Critical Rage Theory

[H2O Man]

"We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; I Have a Dream; 1963 March on Washington


It's rather odd for me to compare and contrast the two most significant citizens' actions in Washington, DC, in my life-time: the peaceful march that contained Dr. King's historic speechk, and the January 6 insurrection. My favorite part of Dr. King's speech was his use of the teachings of the prophet Amos, who advocated for social justice. My favorite thing relating to the January 6 insurrection is the criminal charges that hundreds of the thugs are now facing.

Like everyone reading this, I want to see serious consequences for those who participated in the attempted insurrection, especially the leaders. And that includes those who not only invaded the Capitol, but the slim that was actively involved in the planning of this treasonous event. These individuals, all members of the Trump cult, are currently being investigated by the Department of Justice. I would like them to face the harshest legal consequences possible.

In a telephone discussion with a friend yesterday regarding this very topic, I found myself explaining an important factor when it comes to both penalizing such criminal behaviors, as well as deterring others from engaging in these behaviors in the future. It is a factor that I learned many decades ago, in both sociology and criminal law classes in college. Keeping it in mind helps me balance my appreciation for what we are seeing in response to the insurrection.

What is more likely to deter people from engaging in criminal behavior? As a general rule, it is the certainty of getting caught, more so than a potentially harsh punishment. This isn't a blanket truth that holds true in every individual or group situation -- an obvious example of citizens willingly engaging in "illegal" behaviors despite the certainty of consequences can be found in the public actions of Dr. King and his followers in many of their campaigns. Those who participated were willingly facing arrest, and with the understanding that the consequences could include arrest and incarceration, as well as going to the emergency room or even the cemetery. Taking a brave stand for Truth often interrupts one's life.

The Trump cult, on the other hand, was attempting to interrupt democracy as defined by the Constitution. They were willing to disrupt the rule of law. Yet, they did not anticipate the consequences of their actions -- that they would likely face the disruption of their lives that criminal charges bring about. No, they thought the police, the national guard, and the president, would have their backs. They thought they would be heroes, but now they find themselves paying the price for their crimes.

The growing number of arrests is a good thing. It indicates a likelihood that most of herd will hesitate to follow their leaders over the cliff. That is extremely significant. I view it in the context of a general rule regarding groups of twenty men: those keeping an eye on the group will easily be able to identify the leader, and if he is separated from the other nineteen, the groups threat is reduced by inertia.

In our society today, there are quite a few of those one-in-twenty out there, still furious about Joe Biden's clear victory over Trump. Many, though not all, are disappointed by Trump's failure to declare martial law on January 6, and are beginning to recognize that Trump is a cowardly false prophet decaying before their very eyes. But to accept that Joe Biden won would mean that they have to recognize that they are failures and fools.

This, of course, brings us to Critical Rage Theory, something that every FBI agent and other federal law enforcement officials are aware of. It involves the 5% of the Trump cult that will continue to engage in their battle against democracy. Some are in state or national office, and will actively participate in efforts to prevent non-white citizens from voting. Others are either in or retired from law enforcement and/or the military. Still others are in militias and other secretive cells.

They may have put most of their activities on pause, but they will not go away. They will attempt to identify and engage in activities that have a reduced likelihood of their being caught. I think it is a good thing that we currently have an Attorney General who's previous DOJ experience was investigating and prosecuting a couple of fellows involved in a bombing attack on the federal government that killed 168 human beings, and injured 680 more. In my opinion, that experience will be of great value in the future.

Peace,
H2O Man

[ChubbyStar]

1. Taking a brave stand for Truth often interrupts one's life.

Indeed it does, and taking a foolish stand for LIES should surely interrupt the lives of these treasonous fuckers. Thanks H20 Man.

[H2O Man]

8. Thanks!

I think some of the Trump cult are beginning to recognize that they were played by the sociopath. Those who participated in the January 6 uprising are finding out that they were not heroes.

In my life, I've never heard of -- much less met -- any person who followed Dr. King who believes their sacrifices were anything less than a badge of honor.

[joetheman]

2. Hey, your meme is an excellent way to move their "critical race" BS from the headlines. nt

[H2O Man]

10. Thank you!

I was in a heated debate with a person over the weekend about Critical Race Theory. The person had restricted his understanding of it based entirely on the lies that the Tucker Carlson and similar liars are attempting to use to stir hatred. He had no idea where Critical Race Theory actually exists, which is in Columbia law school.

The person became frustrated by my pointing out his ignorance. I attempted to lighten the conversation, by offering to debate with one hand tied behind my back. This upset and then enraged the person, leading to my identifying Critical Rage Theory.

I do understand that concept upsets some people. But these are hard times.

[blogslug]

3. Stay frosty

We can't let America slip through our fingers.

[H2O Man]

11. Thanks!

I'm still just warming up. It takes longer at my age.

I'm waiting to learn how a friend did in the NYC primary for mayor. I am okay with any of the candidates, but am hoping for one in particular. She has the best proposals for dealing with the police union.

[FakeNoose]

4. K & R

Thanks H2O Man

[H2O Man]

12. Thanks, FakeNoose!

Much appreciated!

[malaise]

5. Critical Rage Theory

Nicely played
The serious ones will have to be monitored carefully - the cult followers will expose themselves and end up in prison.

[H2O Man]

13. Thank you!

The serious ones will attempt to adopt the tactics of the unhinged, lone wolf thugs. The fewer people involved in a criminal activity, the more difficult it can be to identify and prosecute them. Certainly not impossible, but there are very real potential difficulties.

[malaise]

14. Agree

[H2O Man]

18. The other real

and present danger is found in the officials in state and federal government actively attempting to deny citizens the right to vote. People our age might think, "Wait! Didn't we win that fight in the 1960s?" And yes, there were huge victories back then, but as the actual Critical Race Theory law class at Columbia University is correctly focused on why good laws do not often translate to fairness to non-white citizens, even unto this day.

There are, I have found, even some good people who cannot see the connections between this and the January 6 riot. The 1-6 thugs and the repulsive, often dehydrated republicans in the Senate -- McConnell and Grassley, for example -- all have the goal of destroying democracy and our institutions.

These are issues that need to be discussed openly, including on DU. Those trying to deny such discussions, be they in the Senate or on the internet, are shameless.

[Me.]

6. KR

[H2O Man]

17. Thanks, Me!

For everything!

[Saoirse9]

7. K n R

I think one of the 5% might be my brother.

[H2O Man]

15. I hope not.

Families can be such curious things. Often frustrating. I have a very few relatives, from fairly distant branches of the family tree. Fortunately, their greatest threat is to "unfriend" me on facebook.

[ornotna]

9. Thanks

Always a thoughtful read.

[H2O Man]

16. Thank you, ornotna!

[keithbvadu2]

19. Who knows what Critical Race Theory is?

Gatherings from different articles... I would guess that over 95% of folks, both black and white, do not really know what Critical Race Theory is.
I did not until I read up on it.

For most folks, it is a boogeyman with a catch phrase.

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1618 https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215536557

We asked Republicans to explain Critical Race Theory--but they couldn't

https://www.dailydot.com/debug/critical-race-theory-republicans/

Link to tweet

"But with Republicans hoping to return to power in Washington, they have doubled down on Critical Race Theory as their latest boogeyman, even if they have no idea what it means. "

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https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Critical+Race+Theory

Many 'definitions' seem to wander around themselves.

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This one actually says something.

It's loose enough that any discussion of race or slavery could lead into "Critical Race Theory".

(It seems to be lacking a religious aspect.)

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05

Just what is critical race theory anyway?

"Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that racism is a social construct, and that it is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies."

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Our hero... Groucho Marx - I'm Against It

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1619 https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/critical-race-theory-curriculum-panics-history.html

This Critical Race Theory Panic Is a Chip Off the Old Block
How 20th-century curriculum controversies foreshadowed this summer’s wave of legislation.

(In Indiana, suburban parents have been “angered” by the supposed presence of critical race theory, or CRT—typically a graduate-level elective offered to law students—in their schools, despite the fact that their schools do not teach it.)

(not a middle/high school subject)

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1618 https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215538945

Revisionist history of slavery.

Dubya was well known for using that term but he was an amateur compared to the 'history' of slavery.

https://tinyurl.com/56x367up

https://www.google.com/search?q=revisionist+history+dubya&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk00sTiyO4iWX4VBKrHLL5tuZfhk73Q%3A1624032794302&ei=GsbMYKntEaaHggfQ-5RQ&oq=revisionist+history+dubya&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAwyBQghEKABMgUIIRCgATIFCCEQoAEyBQghEKABOgcIIxCwAxAnOgcIABBHELADOgcIABCwAxBDOgIIADoECAAQQzoFCAAQzQJQwogEWOanBGDlywRoAXACeACAAfMDiAHQCZIBBzAuNi40LTGYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6yAEKwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwip4rrOyaHxAhWmg-AKHdA9BQoQ4dUDCA0

https://civilrightsheritage.com/2019/10/03/happy-slaves-described-in-7th-grade-virginia-textbook-used-for-20-yrs/

“Happy Slaves” Described In 7th Grade Virginia Textbook Used for 20 Yrs.

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https://crooksandliars.com/2021/06/what-s-critical-race-theory-uproar-really

What’s The 'Critical Race Theory’ Uproar Really About? Making Enemies For 2022
The whole campaign against CRT, in fact, appears to be primarily the work of a handful of astroturfing “dark money” right-wing organizations. And its central figure is named Christopher Rufo.

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Fox News caught trying to pass off GOP operatives as parents "concerned" about critical race theory

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fox-news-caught-trying-to-pass-off-gop-operatives-as-parents-concerned-about-critical-race-theory/ar-AALa09c

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1619 https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016295241

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/17/critical-race-theory-republicans-moira-donegan

What the moral panic about 'critical race theory' is about

Moira Donegan
The real reason Republicans want to ban schools from teaching CRT

[H2O Man]

20. Many, many thanks!!!

In late 2020, I encountered a guy who was a year or two behind me in high school. He was at the home of a guy who I have been friends with for many years. The two used to work together.

I was never friends nor enemies with the one fellow from my high school years. I generally try to be civil, if not friendly, with every person I encounter. But the guy was a Trump supporter, and had some beliefs about the threats that AOC and antifa pose. My other friend stated that most Trump supporters are racist, even in cases where the person is not aware of it because it is the systematic racism that they -- and Trump -- support. The first guy insisted that he wasn't racist in any way.

In a polite manner, I asked him what he thought about the treatment of Native Americans in the United States? He immediately said that he admired a couple of chiefs, and thought their treatment was bad. Now, the chiefs he spoke of had lived in the 1800s, and were among the victims of the racist US policy towards Indians. Good he was against that. But there are a heck of a lot of Indians alive today, and among other things, we saw the efforts to prevent them from voting in recent elections. In fact, in 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of a state law requiring an identification that included a specific home address -- something that many inhabitants of Indian Territory do not have.

https://www.npr.org/2018/10/13/657125819/many-native-ids-wont-be-accepted-at-north-dakota-polling-places

There is an attack on voting rights today that documents the absolute need for Critical Race Theory in colleges and universities. As a former school board member, I remember certain parents that were mighty unhappy that their children's school was teaching the truth about American history. By no coincidence, these were among a group that gathers to oppose the Black Lives Matter rallies in our area. I'm happy to say that the regional BLM leaders graduated from our school, and is a good friend of both of my daughters.

I wish that I had the ability to copy and provide a copy of an essay Rubin Carter wrote in the late 1970s, from his prison cell, that he titled "The Sophistication of Racism." The Hurricane used to send me a number of the essays he wrote. This one applied directly to the same issues that we are dealing with today. But I remember Rubin saying that democracy requires constant struggle.

[Blue Owl]

21. Seems much more relevant right now than the phony critical race theory

These MAGA extremists are outta control and a menace to our democracy...

[H2O Man]

22. Thanks!

I agree. The MAGA crowd has become a vicious threat to our democracy. And its extremists are not going to simply fade away.

How delusional are they? At first, when the January 6 insurrection was looking bad on television, they sought to blame antifa and BLM. Now they are pointing their fingers at the FBI.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

23. I worry that here in the rural red west the many fascist/nazi

white supremacist cells will take hostages as a first move in a coordinated attack on the US.

These fascists are boiling over with rage, and making plans outside the electronic communication sphere.