I Know You Are, But What Am I?

Brown Shirts? I’ve got your Brown Shirts right here.

(Jun. 25) -- The highly anticipated film, Fahrenheit 9/11, came with more than just controversy at one Las Vegas movie theatre. Moviegoer, Richard Streeter, was one of the many who made his way to a theatre to see what the hype was about. After viewing the film, he was greeted outside the theatre by members of the Las Vegas MoveOn.org.

The group was handing out leaflets on the importance of the film. Streeter voiced his view on the movie, "I made the comment, apples and oranges -- Kerry, Bush -- one's no better than the other. You really ain't got much of a choice. This guy comes up to me and says, 'Oh yeah?' " Streeter was then spat on by the same man.

He attempted to call police to report the incident when he was told not to, "A guy standing next to him said why don't you drop it. I said, 'No, I'm calling the police. I'm exercising my right as a citizen, I've been assaulted.' "

But the horror kept on growing for Streeter as he walked to his car on the phone with police, "This guy turns, and totally by surprise takes his hand and bam! It was a big guy. Shoved me onto the ground, I hit my head." A police report has been filed.

Crime: insufficient respect shown for the Party.

It will get uglier. I'm sure of it.

(Thanks to D.C. Thornton)

Comments

[Francis W. Porretto]

It will indeed. One cannot abandon civility in discourse without seeing all other kinds of restraint erode as well. The Moore-ites and MoveOn types are the fringiest elements of the Left. We can expect to find them in the vanguard of any movement toward political thuggery.

Besides, after what Al Gore said, they have a perfect justification, don't they? The Wooden One has called us BrownShirts, so we must be legitimate targets for violence, no?

[Jane]

The justification for violence against Americans
comes from many fronts in this odd allience of jihadiis and the left and Europe and the media.

[Laughing Wolf]

Indeed. Francis W. Porretto has it right, any who disagree are legitimate targets for violence. Funny how almost all the violence of late comes not from the far right (or north or south) but from the left. Wonder if Al Franken was out tackling people instead of ideas again, and whatever happened as a result of that incident.

[TomBoy]

No wonder the democrats are so anti-gun. :)

[Brian Jones]

That "fringe" is getting awful big lately, what with Al Gore, Ted Kennedy not to mention George Soros signing on. I think you give the libleftdems too much credit.

[Monkey]

You people are laughable.

Some guy got into a fight...ooooh, Democrats are in league with Bin Laden.

Please. I've been TOTALLY vibed by right wing thugs on numerous occasions. So what? Did I call the police? No. Why? Because I'm a grownup.

If this guy wanted to throw down, then throw down with whomever spat on you.

I would bust someone's jaw (or at least try) if they spat on me. What I would NOT do, is look for a cop to do what I as a citizen should do.

It sounds to me that this clown got what he wanted, which was a rise out of a lefty. News flash: We're not pussies, and we're pretty upset about what Bush has done to our country.

[baldilocks]

Tough words, Monkey. No worries, tough words are good.

However, tough thinking is also good. When you're out-numbered, as this guy was, why take the chance of ending up in the hospital ward of a jail (or the jail ward of a hospital, however that goes)?

I've mentioned here several times that I like tough guys. That does not include tough, stupid guys.

And as for the laughter, it only hurts when you care about what the source of the laughter thinks. That's not meant toward you personally. Just an observation.

[Anne Haight]

I don't know about you, Monkey, but as a 5'1" female with no fighting experience or the necessary strength, I am not going to "throw down" with some huge man who picks a fight with me in the street.

I'm going to shoot him, if necessary. And/or call the police.

Somebody closer to my size I might be able to shove around, but only if I didn't have a choice and I was in immediate danger.

[ScottM]

Yes, Monkey, you are pussies. That's why you attack in packs, the way your progenitors in 1930s Germany did. You are gutless weasels, every damned one of you.

[David]

Monkey got vibed.

[Judith]

"Crime: insufficient respect shown for the Party.
It will get uglier. I'm sure of it."

I am too. The violence that was predicted to come from the right as a result of The Passion of the Christ will come from the left instead. Whether they win or lose the White House in 2004...I think we are in for a long slog.

[Diggs]

Monkey, it's not about being tough, it's about freedom. The stuff I'm over here fighting for. Both you and this guy have the right to say whatever you want, but when you say that right extends to spitting on someone and hitting them for stating their beliefs, you are wrong. And a coward.
You've been "vibed", oh sorry, "TOTALLY vibed" by right wing thugs and you didn't do anything because you are a grownup?
Hardly, you sound like a spoiled child to me. It is much more mature to defend what is right, than "throw down."

[Matt]

What a figgin' crock. One wacko in Vegas makes the world unsafe for democracy?!

I love the fuss this movie is stirring up! It's worth it just to see the wingnuts sputtering with fury that the myths they hold so dear are being challenged.

Don't you just LOVE AMERICA, and especically the first ammendment!

[inkling]

"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not 'insurgents' or 'terrorists' or 'The Enemy.' They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win.

"I'm sorry, but the majority of Americans supported this war once it began and, sadly, that majority must now sacrifice their children until enough blood has been let that maybe -- just maybe -- God and the Iraqi people will forgive us in the end. "

-Michael Moore, April 14, 2004

Moore and his ilk aren't anti-war; they're anti-American. They want us to die to prove their fringe ideology correct.

[John Doe]

Here in Seattle, cars with conservative or republican bumper stickers risk getting keyed.

[McGehee]

One wacko in Vegas makes the world unsafe for democracy?!

Mattso, if the movie were made by, say, David Duke, and the wacko in Vegas were a white supremacist, your buddies in Big Media would be making exactly that case -- one of your side's beloved myths about we're all "thugs" over here on our side.

It's happened too many times to count, and those of us on the conservative side of the aisle aren't going to bother arguing with your guys about it anymore.

We're just going to turn your guys out of office and make sure their myths never again go unchallenged.

Call it a crock if you want, but you're just gonna have to deal with it.

[The Lonewacko Blog]

I would bust someone's jaw (or at least try) if they spat on me. What I would NOT do, is look for a cop to do what I as a citizen should do.

Actually, I'd imagine that spitting on someone could be considered assault with a deadly weapon. I'm sure people have received prison (not just jail) time for spitting on people. For all the victim knows, the perp might have AIDS, TB, or any of many other contagious diseases.

On a somewhat related note, Kerry's campaign co-chairman is the former president of the UCLA chapter of a racial separatist organization. Let me know when that gets attention from the press.

[Average Joe]

Matt, you said

It's worth it just to see the wingnuts sputtering with fury that the myths they hold so dear are being challenged.

However, the fellow in the story says

I made the comment, apples and oranges -- Kerry, Bush -- one's no better than the other. You really ain't got much of a choice.

which does not sound like the statement of a "wingnut" whose "myths" have been challenged. The story does not mention much about his politics. In fact, it is consistent with, among other things, his being a radical lefty who saw the two parties as the same because neither is sufficently socialist for his taste. Given the account published in the newspaper, I think that Juliette hit the nail on the head:

Crime: insufficient respect shown for the Party.

[baldilocks]

Average Joe: you beat me to it. If Mr. Streeter's account of the events is truthful, he is indeed no Bush partisan.

Those who allegedly accosted him thought to assault him for being not "propagandized" enough.

It's not enough to be disgusted with politicians in general. You have to express actual hate for GWB, in order to be worthy of not getting the "beat down."

[glenn]

From a self-professed lefty:

I went to see the film. Of course I liked the film. I think everyone should see the film, not because I seek to change everyone's mind, but I'm just excited that talking about the issues as opposed to who is sucking who and who believes in who's God.

That being said I'm looking forward to the line by line "deconstruction" of the arguments posed in F9/11.

[Cybrludite]

Here you go, Glenn.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2102723/

[baldilocks]

Dang. Everyone is faster than me.

[Asher Abrams]

Juliette,

Thanks for posting this. I am continually amazed at the depths to which the Democrats have sunk.

Yeah, this is the path of extremism: the "enemy" gets defined more and more broadly, even to include members of one's own group who are seen as "moderates" (="collaborators").

[Tim]

It's interesting how Gibson's movie "The Passion" caused such anxiety that it would cause violence. Christianity being known for that and all. All I heard about was some guys turning themselves in and confessing crimes (one later recanting after talking with a lawyer, right?).

But big fat provocateur Moore drops a hate-bomb in the middle of an already primed, stoked and fuel-soaked electorate -- nope, no problems there.

What liberal media?

[Emperor Misha I]

Don't you just LOVE AMERICA, and especically the first ammendment!

Indeed I do, Matt.

So much, in fact, that I've laid down an oath to defend them both against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

By any means deemed necessary.

Take that as you will.

[Jeff G]

Michael Moore? Huge. Like a pile of beanbags chairs stuffed with chicken wings and donuts. Wearing a hat.

[Sharps Shooter]

I live expat life in far-off Bangkok... and in fact, am meeting with media and film production principals later today, with several issues on agenda, but one important issue being deconstructing Moore's gutless (!) propaganda against the very system which allows him to make, and PROFIT FROM, that very propaganda.

We want to ameliorate the spread of his disease.

[Joe Barranco]

as a liberal democrat, i’m offended by the violent actions of that moviegoer… yes, he should be charged with assault…
i am almost as offended by your disgusting insinuation that this deplorable behavior is in any way representative of those of us on the left end of the political spectrum…
what’s the point of dialogue when both sides engage in demonizing the other side…

[baldilocks]

Joe B:

It was one of your guys, Al Gore, who stated straight-out that those who supported the position of the Republican president were "digital Brown Shirts", even though he gave no examples of GWB's supporters physically intimidating their ideological opponents, which was a characteristic of the SA. The incident illustrated in the post is a classic SA tactic.

Maybe you're "almost offended," but I am completely flocking offended by the statements of one of the most highly regarded members of your party referring to people like me, a black person, as a Brown Shirt: someone who the real Brown Shirts would murder if they thought they could get away with it.

So, please, get all the way offended. Don't expect me to lose too much sleep over it.

[Rob Read]

Michael Moore + MoveOn = MooreOn?

[actus]

More real life brownshirts.

[Smaack]

Can anyone imagine the uproar if some fundi Christian had spat upon and then beaten down a Jew outside of a showing of the Passion of the Christ? Front page stories, psychological profiles of these "Christians", and the like, at a minimum.

Ahh, I love the smell of double-standards in the morning...

[jed clamp-it]

From what I hear, the streets are filled with dreadlocked, vegan neo-hippies wielding axe handles and baseball bats to bash in the skulls of right-wingers, Republicans, NASCAR fans, SUV drivers, and everyone else who looks vaguely like a Limbaugh dittohead. Many have spent months pumping iron in the gym, gobbling steroids, and taking jujitsu classes to prepare for this street war. They've read up on their Bakunin, Mao, and Sun-Tzu, and they are ready to kick ass and take names.

Bubbas and Freepers of the world beware!

These goose-stepping, tofu-munching Phish fans are creating a bloody ruckus of a most appalling magnitude, the likes of which hasn't been seen in America since the Haymarket Riot of 1886. They are going to make the 1848 Paris Revolution look like a frickin' patty-cake contest.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

You right-wingers are a bunch of silly wankers. For fuck's sake, breathe into a paper bag before you pass out from hyperventilation. One asshole hocking a loogie at some poor sod isn't exactly a 1928 Sturm Abteilung street march in Munich, now is it?

Spare me the polemical hyperbole and phony outrage. It's undignified. It's childish. It's just plain silly.

[dick]

As to the Haigh case in San Francisco noted above by Actus, I really believe that Ms Haigh indulged in a bit of publicity seeking to get support from the libs in San Francisco by purposely putting up a painting in her window that she knew would get a reaction from the conservatives, then she played up on it and possibly even had something to do with trashing her gallery. It is just too convenient a scapegoat for words. This woman opens a gallery in the wrong neighborhood for the art she wants to show because she can't afford to open where it would play well; then she puts in the window works that specifically would aggravate her neighbors, works that are nothing like anything else the artists has done for her; when the gallery is trashed by whomever (nothing said about anyone claiming the act or nothing by the San Fran police as to their findings or whether they even considered she and her buddies would do this themselves), then she makes a big publicity argument including crocodile tears aplenty and the (sob) danger to her child and then it is off to the bank to rake in the donations. Now she can open her gallery where she wants and sit back in luxury. Game, set, match!!!

[baldilocks]

Jed: get over yourself and learn to read. It *wasn't* a "right-winger" that this happened to.

It appears that you have a PhD in non-sequiturs, name-calling, and silly hyperbole that has nothing to do with anything said here. Perhaps you can give us "right-wingers" a class in how to make fools of ourselves in public. It appears that you have mastered the technique.

Ah, the Instalanche.

[Matt]

Tim,

" Don't you just LOVE AMERICA, and especically the first ammendment!

Indeed I do, Matt.

So much, in fact, that I've laid down an oath to defend them both against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

By any means deemed necessary.

Take that as you will."

Was it Patrick Henry who said I don't agree with what you say but will defend to the death you're right to say it?

How far we've come. Sad...

[baldilocks]

Matt: What is "Sad" about the line you quoted? Misha was affirming Patrick Henry's sentiment. Nothing sad about that.

[actus]

dick:

Isn't one of the main points of speech to get attention to this speech?

[Matt]

Sad because the thread is a commentary on someone exerecising that right, and our friend clearly doesn't see it that way.

Michaal Moore, Moveon.org, Rush, O'Reilly--they all have the right to have their say. Just as we have the right to not listen to them.

I don't see how these "brownshirts" are a threat to free speech.

[baldilocks]

Huh? What friend are you talking about?

Brown shirts physically assault others for having opposing views. It's what they do. Free speech means freedom from being physical assaulted or jailed merely for expressing a view. Thus those who act in the manner of "brown shirts" are a threat to free speech.

[Thomas]

More real life brownshirts.

Posted by: actus | June 28, 2004 05:01 AM

Actus, that sucks but there is a difference.

The creep that did it was not part of a group.

If I saw someone on my side picking a fight or attacking someone on the other side I'd try to help the person being attacked...

I'd also turn in whoever did it if I knew who they were.

[baldilocks]

Thanks, actus. I will post something about this incident.

[Member of the VRWC]

Matt -
The quote you so generously gave to Patrick Henry is actually attributed to Voltaire.
Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death!"
Remember now?

[Aaron's Rantblog]

My contribution to the brownshirt controversy.

[Erik]

I would bust someone's jaw (or at least try) if they spat on me. What I would NOT do, is look for a cop to do what I as a citizen should do.

Interesting argument... Would that mean that it would be ok for citizens that are not that big and strong to gang up in groups with baseball bats and go-a-huntin'?
I guess Monkey doesn't support gun control either. After all, every citizen should have the right, as well as the capability, to handle what he feels he as a citizen should do, and the law shouldn't be involved in it... Or...?

[Jim]

After lo these many years, about 40, of hearing the same leftist BS, I generally avoid gatherings of the bedraggled hippie tofu eaters. Don't care to waste any more of my life listening to that BS. Needless to say, if assulted I would call the police.

[Uncle Mikey]

Ignore the trolls. They feel they have no stake in this society, the society that has provided them one of the few places and times in history in which they can spew their venom freely and without consequence. They have no conception of how we got here, or what it cost. And they never will understand. So ignore them. Their utter emptiness is its own punishment.

[Sharps Shooter]

Uncle Mikey, I concur yr analysis:
Their utter emptiness is its own punishment.

Outgrabe! :)