Rank Hypocrisy
World leaders have been queueing up to condemn the violent protests in Washington, where pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol building. The action was designed to cause the suspension of a session of Congress which was scheduled to certify Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Many of them called for a cessation and an orderly transition of power, with descriptions ranging from “horrifying” to an “attack on democracy”.
I am no supporter of Trump, finding him crass and narcissistic, but the contrast in reactions to this violence is stunning when compared to that when he was first elected. One has to wonder whether the sympathetic coverage given to that and further violence last year from BLM and environmental fanatics has escalated the level of protests here? Support for the BLM protests was the most likely reason Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen slipped several points from Gary Johnson’s showing four years earlier.
Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer called it a “direct attack on democracy”. Yes, he’s probably right, but what were the other riots then? A picnic in the park? Hypocrite of the Year award has to go to the Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who took power via a coup in 2006, expressing his faux outrage at the events taking place.
Attacks on persons and property are not reconcilable with our libertarian beliefs. Any ideology behind such violence is merely an excuse. I would be extremely surprised if there weren’t rioters on the streets who had joined in just for the orgy of destruction, having no particular affiliation to one or any cause.
How much are the likes of the BBC and CNN to blame for the escalation in the levels of aggression? Once you start to agree with the cause – an end to racism, perhaps – you give credence to the violent, Marxist thugs behind BLM. You also create a mindset of “Well, if they can do it, so can we.”
Is it too much to ask for main stream media to go back to reporting on events instead of trying to influence them? In pinning the blame for race riots on police brutality, looters and murderers were almost exonerated. A riot is a riot and a murder is a murder, whatever the reason. If the media practice hypocrisy and try to assuage blame, it means they get left with blood on their hands.
Martin Day – Party Secretary