So I recently got the following message from facebook regarding one of my posts.
Apparently, Kyle Rittenhouse, a teen who was violently attacked by a pedophile, a girlfriend beater, and a burglar and defended himself is a "dangerous individual". Merely, using his image in a "don't tread on me" flag is going too far. Self defense apparently makes you a dangerous individual (well maybe it does to those who attack you as the monsters who attacked Kyle found out) Now before we go on I do have to point out the funny irony of this 3 person random sample of the "peaceful protestor" crowd turning out to have such people of such lovely backgrounds (but I digress). I also want to completely ignore the fact that Kyle's shooting (which was entirely caught on tape) was entirely justified as all 3 men were violently attacking him. I also want to ignore that this "dangerous person" was out earlier cleaning the streets and rendering 1st aid to protestors. I want to ignore all that. However, I want to ask facebook why Jacob Blake (whose being shot by police started these protests in the first place) is not considered a "dangerous person". After all, police went to arrest him based on the account below. When they did, he violently overpowered 2 cops and despite orders to stop and show his hands he went for a weapon in his car (which was full of kids BTW). Does this seem like a "dangerous individual"?
So much for #MeToo I guess. Also for those who say that glorifying Kyle will glorify "vigilantes" will lead to more violence, let's not forget that posts about the "not dangerous" Jacob Blake inspired massive riots that burned sections of Kenosha to the ground and that Kyle did nothing but defend himself from people who attacked him. People are not "vigilantes" because they want to be present and armed - both of which which are constitutional rights. The only thing it appears Kyle is guilty of is a misdemeanor open carry violation, but considering the context and that in 6 months we could be sending him to war let's not get too distracted.
But it does not stop with Facebook. Just a few days ago GoFundMe stopped allowing people to raise funds to help Kyle's legal defense but they raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help get rioters bail money so they could get back out on the streets. But they choose to ban any “activity that GoFundMe may deem in its sole discretion to be unacceptable.” Apparently defending oneself from rioters is unacceptable but getting rioters back on the streets asap is just fine and dandy.
Yeah, Yeah, these are private businesses and they can do what they like. Obviously. The point is that just because a person legally can do something does not mean they should. It just another example of the power of big companies, media and government to control the discourse and peoples minds as they push their agendas and crush those who disagree. Even if that means defending and lying about who the "dangerous individuals" are. Free speech is not just a legal right, it's a cultural principle. It's the principle that fosters a marketplace of ideas where we all are free to make our opinions known without risk of being "cancelled" by closed minded individuals who don't want opinions and facts they don't like making it into the minds of others. Freedom of speech is about open mindedness, its tolerance of opposing opinions and its the very basis of our ability to live as free people. Cancel culture is cancer. Our world is upside down. People who defend themselves are deemed "too dangerous" and rapists/rioters who assault the police and innocent civilians are not. I have never been seriously worried about the social stability of my country, but we are getting into really scary territory now. This is much bigger than facebook making a stupid decision on my little post. May God help us.
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