Double (Barrelled) Standards

Recently people have been showing up to town hall healthcare meetings with guns.  Hand guns.  Semi-automatic guns. Guns slung over shoulders.  Guns strapped to legs.  And doing so proudly.  Along with these exhibitions of 1st and 2nd Amendments freedoms have been signs and chants referring to Jefferson’s quote, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”  People carrying guns referencing the shedding of blood (without saying whose blood, though the allusion is clear) for the sake of liberty.  This, they say, is an act of freedom of speech.  This, they say, is a display of patriotism and nationalism.

Now imagine the same thing being done…but, say, by inner-city, black protestors speaking out against, say, dilapidated inner city schools or police brutality.  Say, like these guys did in the 60’s.

Can you imagine the outrage?  Can you imagine the fear that people would feel?  Could you imagine the threat it would be?

When white folks do it, it is an act of patriotism.  If black folks were to do it, it would be seen by many as an act of terrorism.  I’m sure of it.  References would be made to the militant black movement of the 60’s.  People would be talking about how black folks just don’t want to be a part of America.  And their racism would be masked by such terms as “patriotism” and “love of country” and “democracy” and “liberty” and “national security.”

Ugh.