11-05-2021, 03:21 PM
(11-05-2021, 03:04 PM)hollodero Wrote: Ehm, I guess I don't, I'm for enforcing that penal code.
I see many of the points you and Bels make as fair and I'd agree that a lot of actual measures taken are not within the realms of my own suggestions and I am not advocating many of them. I get that you can and should not confiscate guns, for example.
Alright... though there is all said about Rittenhause anyway... according to US laws, he should go free, you made this case convincingly enough.
What I can say about that aside from gun laws (just to add some content still) is that - not to deploy a bad faith argument regarding the trial - I do have a problem with Rittenhouse getting celebrated as some kind of folk hero by large portions of the more extreme right. His deeds get outright celebrated. Doesn't mean he should go to jail as a deterrent, though I can somehow understand that perspective that probably to a large part leads to the numerous refusals of your totally legit take. It just imho is yet another under-discussed example of a deep darkness in the United States coming from the right, a darkness that led to a majority (or at least the most significant portion) of Trump's GOP supporters to come out against accepting election results and against democracy as a whole. And all your guns could do nothing about that threat. The threat to democracy stemming from gun laws, imho, pales in comparison, even if I were to concede all of your points.
Yes, this is, unfortunately, accurate. I think, knowing human behavior as I do, this is a response to the largely hands off approach to these riots the past few years. A lot of lawless behavior was tolerated, in some cases encouraged (see CHAZ/CHOP and the "summer of love") and for many citizens it appeared that simple law and order was no longer a priority for many. Add in the, and I personally don't think this is disputable, glowingly positive mainstream media coverage of protests that devolved in looting, rioting and violence (mostly peaceful) and many people see Rittenhouse as someone who finally stood up to these "woke" bullies and their lawless behavior. Add in the fact that none of the three people shot by Rittenhouse were very sympathetic characters, Rosenbaum the convicted child rapist, and IMO the instigator of this whole incident, especially. Additionally, you have, if you take him at his word, Rittenhouse being there to protect the property of others, coupled with his being shown cleaning graffiti earlier that day.
Add that all up and, for many people, you have Kyle as an all American kid who put himself in danger to help others and was attacked by A-hole rioters (from the perspective of these people) for stopping an attempt to blow up a gas station and then having to defend himself, successfully when those people attacked him. So, yeah, it does come off as morbid and dark, I can certainly see that. But I can also see how some would see him as a hero who defended himself from criminals. Lastly, the vigilante doing what is right when the government won't/can't is a popular theme in US culture; the Death Wish movies and Batman being two popular examples and I could certainly dig up more. Americans have a bit of a contradictory streak in them. On one hand we greatly appreciate, and expect, law and order and on the other we have an innate distrust of those in power and will celebrate someone who "does the right thing" when those in power do not, or refuse to.
