Jazz Shaw at Hot Air, You Knew This Was Coming: “In Defense Of Looting”
Since this was inevitable ever since Don Lemon noticed that the riots and looting were starting to affect Democratic polling numbers, we may as well get it out of the way. The media was going to have to find someone to trot out and declare that looting really gets a bad rap in the press and all of you racist white people need to learn to appreciate the social significance of both massive organized theft and violent rioting as well. Riding to the rescue is NPR, where they feature a lengthy interview with someone espousing just such a position. And it’s not some one-off bit of commentary, either. The interview subject actually wrote a book titled “In Defense of Looting” back in May when most of this mayhem was breaking out.NPR delenda est.
The author is Vicky Osterweil and she has plenty to say on the subject. (Actually, I’m pretty sure Osterweil is a male and trans, but I’m not feeling energetic enough to go research that or any transitional operation status, so I’ll just throw caution to the wind and go with a female pronoun for today.) The NPR reporter dives right into the subject, pointing out Osterweil’s contention that “looting is a powerful tool to bring about real, lasting change in society.” I obviously agree with that (as we’ll get to in a moment) though for very different reasons. Still, let’s take a brief look at her overview of the question.
For people who haven’t read your book, how do you define looting?Right off the bat, we see the typical socialist/anarchist tactic of attempting to redefine language to fit an alternative and highly radical agenda. As we’ve discussed here on several occasions, this is a move straight out of the Karl Marx playbook. You normalize repulsive behavior by attempting to force people to speak about it in conventional terms. Looting isn’t some sort of naughty behavior that deprives others of their rightful property and leaves massive destruction in its wake. It’s simply the “mass expropriation of property.” She would never defend stealing anything “by force.” Perish the thought. Of course, when I look at the ravaged remnants of the Miracle Mile, I can’t help but feel that a little “force” was required to smash all of those huge plate-glass windows and break all of the anti-theft security locks.
When I use the word looting, I mean the mass expropriation of property, mass shoplifting during a moment of upheaval or riot. That’s the thing I’m defending. I’m not defending any situation in which property is stolen by force. It’s not a home invasion, either. It’s about a certain kind of action that’s taken during protests and riots.
Moving on, the NPR host inquires as to what the difference is between rioting and looting. Osterweil cleverly challenges the premise of the question, pointing out that rioting and looting are both perfectly acceptable. But looting is more of a sub-class of rioting.
During the uprisings of this past summer, rioting and looting have often gone hand in hand. Can you talk about the distinction you see between the two?Here we see even more corruption of the language on display. The real purpose of rioting, you see, is to break down the “general laws that govern society.” Once you do that, you’re free to “act in different ways.”
“Rioting” generally refers to any moment of mass unrest or upheaval.Riots are a space in which a mass of people has produced a situation in which the general laws that govern society no longer function, and people can act in different ways in the street and in public. I’d say that rioting is a broader category, in which looting appears as a tactic.
Often, looting is more common among movements that are coming from below. It tends to be an attack on a business, a commercial space, maybe a government building—taking those things that would otherwise be commodified and controlled and sharing them for free.
A revenge killing for Kenosha? Post Millennial Trump supporter shot dead in downtown Portland
On the 95th day of riots and protests in Portland, Ore., a Trump supporter was fatally shot. He was identified by his "Patriot Prayer" hat and his shooting death was caught by multiple livestreamers.
As cars drive through the intersection, a man can be seen pulling a gun and shooting. The man who is hit stumbles and falls and is then illuminated by headlights.
At the moment of the murder, a voice can be heard to celebrate the death of a "Trumper."
Listen closely. This was the instant of the murder in Portland.— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 30, 2020
A: "Hey! Hey, we got one right here! We got a Trumper right here!"
B: "Right here?"
<Two gunshots>pic.twitter.com/UxUGdKZ1tJ
After the man was murdered, his death was celebrated as a victory over Trump, and the dead man was assumed to be a Nazi.This is vastly different that the situation in Kenosha, where Kevin Ritteland was clearly involved in scuffles with the left wing rioter and vandals, and was being attacked while defending himself. This is just straight up murder.
Althouse, Can you guess from this NYT headline whether a person of the right shot a person of the left or a person of the left shot a person of the right?
Here's the headline this morning: "Deadly Shooting in Portland After Pro-Trump Ralliers Clash With Protesters/A caravan of supporters of President Trump drove through downtown Portland, which has seen nightly protests against police violence and racial injustice. One person was shot and killed in the conflicts that erupted."Also from Althouse "Most of the speakers talked about justice peacefully. But near the end of the rally, one man introduced as 'our president' strayed from the message by saying, 'If you kill one of us, it’s time for us to kill one of yours.'"
From "WATCH NOW: Kenosha speaker strays from message at rally" (Kenosha News).
NoenNettle, Three time victim of leftist violence, Rand Paul Calls for FBI Investigation into 'Paid' BLM Mobs Rioting in Streets"We've always condemned in the strongest terms the violence which we previously denied existing." https://t.co/2uiUSKlGv3— Razor (@hale_razor) August 28, 2020
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has called on the FBI to investigate allegations that violent Black Lives Matter mobs are being "paid" to incite riots in America's city streets.I imagine the investigation is already underway in the parts of the FBI and DOJ that Obama/Biden didn't succeed in corrupting, but will get get buried post haste if Biden is elected.
The senator says he believes "crazed mobs" are being "hired" to travel from out of town and across state lines to instigate unrest and rioting.
Paul made the calls during a Friday interview with Fox News's "Fox & Friends" after he was surrounded by an "unhinged mob" of BLM protesters as he left the RNC event at the White House with his wife and friends on Thursday night.
Sen. Paul said he believes he would have been killed if not for the police when his group was attacked by the "mob" yelling threats and shoving cops who were protecting them.
Linked at 357 Magnum in Wednesday Link Roundup.
