15 Comments
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David Souers's avatar

This is a very important point. States like Israel, Trump’s administration, Putin’s Russia intentionally license state violence & present all individual & citizen actions of resistance as violence against the state & its supporters.

Jeffrey Peoples's avatar

The Torah promotes terrorism and political violence.

Mark Pietrzyk's avatar

Please stop saying "right?"

Protect the Vote's avatar

Dangerous Demented Cheeto Who Is Just Plain Evil

This Daily Beast interview with Dr John Gartner is a great watch to discuss Cheeto’s advancing dementia(https://bit.ly/47TyuxN) which is more and more noticeable as the symptoms are clear As Gartner notes we have digital tracking over the years to compare where he was 20 years ago and now how his functioning has deteriorated that is not explained by advancement of age And the stress of the presidency is obviously accelerating his dementia and psychopathy

The interview exposes the reasons why we are making many of the observations of Cheeto who is clinically described as a malignant narcissistic who is a sadist, unable to love, and having no remorse of past criminal behavior Epstein shared the same psychopathy

dvorah's avatar

just one of the reasons why nation states must crumble. maybe they already are. an unprecedented level of global solidarity and cooperation will be needed to protect complex life as a climate stable enough to grow food continues to destabilize.

Jessica Griffith's avatar

I agree. I thought Klein's article was an appalling rewrite of Kirk's rhetoric and approach. Meanwhile, we inflict political violence when we remove immigrants, let people go hungry or homeless, refuse to educate children, or withhold science and medical care.

Jeanette Sarmiento's avatar

Thank you for stressing the brutality that we are all witnessing on a daily basis by the "state" that will determine who can be made obsolete or not. Every day we are reminded of how much of our country is being annihilated and we are not even through the first year of this regime. I also thank you for not using the word "assassination" in regards to this murder which appears to place it "above" other murders of political figures.

Bonnie's avatar

Thank you Peter for clarifying which in retrospect is obvious, illegal. and appears to me to be tree son.

Julie Diamond's avatar

This is the point made by Eqbal Ahmad in "Terrorism: Theirs and Ours," published by Seven Stories Press in 2001.

Ingrid Nyeboe's avatar

There is never legitimate violence! Those two concepts are mutually exclusive. To maintain a state (country) can utilize violence as a tool of control or political goals makes such a state beyond the confines of judicial parameters. What distinguishes a system based on the power of the fist from a modern legally constituted democracy is the restriction of Stone Age male behavior. But the age we are in is a caveman violent mentality applauded by a minority “Christian” mob!

Jeffrey Peoples's avatar

There are lots of scenarios for legitimate violence. Many cases of self-defense being the most obvious.

Ingrid Nyeboe's avatar

I don’t think violence is a proper tool for solving issues. Self-defense — !

I just don’t believe using violence is a legitimate approach to solving issues. And I think we’re on very slippery moral ground if we actually believe in something defined as legitimate violence!

Jeffrey Peoples's avatar

Self-defense is never a legitimate approach to solving an issue? I disagree. There is nothing morally slippery about legitimate violence. Pacifism is ignoble and immoral.

Ingrid Nyeboe's avatar

Not wanting to do harm is ignoble and immoral? Wow! I beg to differ. We need an entire radical shift in our politics and communications toward respect, compassion and responsibility. It’s a long haul look I would subscribe to. The “quick” fixes using violence don’t last. But we’re fundamentally on different paths here. That’s okay. Wishing you well.

Jeffrey Peoples's avatar

Yup, you are on an ignoble path. Refusing on principle to do any particular harm to prevent greater particular harm is ignoble. Disrespect is also sometimes noble, and sometimes compassion can be pathological and toxic. Without some honorable people willing to use violence, very dishonorable people would be using much more violence in a cruel and oppressive way. Tyrants love pacifists.