August 25 // August 12, 2017
Bricks, baseball bats, boxing gloves or broadcasters: which one can do the most harm?
Yankees. Good ‘ol boys. Klansmen. Confederates. Racists. Reactionaries. Nazis. Antifas. Like many people, we’ve read the titles assigned to the participants and followed the coverage of the events that unfolded in Charlottesville, Virginia, largely in disbelief and despair. Where to begin? Or more critically, perhaps – where to end?
Outrage was everywhere, starting with objections to the gathering itself, then escalating quickly into outrage about the violence that erupted there, including the outrage over the tragic death of a young woman and over the injuries inflicted upon many others. And then, of course, outrage over what was and wasn’t said by our President and by others in positions of leadership. Along with the assorted outrage of monument purists, monument degraders, Confederate apologists and Founding Father supporters.
Unable to understand how and why something like this could happen, we turned to our old friend, someone whose words have often provided a prism of sanity in times of confusion: Woody Allen. He may not have a World War II testament like Schindler’s List or The Pianist or Sophie’s Choice in his credits, but his understanding of the human spirit and our reaction to something as vile as Nazis is unquestionable.
Read the following excerpts, the first from “Manhattan” and the second from “Hannah and her Sisters.” In their own way, each one encapsulates a great deal of wisdom about humanity and our lack thereof in times of peril:
Manhattan: (1979)
Ike: …Ha-has anybody read that the Nazis are gonna march in New Jersey, you know? (Helen and Polly shake their heads no.) I read this in the newspaper. (Waving his fist.) We should go down there, get some guys together you know, get some bricks and baseball bats and really explain things to them.
Jerry: There was this devastating satirical piece on that on the Op-Ed page of the Times. It was devastating.
Ike: W-e-e-elll, a satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks and baseball bats really gets right to the point down there.
Helen: (Overlapping) Oh, but really biting satire is always better than physical force.
Ike: But true physical force is always better with Nazis, uh…because it’s hard to satirize a guy with, uh, shiny boots on.
Hannah and her Sisters: (1986)
Frederick: (barely glancing up from his paper) You missed a very dull TV show on Auschwitz. More gruesome films clips… and more puzzled intellectuals declaring their mystification over the systematic murder of millions. (Turning his head slightly in Lee’s direction and gesturing) The reason they can never answer the question “How could it possibly happen?” is that it’s the wrong question. Given what people are, the question is (swallowing) “Why doesn’t it happen more often?” Of course it does, in subtler forms.
Each of these scenes kept running through our minds over the last two weeks for two reasons. They are unflinchingly honest, legitimate points of view about how rational, law-abiding people might choose to react to Nazis who want to spread their venom; and why we may never really understand how a philosophy so abhorrent, so inexplicable, survives, even thrives, because we are asking the wrong question.
Apparently, we have become a nation of people who have elevated the people who occupy the extreme fringes of our society to the role of narrator in our national story. And this isn’t just another opinion from the ignorant loudmouths at Two Weeks Ago News who do nothing but spout opinions, like the other “fake news” out there. No, we’re basing this observation on an NPR / PBS NewsHour / Marist Poll survey, conducted on August 14 and 15, 2017: Click the link for all the questions, the background on the survey and the participants.
NPR question: “From what you have heard or seen about each of the following, do you mostly agree or mostly disagree with their beliefs:
Bricks, baseball bats, boxing gloves or broadcasters: which one can do the most harm?
Yankees. Good ‘ol boys. Klansmen. Confederates. Racists. Reactionaries. Nazis. Antifas. Like many people, we’ve read the titles assigned to the participants and followed the coverage of the events that unfolded in Charlottesville, Virginia, largely in disbelief and despair. Where to begin? Or more critically, perhaps – where to end?
Outrage was everywhere, starting with objections to the gathering itself, then escalating quickly into outrage about the violence that erupted there, including the outrage over the tragic death of a young woman and over the injuries inflicted upon many others. And then, of course, outrage over what was and wasn’t said by our President and by others in positions of leadership. Along with the assorted outrage of monument purists, monument degraders, Confederate apologists and Founding Father supporters.
Unable to understand how and why something like this could happen, we turned to our old friend, someone whose words have often provided a prism of sanity in times of confusion: Woody Allen. He may not have a World War II testament like Schindler’s List or The Pianist or Sophie’s Choice in his credits, but his understanding of the human spirit and our reaction to something as vile as Nazis is unquestionable.
Read the following excerpts, the first from “Manhattan” and the second from “Hannah and her Sisters.” In their own way, each one encapsulates a great deal of wisdom about humanity and our lack thereof in times of peril:
Manhattan: (1979)
Ike: …Ha-has anybody read that the Nazis are gonna march in New Jersey, you know? (Helen and Polly shake their heads no.) I read this in the newspaper. (Waving his fist.) We should go down there, get some guys together you know, get some bricks and baseball bats and really explain things to them.
Jerry: There was this devastating satirical piece on that on the Op-Ed page of the Times. It was devastating.
Ike: W-e-e-elll, a satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks and baseball bats really gets right to the point down there.
Helen: (Overlapping) Oh, but really biting satire is always better than physical force.
Ike: But true physical force is always better with Nazis, uh…because it’s hard to satirize a guy with, uh, shiny boots on.
Hannah and her Sisters: (1986)
Frederick: (barely glancing up from his paper) You missed a very dull TV show on Auschwitz. More gruesome films clips… and more puzzled intellectuals declaring their mystification over the systematic murder of millions. (Turning his head slightly in Lee’s direction and gesturing) The reason they can never answer the question “How could it possibly happen?” is that it’s the wrong question. Given what people are, the question is (swallowing) “Why doesn’t it happen more often?” Of course it does, in subtler forms.
Each of these scenes kept running through our minds over the last two weeks for two reasons. They are unflinchingly honest, legitimate points of view about how rational, law-abiding people might choose to react to Nazis who want to spread their venom; and why we may never really understand how a philosophy so abhorrent, so inexplicable, survives, even thrives, because we are asking the wrong question.
Apparently, we have become a nation of people who have elevated the people who occupy the extreme fringes of our society to the role of narrator in our national story. And this isn’t just another opinion from the ignorant loudmouths at Two Weeks Ago News who do nothing but spout opinions, like the other “fake news” out there. No, we’re basing this observation on an NPR / PBS NewsHour / Marist Poll survey, conducted on August 14 and 15, 2017: Click the link for all the questions, the background on the survey and the participants.
NPR question: “From what you have heard or seen about each of the following, do you mostly agree or mostly disagree with their beliefs:
|
Survey of |
National |
Adults |
|
GROUP |
MOSTLY AGREE |
MOSTLY DISAGREE |
"I don't have an opinion." |
UNSURE |
White Supremacy Movement |
4% |
86% |
4% |
6% |
White Nationalist |
4% |
73% |
7% |
15% |
The Alt-Right |
6% |
48% |
11% |
35% |
Black Lives Matter |
50% |
33% |
7% |
9% |
Antifa |
5% |
24% |
18% |
53% |
Ku Klux Klan |
2% |
94% |
2% |
2% |
Observations:
Finally, you may have already guessed that we’re not going to weigh in on the President’s remarks about Charlottesville. We’ve read them; we’ve also read lots of feedback from lots of writers and sources that condemned the comments as - at best - insufficient and at worst - as racist. That story has been told, many times. For a short quote, we turn to The New York Times, from Sunday August 13: Deadly Chaos as Car Hits Crowd After Rally by White Nationalists: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this display of egregious violence on many sides," said Mr. Trump, adding that he had been in contact with Virginia officials. "It's been going on for along time in our country, it's not Donald Trump; it's not Barack Obama." If anyone needs a refresher, what follows are the President’s full comments, with the first excerpt coming from a speech he gave on August 12, 2017:
But we're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides. It's been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. This has been going on for a long, long time.
It has no place in America. What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives. No citizen should ever fear for their safety and security in our society, and no child should ever be afraid to go outside and play, or be with their parents, and have a good time.
I just got off the phone with the Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and we agreed that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now. We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and true affection -- really -- and I say this so strongly -- true affection for each other.
Our country is doing very well in so many ways. We have record -- just absolute record employment. We have unemployment, the lowest it's been in almost 17 years. We have companies pouring into our country. Foxconn and car companies, and so many others, they're coming back to our country. We're renegotiating trade deals to make them great for our country and great for the American worker. We have so many incredible things happening in our country. So when I watch Charlottesville, to me it's very, very sad.
I want to salute the great work of the state and local police in Virginia -- incredible people -- law enforcement, incredible people -- and also the National Guard. They've really been working smart and working hard. They've been doing a terrific job. The federal authorities are also providing tremendous support to the governor. He thanked me for that. And we are here to provide whatever other assistance is needed. We are ready, willing, and able.
Above all else, we must remember this truth: No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first. We love our country. We love our God. We love our flag. We're proud of our country. We're proud of who we are. So we want to get the situation straightened out in Charlottesville, and we want to study it. And we want to see what we're doing wrong as a country, where things like this can happen.
My administration is restoring the sacred bonds of loyalty between this nation and its citizens, but our citizens must also restore the bonds of trust and loyalty between one another. We must love each other, respect each other, and cherish our history and our future together. So important. We have to respect each other. Ideally, we have to love each other.
Again, on August 14, the President addressed this egregious act of violence:
We will be discussing economic issues in greater detail later this afternoon, but, based on the events that took place over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, I would like to provide the nation with an update on the ongoing federal response to the horrific attack and violence that was witnessed by everyone.
I just met with FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the deadly car attack that killed one innocent American and wounded 20 others. To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend’s racist violence, you will be held fully accountable. Justice will be delivered.
As I said on Saturday, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence. It has no place in America.
And as I have said many times before: No matter the color of our skin, we all live under the same laws, we all salute the same great flag, and we are all made by the same almighty God. We must love each other, show affection for each other, and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry, and violence. We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.
Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.
We are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our Creator. We are equal under the law. And we are equal under our Constitution. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.
Two days ago, a young American woman, Heather Heyer, was tragically killed. Her death fills us with grief, and we send her family our thoughts, our prayers, and our love.
We also mourn the two Virginia state troopers who died in service to their community, their commonwealth, and their country. Troopers Jay Cullen and Burke Bates exemplify the very best of America, and our hearts go out to their families, their friends, and every member of American law enforcement.
These three fallen Americans embody the goodness and decency of our nation. In times such as these, America has always shown its true character: responding to hate with love, division with unity, and violence with an unwavering resolve for justice.
As a candidate, I promised to restore law and order to our country, and our federal law enforcement agencies are following through on that pledge. We will spare no resource in fighting so that every American child can grow up free from violence and fear. We will defend and protect the sacred rights of all Americans, and we will work together so that every citizen in this blessed land is free to follow their dreams in their hearts, and to express the love and joy in their souls.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America. Thank you very much.
We hope that everyone who reads the remarks judges them as appropriate or insufficient; possibly something in between. Whatever the decision, we wonder if this is the first time many people are absorbing them; absent the lens of “the news” interpreting them, either from the left or right.
*** Finally, a bonus thought: Mr. Allen has one more bit of wisdom to share at this juncture, from Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989):
Aunt May: There’s this joke: about a prizefighter who enters the ring, and his brother turns to the family priest and says, “Father, pray for him.” And the priest said, “I will, but if he can punch, it’ll help.”
That’s sort of how we feel about Charlottesville, President Trump’s speeches following the events, and our collective fate as a nation. We’re certainly a fan of prayers, but we kind of agree with Aunt May. When we’re facing pure evil, it sometimes feels like if we can punch, it’ll help.
- It would appear that the groups favoring white racist beliefs are largely dismissed by almost everyone.
- Looks like the Alt-Right and Antifa groups have lot of work to do if they want to help people understand what they’re really about: 46% and 71% respectively report that they either don’t have an opinion either way or are unsure of what to think based on their knowledge of the groups, which indicates that their platforms are still a bit of a mystery to many.
- Black Lives Matter seems to resonate with half of the adult population; and the people opposed to the movement are not a majority.
- The Klan seems all but dead but who can say? Do you answer that question honestly, even when participating in an anonymous phone poll? We would hope so but maybe you don't.
Finally, you may have already guessed that we’re not going to weigh in on the President’s remarks about Charlottesville. We’ve read them; we’ve also read lots of feedback from lots of writers and sources that condemned the comments as - at best - insufficient and at worst - as racist. That story has been told, many times. For a short quote, we turn to The New York Times, from Sunday August 13: Deadly Chaos as Car Hits Crowd After Rally by White Nationalists: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this display of egregious violence on many sides," said Mr. Trump, adding that he had been in contact with Virginia officials. "It's been going on for along time in our country, it's not Donald Trump; it's not Barack Obama." If anyone needs a refresher, what follows are the President’s full comments, with the first excerpt coming from a speech he gave on August 12, 2017:
But we're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides. It's been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. This has been going on for a long, long time.
It has no place in America. What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives. No citizen should ever fear for their safety and security in our society, and no child should ever be afraid to go outside and play, or be with their parents, and have a good time.
I just got off the phone with the Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and we agreed that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now. We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and true affection -- really -- and I say this so strongly -- true affection for each other.
Our country is doing very well in so many ways. We have record -- just absolute record employment. We have unemployment, the lowest it's been in almost 17 years. We have companies pouring into our country. Foxconn and car companies, and so many others, they're coming back to our country. We're renegotiating trade deals to make them great for our country and great for the American worker. We have so many incredible things happening in our country. So when I watch Charlottesville, to me it's very, very sad.
I want to salute the great work of the state and local police in Virginia -- incredible people -- law enforcement, incredible people -- and also the National Guard. They've really been working smart and working hard. They've been doing a terrific job. The federal authorities are also providing tremendous support to the governor. He thanked me for that. And we are here to provide whatever other assistance is needed. We are ready, willing, and able.
Above all else, we must remember this truth: No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first. We love our country. We love our God. We love our flag. We're proud of our country. We're proud of who we are. So we want to get the situation straightened out in Charlottesville, and we want to study it. And we want to see what we're doing wrong as a country, where things like this can happen.
My administration is restoring the sacred bonds of loyalty between this nation and its citizens, but our citizens must also restore the bonds of trust and loyalty between one another. We must love each other, respect each other, and cherish our history and our future together. So important. We have to respect each other. Ideally, we have to love each other.
Again, on August 14, the President addressed this egregious act of violence:
We will be discussing economic issues in greater detail later this afternoon, but, based on the events that took place over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, I would like to provide the nation with an update on the ongoing federal response to the horrific attack and violence that was witnessed by everyone.
I just met with FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the deadly car attack that killed one innocent American and wounded 20 others. To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend’s racist violence, you will be held fully accountable. Justice will be delivered.
As I said on Saturday, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence. It has no place in America.
And as I have said many times before: No matter the color of our skin, we all live under the same laws, we all salute the same great flag, and we are all made by the same almighty God. We must love each other, show affection for each other, and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry, and violence. We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.
Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.
We are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our Creator. We are equal under the law. And we are equal under our Constitution. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.
Two days ago, a young American woman, Heather Heyer, was tragically killed. Her death fills us with grief, and we send her family our thoughts, our prayers, and our love.
We also mourn the two Virginia state troopers who died in service to their community, their commonwealth, and their country. Troopers Jay Cullen and Burke Bates exemplify the very best of America, and our hearts go out to their families, their friends, and every member of American law enforcement.
These three fallen Americans embody the goodness and decency of our nation. In times such as these, America has always shown its true character: responding to hate with love, division with unity, and violence with an unwavering resolve for justice.
As a candidate, I promised to restore law and order to our country, and our federal law enforcement agencies are following through on that pledge. We will spare no resource in fighting so that every American child can grow up free from violence and fear. We will defend and protect the sacred rights of all Americans, and we will work together so that every citizen in this blessed land is free to follow their dreams in their hearts, and to express the love and joy in their souls.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America. Thank you very much.
We hope that everyone who reads the remarks judges them as appropriate or insufficient; possibly something in between. Whatever the decision, we wonder if this is the first time many people are absorbing them; absent the lens of “the news” interpreting them, either from the left or right.
*** Finally, a bonus thought: Mr. Allen has one more bit of wisdom to share at this juncture, from Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989):
Aunt May: There’s this joke: about a prizefighter who enters the ring, and his brother turns to the family priest and says, “Father, pray for him.” And the priest said, “I will, but if he can punch, it’ll help.”
That’s sort of how we feel about Charlottesville, President Trump’s speeches following the events, and our collective fate as a nation. We’re certainly a fan of prayers, but we kind of agree with Aunt May. When we’re facing pure evil, it sometimes feels like if we can punch, it’ll help.