As some of you loyal readers of The Left Hook know by now, I am a masochist who goes on right-wing channels from time to time to debate bad-faith talking points, debunk outright lies, and call out obscene hypocrisy.
I joined a Piers Morgan Uncensored panel earlier today where we discussed the responses to two killings that gained international attention in a country where mass shootings occur weekly and are mostly forgotten.
First, authorities have arrested Luigi Mangini, a privileged 26-year-old white man who is the prime suspect in the targeted murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson. The host, Piers Morgan, expressed moral outrage at the public support and sympathy for the alleged killer, and his panel of conservative commentators somehow blamed “the left.” In reality, there has been a stunning, widespread social media reaction in which Americans across the board are sharing their anger and frustration over a predatory healthcare system that profits off our misery, sickness, and death.
Daniel Penny, another 26-year-old white man, however, was celebrated as a hero by MAGA for choking to death Jordan Neely, a mentally unstable Black man who was armed with a muffin in his pocket. Those of us who call out the double standards are criticized for engaging in woke, “identity politics,” even though there is a systemic history of institutional violence against Black people by white men who kill with impunity and without accountability. Alas, if we didn’t ban books, African American history, and DEI initiatives, maybe some Americans would learn about this, but sadly, we can’t have nice things.
I’m primarily concerned by the responses to these two killings. I’m also fascinated by who is lionized as a hero and demonized as a villain. Who deserves our empathy and who deserves our scorn? Which deaths are mourned and which deaths are ignored and excused?
If indeed people should not use violence as a means of responding to broken institutions and systems - as Clay Travis, the conservative commentator on the panel, argued - then why does MAGA praise and rationalize the January 6th violent insurrectionists whom Trump has promised to pardon? Why do they praise Kyle Rittenhouse who was acquitted for killing two people at a BLM rally? Why do they support Gov. Abbott’s pardon of Daniel Perry, another white man who was convicted of killing a man who attended a BLM rally with his girlfriend?
I can’t qwhite put my finger on it!
Hmmmm…..maybe y’all can help me out?
As I previously wrote, I am against vigilante violence, especially in America, a country that has more guns than people. Can you imagine what will happen if vigilante violence is incentivized and rewarded in this violence-obsessed country? It’ll be bad for everyone, especially for critics of Donald Trump.
Either way, if you have 3 minutes, give a clip listen. If you’re a masochist, check out the entire panel.
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