Any Unrest Over The Coming Days Will Be, For Most, A Spectator Sport
There’s still time to pick up some wings and beer before it starts
Merriam-Webster defines spectator sport as a sport that many people watch, or, something that people watch other people do without becoming involved themselves.
On January, 6, 2021, we all watched our country’s Capitol be overrun by a few thousand people whose intentions were to take control of Congress. A couple of days later I had a brief conversation with a neighbor. He said “there’s going to be a civil war before it’s over”. I quickly responded, “what’s that going to look like?” His response was predictable — “Liberals are going to get their asses kicked.”
Again: What is that going to look like?
The United States Civil War began in 1861 following decades of tensions between southerners and northerners over slavery, states’ rights and westward expansion. In those days, loyalty to home and family was stronger than loyalty to the country and one’s own personal beliefs. Union officers from southern states resigned and returned home to fight for the south.
Those types of loyalty in today’s United States are extremely rare. This is partially due to the fact that more and more people are leaving their hometowns, attending college, and then moving to other states for a career. However, over the last 4 years, politics have divided the United States in a way most never thought was possible.
Division extends well beyond regional and state boundaries. Communities are divided, churches are divided, universities are divided, families are divided, and lifelong friendships have ended. Even worse, January 6, 2021, revealed that there is extreme division in our government organizations that goes well beyond the typical partisan divide, and even law enforcement organizations are seeing division.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a statement to all U.S. forces condemning the capitol riots and reminding military members of their oath and obligation to support and defend the Constitution. And as the National Guard moves into the Capitol to provide security during the inauguration, the guard is running additional background checks to weed out any potential extremist from their ranks.
On January 16, 1991, when Bernard Shaw reported, “The skies over Baghdad have been illuminated,” Desert Storm became the first war televised live around the world. Except for those who served in the military or those who had family members serving, the war had little impact. Americans went to work as usual and schools were open. When the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 1991, life went on as normal for the vast majority of Americans. People continued to work and go to school.
Yes, there was an outpouring of patriotism during and after each of those events. When COVID-19 became a reality, it would be different. Had the virus been limited to a small geographic region, there’s no doubt that there would have been an enormous outpouring of concern from those not directly affected. But that’s not what happened.
COVID-19 has affected everyone and we were all asked to do our part. Lockdowns have been ordered and mask mandates are in force across the country. Many Americans are having no part of it. Many believe it is a big hoax and have refused to abide by the rules. COVID-19 hasn’t been very popular on television, but the issue is debated regularly on social media.
In the weeks leading up to January 6, 2021, there were many calls for people to convene in Washington, DC, to attend various rallies. President Trump and his supporters circled the date and proclaimed it to be a day of reckoning.
For anyone who was remotely paying attention during the weeks leading up to the scheduled rallies, the events that unfolded were predictable. Those attending the rallies fall into two groups: those who traveled to DC planning to take over the Capitol and those who wanted to be there to see it.
When the crowds began to move towards the capitol and the chanting began to get louder and louder, things started to change within the crowd. Many who were there only to be apart of the rallies found themselves pulled into the emotions of the moment and became participants in the raid on the capitol.
The spectators who didn’t have a stomach for what was unfolding in front of their eyes fled the area and headed for home or to their hotel to watch the insurrectionist mob take over and occupy the U.S. Capitol on television — the same thing they would have done if they had simply stayed home.
Over the last week, the FBI has been tracking chatter about armed protests in Washington, DC, and at state capitols across the country. While here is a possibility that armed groups and/or protesters will descend on prominent locations, you can be certain that millions of people around the world will be watching on television from the safety of their homes, or sitting in their favorite bar.
Will the liberals get their ass kicked? I suspect the largest offensive will be on social media by millions who are watching the events on television. Social media rioters and protesters have to eat. There’s been nothing said about a shortage of wings and beer as we approach January 20th. Shop early. You might try Donald Trumps House of Wings.
