America Is Dying from Pandering and Passivism

“If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.” – Thomas Sowell

When the so-called “Summer of Love” erupted in 2020 – and rioters, looters, and squatters took over large sections of Portland, Seattle, and Minneapolis – the police were told to maintain order as best they could but not to use excessive force. The anarchists who were openly and sometimes violently breaking the law knew that spineless politicians had tied law enforcement’s hands and so, they continued to raise havoc for weeks… and in some cases months.

According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 10,600 demonstrations occurred between late May and August 2020 with an estimated 15-26 million participants. Despite the biased reporting by the mainstream media, these were not mostly peaceful protests. Property damage estimates ranged between $1 billion and $2 billion as police cars were torched, stores were looted, and Confederate monuments were defaced or destroyed.

I remember wondering why mayors, governors and yes, the President of the United States sat on their collective hands while city after city descended into chaos. Some tried to characterize the protests as justified in the wake of George Floyd’s death. After all, nothing says social justice like torching school buses and tearing down statues of Christopher Columbus… or for that matter, stealing $200 sneakers and $400 pocketbooks.

And so, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

Who was to blame for the anarchy and wholesale destruction of public and private property? There are far too many guilty parties to name them all, but here are a few of the main culprits.

First are the hoodlums themselves, most of whom were minorities in their teens and twenties. Yes, I know, that’s not politically correct to say, but it is 100% accurate. Just watch a rebroadcast of any of the riots from 2000 and you will have to admit that the vast majority of the looters were black Americans. Maybe they felt compelled because of past injustices or maybe they were simply opportunists without a conscience. In either case, if Dr. King could see the video footage, he’d be rolling over in his grave because he didn’t sacrifice his life so young black men and women could pillage and plunder our inner cities for their own self-gratification.

Next to blame are the parents of these miscreants. Who lets their kids run amok at all hours of the day and night, especially when the city is in lockdown and the police are on high alert? And what kind of values have you instilled in your kids to make them think that looting is actually a viable option or a legitimate form of protest? If I had my druthers, the parents of these youthful offenders would be held financially responsible for the property damage their kids caused… and the kids would spend the rest of their adolescent years in a juvenile detention facility or performing community service.

Then there is the mainstream media who, for whatever twisted and diabolical reason, portrayed the riots as if they were some sort of noble crusade. Their slanted reporting fanned the flames of the Summer of Love, turning it from a minor brush fire into a roaring inferno that literally consumed large portions of some of America’s greatest cities. By doing so, the media failed its #1 obligation to the American people: to report the news, not to influence it. As a result, their once stellar reputation remains forever tarnished… and this time, it is Walter Cronkite’s turn to rollover in his grave.

Finally, a good measure of fault lies at the feet of the government officials who were elected to protect and serve their constituents. That includes the mayors of Portland, Seattle, and Minneapolis – all of whom stoked the flames instead of helping to extinguish them – and the hapless governors of Oregon, Washington State, and Minnesota, who chose not to immediately activate their National Guards.

And yes, President Trump talked a good game but also failed to deliver when it mattered most. His defenders will argue that he deferred to the governors on constitutional grounds, but since when has Donald J. Trump allowed a legal interpretation to stop him from doing what he wanted or thought best? Truth be told, Mr. Trump bluffed and then blinked, maybe because it was an election year and November was just around the corner. Ironically, his reluctance to act – and act boldly – may have contributed to his electoral defeat.

Returning to Thomas Sowell’s opening quote, there is no question that America – and Western civilization as a whole – is currently under a relentless attack. Look no further than France to see the results of decades of passivism, apathy, and cowardice. Since the end of World War II, Western leaders have adopted a laissez-faire attitude and cultures that seek our demise have sensed that weakness and seized the initiative. Communists and Muslims have formed an unholy alliance to destroy American and Western civilization… and we are too afraid of our own shadows to stand up to them.

Here is what the United States must do and must do now to reverse this trend and save our beloved country.

First, slow immigration to a trickle. Only allow immigrants to enter who possess high-in-demand job skills from countries that are our allies.

Second, ramp up the deportation of all illegal immigrants who have committed a secondary crime on American soil.

Third, demand assimilation by requiring legal immigrants to become conversant in English within five years of their arrival or face deportation. I would also support a loyalty oath of some sort so that there are no more divided loyalties between a person’s country of origin and their newly adopted homeland (yes, I’m talking about you, Ilhan Omar).

Fourth, emphasize American history – especially the good aspects without sugarcoating or whitewashing the bad – and teach civics from kindergarten through graduate school and beyond.

Fifth, encourage the silent majority to stand up and speak out. Our grandchildren’s future is at stake!

Sixth, and I know this sounds harsh, but pass laws that give law enforcement officers the authority to use deadly force to deter looting and the destruction of public and private property during riots. In the wake of the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, police officers were told to shoot looters on sight… and they did. Guess what? It served as an effective deterrent.

Seventh, create a culture of life by recognizing and respecting life from conception to natural death. That means outlawing abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide while bringing back capital punishment for premediated murder… and no, that is not a contradiction. Human life is so valuable that if you willfully take someone else’s, you have forfeited your own.

Eighth, require candidates for any public office to undergo an X-ray to ensure they have a spine. (O.K., I’m kidding about this one, but you get the idea. America needs officeholders with a backbone who aren’t scared of the media or their latest poll numbers.)

These seven suggestions – and believe me, I have a lot more – may offend some folks, but so what? We must realize that the enemy is coming for us and, in many cases, is already inside our gates. We can either take strong corrective measures now or face our sure and certain demise in the not-too-distant future.

Just ask ancient Rome.

“A society dies when it cares more about exhibiting infinite tolerance and empathy than invoking its survival instinct.” – Gad Saad