On the FRC Shooting

It is hard to begin with this one. There are a lot of aspects here worth discussing, but most of them would trigger entirely different debates. However, what I would like to address my general observations of reactions by many on the left.

Now, keep in mind, I'm not, nor will I ever say that the actions of a few, or some, or many ever represent all. However, when I see a pattern, I will use generalities just the same as liberals will generalize conservatives.

That being said, something I've tended to note on the left is how they react differently to different types of violent incidents. I cite three examples for one type of reaction. In the Tuscon, Arizona shooting, and the more recent Aurora, Colorado and Sikh temple shootings, the left always automatically looked to conservatives and “conservative speech” as the main causes for the violent acts. They acted sympathetic while demonizing people who just happen to disagree with them.

Of course, in all three cases, the right was vindicated (like anyone besides the perpetrators actually needed to be absolved from guilt when they decided to unleash their hatred and insecurity). Jared Lee Loughner of Tuscon, while recently cleared to stand trial, was still clearly deranged and found to hold no particular beliefs that could connect him to the right or the left. He did hold leftist beliefs, but those beliefs were meshed with contradictory philosophies.

In the Aurora case, we still lack clear evidence as to the motivating factor of the alleged shooter, but again, it seems highly unlikely that it was conservative philosophy that drove him to act as he did. It requires a mind detached from reality and human reason to open fire on a movie theater while resembling a Batman villain.

For the Sikh temple shooting, it became obvious very early that the man was a Neo-Nazi. For the ignorant, this was a smoking gun, because at some point, Nazi's became associated with the right, regardless of the side of the Atlantic you were on. However, when one realizes the left and the right in this country are about the size of government, it changes the debate, as fascists are squarely on the left. Personally, I have no idea where Neo-Nazi's actually fall on the scale, as the majority are anarchists. Anarchy seems to fall right off the scale, considering they don't believe there should be a scale to begin with.

Now compare that to the attempted shooting Wednesday morning. In the near-mass shooting at the FRC, many on the left either tried to ignore what happened, pushing off talking about it for as long as possible or attempted to justify it. Sure, they uttered a few words of condolence, but many just couldn't seem to help but get a dig in at the “hatefulness” of the FRC (I'll discuss the issue of hate another time), as though the hatred of others justified shooting a man.

Then, compare that reaction to those by people on the right. Can a hate-filled heart really pray for the well-being and salvation of a man who attempted to kill just hours before? Doesn't it take a hate-filled heart to try and justify the actions of that same man?

I think the answer to both questions is obvious.