Days of Rage: Your Long... Long (But Worth It) Reading Assignment

I read this the other day when you linked it, actually. Perilously close to TL/DR, but I persevered. The earlier part is fairly amazing in the sense that surely nobody under the age of 60 knows anything about it, so he's correct in that sense.

I spent the '70s in Chicago and then San Francisco. Unlike our host, politics just bored the pants off me - and still I pretty much directly experienced all the stuff in that article. When I arrived in San Francisco in '74 Patty Hearst was newly kidnapped; even without a television set there was pretty much no avoiding it. A few weeks later I did visit a friend who had a television, and we watched the LA shootout live. When I moved to the Mission a few years later, the Prisoners' Union folks came to my door looking for a guy who was shot a few days later and a few blocks away.

I don't agree with his conclusion, simply because War In The Streets has for too long been a masturbatory fantasy for both Left and Right, and I think it's bullshit. It definitely was closer in the latter '60s/early '70s than it is now. The Lefties are once again acting out the age-old Let's You and Him Fight scenario they've embraced since 1789; there are a fresh crop of "college-educated" dumbbells for cannon fodder, but their "rage" is a lot less convincing now that they've all been nurtured in their mommies' basements. The only ones with any apparent testosterone are on the other side and unimpressed with their tantrums.

Come to think of it, that's probably why so many of us thought politics was bullshit 50 years ago. While those idiots were attending demonstrations we were busy taking advantage of the Free Love situation - with girls who were fun to be with. One thing that's forgotten is that angry hippie chicks were unattractive then as now - and as always, You Can't Legislate Erections.

Posted by Rob De Witt at February 1, 2017 9:22 AM

This book is on my "must read" link.

The author has had several appearances in Vanity Fair but in view of VFs left-wing bias I don't think they will print anything about Days of Rage.

Posted by JamesG at February 1, 2017 9:44 AM

Powerful article...still reading and absorbing! Wow!

Posted by Pierre at February 1, 2017 10:52 AM

I read as much as I could stand. I remember well the days of rage, Patty Hearst et al. I started my leftist political career with the SDS out of Western Michigan University in about 1967. We all loaded up in cars to make the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago where my brother was arrested, I never stopped protesting till after Nixon resigned. This is all true.

In the early 70's I bought a business (Carter was Pres. I think) at 12% interest on the loan, I struggled all through the 80's to pay it off and in so doing became the rightist conservative ever known.

I am a conservative/republican to this day.

Posted by tonynoboloney at February 1, 2017 4:04 PM

I was a student at SF State in the mid sixties. At the time I actually thought I was the only student at that riot prone zoo. Now those rioters are in charge of this nation. They have infiltrated virtually every government and union office.

We are in a much, much more serious situation now. The entire Democrat party is made up of these viscious radicals and their children. I firmly believe the current leftists assassinated Justice Scalia.

The worst is yet to come. The left is well trained, motivated and has all the resources necessary to wreak havoc on a nation of imbeciles.

Posted by Terry at February 1, 2017 5:56 PM

"The left is well trained..."
=================

The training is minimal for accepting a 308 in the head from 1000 yds.

I was born anti-communist.

Posted by ghostsniper at February 1, 2017 7:13 PM

Terry,
Easy on the conspiracy theories. Hard to prove and it always makes you look crazy. Always. I think that you are correct in that many pinko-libs have moved to the public school system or other Gubmint agency. The entire Democrat Party is pathetically socialist and has invaded the Federal Gubmint like a bad case of the green apple quick step.

I would not give them credit for doing anything on a larger scale other than protesting and burning down their own neighborhoods. They don't believe in gun rights, so they are unarmed. Sure they can go buy a gun, but they don't know what to do with it. Try that mob with flaming torches riot in my neighborhood and the lead slob will get gut shot.

I question the resilience of the snowflake once punched in the nose.

Posted by Snakepit Kansas at February 1, 2017 7:15 PM

"Martyrs are fuel for Leftism" ... Seriously? How effing stupid, Gerard?

Trust me, this isn't the Sixties.

Everybody knows (even the Left) the greatest Martyr of all time was Jesus Christ. That's why they try to copy Him. Fortunately, there is no Lefty on earth who can compete with Him, and why they try so hard to eliminate Him from popular discussion.

Those of us who are Christian say let them come. Nothing fuels the Right like Christ. He died for us, we will die for Him. We are just waiting to be unleashed on the evil that has taken over the entire West.

It's a new day.

Let.them.come!

Posted by edaddy at February 1, 2017 7:16 PM

How did all of that work out for most of them?

A prison cell or a grave.

Posted by Mikey NTH at February 2, 2017 5:48 AM

Communists look just like you, so you have to watch them for a bit til they reveal their true self.

Doesn't take long, for me about 30 seconds or less. I have a boilerplate template I use that coaxes them out of their lair quick.

Some communists reveal themselves right away. Many are cowardly and try to hide, but it is their cowardice itself that unshields them as to what they are.

If you see someone that you suspect is communist, act naive and ask them, "How ya doin?, is there a gun store close by that sells AR15 supplies?"

Stand back a little in case their skall explodes.
You don't wanna get any of that nasty shit on ya.

Posted by ghostsniper at February 2, 2017 7:30 AM

Fascinating article, Gerard, thanks for sharing.

There’s too much to nitpick or debate plus that would only take away from the overall point of the article in my humble opinion - that crazy shit is possible and indeed it did happen in this country not too long ago and the fact that nobody EVER talks about it makes it even more likely it will happen again.

I highly doubt most people that experienced conflict/civil war just in the last century truly believed it could and would happen to their country. And of course the normalcy bias, that life always continues as usual, runs considerably deep, for many legit reasons, in America.

However, one should look at just the last two weeks of craziness and violence and ask themselves if they could imagine this happening just 10 or even 20 years ago. Also, more importantly, do you think it gets better or worse?

Another question people need to ask themselves is, what, if anything, am I gonn’a do about it? History shows most won’t do a damn thing (only 3% of the population actively participated in the American Revolution), even when the poo is flung onto them. Most people just want to be left alone, they have obligations, kids/families, etc. and to a certain extent, who can blame them.

Obviously the best case scenario is that this all blows over, things settle down and we return to “normal”. But being prepared for the worst and hope for the best is always prudent.

To those willing and able, get ready. And if I need to bang on my keyboard to tell you what that means…you need to stay home.

Posted by tim at February 2, 2017 10:37 AM

Things now are different from 1969 in this way: City police departments are run by the mayors. In 1969 big cites mostly had Dem mayors, but they were the no-nonsense tough Dem mayors. Those guys either died out or crossed to the R side.

Today's city mayors are sympathetic at least, and supportive often of these violent groups. This means that the cops will be standing by, on specific orders, allowing the black-clad little commies to do whatever they want to those on the Right. They might bestir themselves to arrest a few if they start smashing property. Maybe.

Should someone on the Right fight back, oh, yes, there will be arrests. This has happened in Minneapolis already at the Trump rally; the cops admitted they were under orders (verbal only!) to not protect the Trump supporters.

Police pay and pensions are generous. While most cops' sympathies are with Trump supporters, they won't risk that sweet, sweet pension.

Posted by Gordon at February 3, 2017 4:37 AM

Gerard,

Were you at the People's Park demo/riot in 1969? I was. Looking at the videos of Wednesday's craziness at Sproul Plaza and the Student Union I felt like Rip Van Winkle waking after 40 years and finding that nothing had changed.

Except in the People's Park episode, law enforcement was active. If you were there you remember the helicopters dropping tear gas, the Alameda County sheriff's department discharging shotguns at the demonstrators and all that. This time a handful of coppers stood around, doing nothing visible, looking helpless.

Strategically, I suppose that was the right decision. Property damage can be fixed. Any violent reaction would have just stirred the pot more, and given the loonies martyrs to exploit.

I'll admit I would have liked to see pushback from the cops. But the spear chuckers and window smashers didn't do themselves any favors in the court of public opinion. That's some consolation.

Posted by Rick Darby at February 3, 2017 5:52 AM

Well, actually, in the People's Park riots, which I attended , the police,... from Oakland I believe... were VERY ACTIVE. This activity involved unleashing shotguns with which their blinded one person and killed another up on a roof about four stories above my head.

I think that we are waiting for a larger bit of shit to be caused by these morons.... one in which people are killed by them.

Then....

Posted by Vanderleun at February 3, 2017 2:25 PM

Gerard,

Without a doubt we need your voice and writing skills in these days of uncertainty and anxiety. While many of us were there and remember, your unique experiences, your evolving perspective and spirituality, and gift as a "word man" make you vital at this moment. Carry on brother.

Posted by Steve Swinney at February 6, 2017 4:30 PM