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talkpoliticsMike Vanderboegh, of Pinson, Ala., former head of the Alabama Constitutional Militia, put out a call on Friday for modern "Sons of Liberty" to break the windows of Democratic Party offices nationwide in opposition to health care reform. Since then, vandals have struck several offices, including the Sedgwick County Democratic Party headquarters in Wichita. 13 Wham.com
The call from the right for liberals to “do what we say and you won’t get hurt” has been turned up just a notch. In reaction to the passage of health reform, a right wing blogger named Mike Vanderboegh called on his readers to break the windows of Democrats. Shortly afterwards, several Democratic Party offices in different cities were targeted with bricks flung through their windows. Mr. Vanderboegh seems positively exhilarated by the response to his message:
"Wake up and understand what is happening in this country. You need to start listening to people who you think you didn't have to pay any attention to, because sooner or later they will get your attention.”
Indeed. In fact, someone out there is so hungry for attention that someone phoned in to the office of Louise Slaughter threatening violence against the children of lawmakers who support healthcare reform.
Imagine that. A blogger posts a call to vandalism on his blog – and vandalism takes place! It’s as if words typed into the ether actually have some sort of meaning and lead to action in the offline world!
Vanderboegh, of course, insists that he’s not promoting “actual violence.” “How ambiguous is it if I say break windows? Am I saying kill people, absolutely not,” he insists.
But you see, here’s the thing about blogging -- readers are able to see, not just the message of the blogger but, through the comments section, how that message is processed and interpreted.
And looking through the comments posted on Mr. Vanderboegh’s blog does not indicate much reluctance about upping the ante if smashing windows doesn’t work. Here are a few of the comments posted by his fans in reaction to what he calls “the window war.” I should point out that the number of comments on his blog are not high, and these were not at all difficult to find:
“Hmmm, no demopub office here, far as I know. I'll think of something...”
“One article talks about a lack of notes, the other, a lack of injuries...hmmm”
“Today it was bricks, tomorrow it will be ???? The fuse has been lit.”
“We need to track these highly respectable representatives (cough) down to their residences. Where we can then present them a Hallmark card (cough) kindly requesting they consider the Contitution when they vote.. Rocks and bricks are optional but torchs, pitch forks, tar and feathers are encouraged!!”
“As we know, our society has its roots in broken windows - not to mention tar-and-feathers (always horrible, often fatal) and bullets!”
“I wonder if the brain dead socialist in Washington would get the idea if it happened a lot more often. Would a wrist rocket and some ball bearings help get the idea across?”
“I bought a pistol belt and load bearing harness at the Army/Navy surplus store today. Haven't worn one since 1981. Fits real nice.”
“Good thing 223 ammo is still cheep and available. just bought another 1000 rds for 'target' pratice. these clowns are the best gun and ammo salesman in the world.”
“4" PVC Pipe End Cap Portable Compressed Air Tank Hose Pipe Fittings Valve Expanding Foam for Sabot Brick Paint, Scope, Laser Rangefinder, and compensator optional. Use of above parts left to the imagination of the reader.”
“They're all whining about bricks...... Just wait until it turns to bullets.”
But hey, this is all just a bunch of blog commenters right? It couldn’t possibly have an impact in the real world. It's all just posted to upset liberals.
Right?
Well, it has had an impact in the real world. Strange as it may seem to many people, those supposedly “meaningless” comments sections on a blog (and a small comments section at that) actually reflect the views of human beings who exist outside of the Internet and are capable of acting in the offline world.
Literal people, not virtual people, who are capable of reading Mr. Vanderboegh's blog, literally hefting a literal brick, and literally hurling it through a literal window.
(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 16:32 (UTC)...of her own free will then. glad we agree.
(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 16:41 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 16:48 (UTC)nobody barred her from speaking. or are you operating under the assumption that nobody has made death threats against richard dawkins, rachel maddow, jon stewart, noam chomsky, michael moore, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.? because boy do i have news for you. not only that, but this happened in the united states with all those constitutional protections you don't seem to understand. yet they soldiered onward and gave their speeches and lectures because they can be bothered to stand up for what they believe in, what with not being greedy sociopaths who fan the flames of sedition and hatred to make a buck off the dangerous paranoia of a bitter demographic.
this is a whole lot of nothing you raise in order to make a point about supposed liberals who don't even live in the same country as the ones you're attempting to tar, again, with false equivocations of violent behavior.
(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 17:00 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 17:02 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 17:12 (UTC)I guess you are not reading the links I'm giving. Coulter canceled her speech because there were over 2000 protesters blocking the entrance into the building.
(no subject)
Date: 24/3/10 17:47 (UTC)what you mean conflating the political climate in two different countries? because guess what you've been doin this whole time.
it's me that'd be doing the falling, little man.