YOU CAN BE AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL VOICE OR A DELICATE FLOWER WHO IS NOT TO BE QUESTIONED…….BUT YOU CANNOT BE BOTH
The “March for Our Lives,” — an anti-gun rights march - went down yesterday in Washington, DC and once again I was struck by the conflict within myself between sympathy and annoyance.
For example, Parkland Survivor David Hogg is a teenager who has been through a horrific tragedy. I admire his desire to fight for change he believes in and think every American should do the same.
However, he has said things that are completely wrong, disgustingly incendiary, and quite frankly, boring talking points that he clearly does not even understand.
Case in point, over the past few days, he said being forced to bring books to school in a clear bag is a first amendment violation.
Um….it is?
Maybe you could attempt to make a case it violates the 4th amendment but the first amendment?
Then, here is he is at the march yesterday:
“When politicians say your voice does not matter because the NRA owns them, we say no more.”
“When politicians send their thoughts and prayers with no action, we say no more,” he added.
“Now is the time to come together…we can and we will change the world.”
These are nothing but nonsensical talking points combined with over the top vitriol for his ideological opponents (ie: f you don’t agree with me, you are owned by the NRA and want children to die…..which Hogg has accused the NRA of already).
Put simply, much like many of the other high profile students who have been the most vocal, Hogg is a teenager who really has no idea what he is talking about and is simply gleefully repeating catchphrases he heard to an audience that already agrees with him.
It is the dictionary definition of an echo chamber.
As I pointed out, though, the worst part here is that he continues to say completely false statements and make baseless accusations against his ideological opponents and nobody in the media is challenging him about it.
Like I said, I’m happy he is voicing his opinions but if he is going to be interviewed in media and wishes to advance a specific agenda, he should be held to account like anybody else.
I feel terribly for what he and his classmates went through, but if they want to be taken seriously as important voices for change, they need to be called out and taken to task when they are wrong.
They are either young people whose input is essential for moving America forward or they are delicate little flowers who must not be questioned, but they cannot be both.
Maybe you think I’m being too hard on these children and Hogg specifically.
Okay, here’s more evidence to back my assertion that the media is simply allowing this kind of emotion-based, logic-free insanity to pass without nary a word.
In television appearances over the past few weeks, Hogg said he does not blame the officer who did not enter the building despite hearing the shooting because who would want to go toe to toe with somebody who has an AR-15.
This actually happens plenty — the Alexandria VA Congressional baseball team shooter had a rifle and was taken out by handgun — but that is not the point. The point is this was a Sheriff’s Deputy (Scot Peterson) who was trained for this situation and it was his entire job.
This would be like saying you cannot blame a firefighter for not running into a burning building. Police work can be very dangerous and it is not for everybody, but those who accept the job must be willing to actually do it.
Scot Peterson refused.
Hogg then said — after stating that the local police should not be accountable — that Florida Governor Rick Scott should be. So, let me get this straight: the actual police department who messed up have no responsibility but the Governor, who had nothing to do with this does?
That makes zero sense. Actually, it makes less than zero sense.
Hogg also said Scott talking poorly of the local police was a political ploy to get re-elected — except Scott is not up for re-election.
Example after example keeps mounting, yet we are told to just shut up and let them say anything they want unopposed because they are children who have just been through a tragedy.
But enough is enough.
I am not saying anybody should be nasty to them. But refusing to push back on obvious falsehoods and ridiculous talking points is not doing Hogg or any of these other students any favors. We have been hearing about how these students have the right to speak about their concerns.
I agree. They have a constitutionally protected freedom to express themselves in any way they see fit.
But I also believe that if they are going to be seriously listened to about controversial political issues, they cannot be given special treatment.