Beware of the politics of bullying

Melissa Harris-Perry, a weekend talk show host on MSNBC, who could have the victim of the politics of bullying.  Recently, some cretin approached her at the Iowa caucuses and started acting in a threatening way. Although the situation had a "happy ending", one can easily understand why people live in fear when they are in the minority. (And in this case, I do not refer to color, as much as I refer to being in ANY minority.)  Bullying people is a tactic which has been used since time immemorial, and will continue to be used until potential victims have ALL the tools to resist bullying.

Compare today's positions of the two major political parties. The Democrats are the more pacifistic party, seeking greater "gun control'.  The GOP is the more bellicose party, defending "gun rights" every chance they get.  So the supporters of our political left and its positions that are more likely to be bullied by people who are a few french fries short of a "Happy Meal".  And, for the most part, we tolerate that.  

Why do potential victims tolerate bullying?  There are many reasons.  For some, they do not wish to stoop to the level of the intellectually incompetent.  For others, they are afraid of being chosen to be sacrificial lambs for the sake of social cohesion.  As I said, there are many reasons, none of them good. It would make more sense for people to stand up to bullies and "go 'all in'".  Yet, this goes against a primal instinct to run in the face of danger.

Recently, a different cretin barged into the offices of a Texas state legislator.  Texas has both open carry and concealed carry. And there are no provisions to keep firearms out of the state capitol, where a few deranged madmen could take down the entire legislative branch of government, as well as its executive, if done at the right time.  As much as I believe that the people must preserve the right and ability to rebel against a tyrannical government, this was hardly the time and place where that right was needed.  This lawmaker had real reason to fear for his life.  And all Texas is doing in response is to put "panic buttons" in legislators' offices - a potential case of "too little, too late."

Sadly, it looks like we're letting the bullies control us.  Hopefully, we won't go down without a good fight....