JACKSONVILLE — I would like to respond to Andy Davis's and Connie Burton's respective criticism of my call for disruptive protests against Donald Trump.
First, I did not and would never advocate violence against human beings. Property destruction, however - particularly the destruction of property acquired through tax evasion (by the president of the United States!) - does not seem unreasonable to me.
I respect that many people want to engage in holding hands, marching, and singing. I'll also be doing these things. I have no doubt that peaceful protest will bring comfort and a feeling of solidarity.
Who knows? Maybe we can even arouse the moral courage of Congress to impeach this repugnant, dangerous president.
I sincerely hope so. But I'm not holding my breath.
For the Trump class, money and property are everything. Much of Trump's wealth and property were made possible by taxpayer bailouts of his six bankruptcies and by his refusal to pay taxes. Which means that you and I effectively paid for his hotels and casinos.
Is it so unreasonable to go and seize your own property?
The Suffragettes, the Abolitionists, and the French Resistance all engaged in property destruction for moral ends. They were condemned, ostracized, and vilified for being intemperate, impatient, and too violent. Many were imprisoned or killed for their actions.
I do not compare myself with these brave and morally courageous souls. They were true heroes whose tactics were born of great suffering and desperation.
But these are also desperate times. And a bit of iconoclasm might empower the discouraged - the “losers,” as our president so crudely puts it.
Yes, peaceful protest can be very powerful, as Martin Luther King Jr. proved (though he was vilified, jailed, and murdered nonetheless).
A friend suggests a sit-in in Washington, D.C., blocking all major roads. I like this idea because it has the element of inconvenience and results in a financial hit to government and business without physically hurting human beings. And unlike a candlelight vigil or silent prayers, blocking traffic can't be ignored.
Finally, I would like to say that I have nothing against the beloved song “Kumbaya,” even though I was forced to sing it over and over in junior high school. I used the well-known expression “singing 'Kumbaya'” as it is currently used to signify actions that are passive and idealistic.