) look silly.
So America is exceptional vis a vis Tunisa, Algeria and India (in 1984 no less)- good lord, what a low bar comparison.
I think you'll find that the american response to this attempted assassination of a politician is perfectly normal when compared to other western liberal democracies..
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHear, hear! Admittedly, I was too hard on Mr. Lowry myself...
Your last point reminds me of something: following 9/11, the nation's unified purpose was inevitably going to crumble because such a large segment of the Left (perhaps 20% of the population?) simply loathes everything the United States represents.* The same folks froth at the mouth with seething hatred and contempt for the Tea Partiers today. In a way, then, the Left simply can't help going too far--otherwise, they might let a crisis go to waste, eh Rahm?
*Granted, President Bush arguably played a role in exhausting his own post-9/11 political capital.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExcellent Kevin. We take so much for granted. We are so blessed to live in the USA.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseInsightful commentary. Thanks.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExpat Asia:
I don't know about that. We seem to be able to talk about budget cuts without burning bankers to death.
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On the other hand, if the Lakers are in the playoffs . . .
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThank you. I've responded to "I fear we're about to have a civil war" talk already. I think these people are overwhelmed by emotions and the 24/7 news cycle, as opposed to having a thought-out case as to why we're suddenly going to come apart at the seams.
We made it through the 2000 recount, 9/11, wars, recessions, the election of a minority as president, etc, without significant bloodshed or riots or whatever. The comparison to Europe is apt, and Expat Asia is way off in dismissing that point. The way they often handle basic democratic disagreements by choking highways, blockading basic supplies, etc, speaks to much more unrest than we see here. And as I say, even that is below the level of rioting, which is in turn a long ways from civil war.
Commentators, especially on the left, should give this country more credit.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRegarding you comment: "It is a situation of a different magnitude, but I am reminded of what did not happen in the wake of 9/11. I am reminded of what did not happen in the wake of the Ft. Hood shooting and what did not happen after Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad’s attack on the Army recruiting center in Little Rock.
May I point out: This is not normal, if by normal you mean consistent with the experiences of the greater part of mankind over history. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated — not eons ago, but in 1984, and not in some savage corner of the world, but in civilized, pacifistic India — thousands of Sikhs were lynched in retaliation, a pogrom of unbelievable horror. The French have seen more political violence this month while debating rent control than we will see after an assassination attempt. Consider Theodore Dalrymple’s take on Algeria and Tunisia, and their recent unrest, and what it bodes for the future of Europe."
A war happened as a direct result of 9/11. A very violent one and it's ongoing.
Liberties & lives were taken away as a direct result of 9/11. Liberties of Americans and non-Americans, most of the lives lost as a direct result of the war started as a direct result of 9/11 were non-American.
Ergo, lots of violence occurred as a direct result of 9/11.
Just because it does not happen on US soil (because the US government prefers to keep their killing off-shore) does not mean violent actions do not occur because of violent actions on US soil.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat's your point? Violence is violence and we're no better for going after the Taliban than if we'd burned down Dearborn, MI?
Kevin's point is obvious and undeniable.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse>>> Those who are professionally involved in responding to these sorts of situations performed their jobs with aplomb.
Care to qualify that statement in light of the actions of a certain tinhorn sheriff?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFor "Incredulous": The purpose of the military action following 9/11 and continuing today is to take the battle to the enemy. It's sound military doctrine.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYour use of the possessive pronoun "their" when referring to our government is very telling. We would all do well to remember that the elected members of our government are "ours" whether or not we voted for them, or whether or not we concur with their politics. If they make a mess of it, we hire new ones every two/four/six years.
You have all made excellent points about the response in Europe to simply austerity measures as compared to how we've dealt with these economic problems - which is to actually ASK for austerity measures! And peacefully, too.
I won't even address the stupid comment about our response to 9/11 in Afghanistan that ultimately included Iraq.
As to possible "civil war" in this country. Yes, I agree that when a crisis like this happens, we see how wonderful people are and tears have been in my eyes listening to the heroic stories, the stories from the victims' families, etc.
However, there is still that nagging feeling that there is a real possibility of serious unrest. Fox-Piven is calling again, as she did in the 60s, for "revolution". The unions have used rhetoric that appears to show that they are ready for some kind of "revolution".
Bottom Up, Top Down, and Inside Out.
It may never come to pass. But we have seen SEIU people attack people, go to private homes and terrorize children, ACORN break into foreclosed homes.
We have seen how unions and the Left has responded in Europe.
I don't think it's crazy to imagine that it could happen here.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDon't encourage them!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHear! Hear!
America is exceptional. America is unique. There has never been another country that comes close. We are the light of the world.
We have a system that, 223 years later, has survived just about everything and not only survives, but thrives. We'd all like to change some things. But none of us would like to change everything.
Naysayers go to hell!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLadykrystyna, take heart. More people listen to Peter J. Peters than Fox-Piven, and we don't worry about him, do we?
We've been through a lot. We'll get through this too.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhile we're on the subject of whack jobs, anybody remember "ice people" and "sun people"?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAND this episode revels a much calmer climate--right here in the US. I was living in the nation's capital, Washington itself, in 1968. When Martin Luther King died--4 days of riots, severe property damage, at least 10 fatalities, and, finally, a full US Army response. And speaking of decades of "the '60s," how about a riot in New York City killing perhaps a thousand? That was in 1863 when the rest of the North was celebrating victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg--troops had to be reassigned to "crowd control" instead of fighting to reunite the Union.
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