What Vitriolic Rhetoric Brings
I read a report like this one, and I despair for what is going on here in the US. A uniformed member of the National Guard from Washington State was brutally attacked by five men. They called the serviceman a "Baby killer".
The soldier was walking to a convenience store when a sport utility vehicle pulled up alongside him and the driver asked if he was in the military and if he had been in any action.
The driver then got out of the vehicle, displayed a gun and shouted insults at the victim. Four other suspects exited the vehicle and knocked the soldier down, punching and kicking him.
“And during the assault the suspects called him a baby killer. At that point they got into the car and drove off and left him on the side of the road,” Detective Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.
The suspects were driving a black Chevy Suburban-type SUV.
“This is something new for us, we have not had military people assaulted because they were in the military or somebody's opposition to a war or whatever,” Troyer said.
The driver is described as a white male, 25-30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, heavy build, short blond hair, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, and armed with a handgun.
The vehicle's passengers are described as white males, 20-25 years old. Some of the suspects wore red baseball hats and red sweatshirts during the attack.
This is what the vitriolic rhetoric coming from the left breeds. This is the disgrace that these words foment. This is what happens when irresponsible language becomes routine.
I will say this and leave it. Do not – do not ever – try this where I am in visual range.
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Leaning Straight Up — August 31, 2006 @ 1:23 am
By aaron, August 31, 2006 @ 6:12 am
This is a reprehensible act. But I ask you…when some anti-Iraq war protester gets beaten up and called a “jihadi lover” because Rumsfeld is going around telling people that questioning your leaders is like appeasingHitler and helping the terrorists…I wonder if you’ll denounce that rhetoric.
Who ever did this should be locked in a room with some G.I.s for about an hour. I’m a liberal…and I fully condemn this kind of behavior. But don’t go getting all high and mighty on rhetoric when your Republican leaders are basically saying we want America to lose the war against Al Qeada. That is not true…and will probably end up with some lib getting beat up by some idiot with a W bumper sticker.
By Gaius, August 31, 2006 @ 6:22 am
If and when I hear about something like what you describe, I’ll condemn it. Don’t assume you know what position I hold.
By foston, August 31, 2006 @ 7:42 am
Agreed with Everyone on this,
Hot rhetoric from either side fuels the potential for violence. It sets up justification for inexcusable actions.
Those of us who disagree with the war should grieve for this kind of action, and take measure about our own language when something like this happens. I would challenge those who agree with the President and the war to do the same.
Foston
By RonK, Seattle, August 31, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
Developing … emerging reports suggest the “incident” is a fabrication. Red flags include inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s account(s) and behavior, and eyewitness report of another beating (SUV with 3 in uniform vs 1 in civvies) nearby in time and location.
Local civ/mil authorities and newsmedia are taking a careful second look at this one.
By Gaius, August 31, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
Cite sources, please. The original reporting station does not have a single word on it to verify what you are saying.