Remote Control Bullying
Greetings, friend.
I hope this message finds you well on this beautiful Fall day. We are nearly at peak Fall colors, and the leaves are dropping more freely all the time. Depending on when rain is expected next, I might be doing leaf collection twice a week for a while. There’s something special about doing yard work in the brisk Fall air, then coming inside to enjoy a hot bowl of soup. A simple pleasure that never gets old.
This past week the Republican majority in the House of Representatives continued to try and elect a new Speaker of the House. Those House Republicans who did not see fit to vote in favor of Jim Jordan for this role found themselves and their families on the receiving end of harassing phone calls and even death threats. On Thursday, Jordan decried the harassment, posting the following to X (formerly Twitter): “No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It’s abhorrent.” Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of this harassment is that Republicans have been directing it at their fellow party members. Up until recently, such harassment has typically been focused on those outside the Republican Party.
Over the past six weeks, the social media account “LibsofTikTok” has made posts related to the policies of 42 different U.S. school districts - including our very own Granville schools. The general approach to their posts has been to falsely suggest that the schools’ policies are somehow “grooming” or indoctrinating children into LBGTQ+ identities and exposing them to sexually explicit content at school. Not coincidentally, eleven schools received bomb threats within days of being featured by LibsofTikTok and virtually all of them received numerous harassing and sometimes threatening emails. Another common outcome has been that the names, home addresses and phone numbers of school officials and school board members have been made public, thus amplifying the harassment to local leadership. I'm aware of at least one Granville school board member who felt compelled to get a new phone number after experiencing this harassment.
In addition to these very recent examples, consider the following:
Voter intimidation and election worker intimidation has been happening in different parts of the country these past two election cycles.
The storming of the Capitol on January 6th.
The foiled plot by fourteen people to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer (eleven of them were convicted of various felonies, with sentences ranging from two to twenty years in prison).
This pattern, where one person makes a public post or a statement, and then other people act on that statement in intimidating and sometimes illegal ways - there is a term for it. It’s called “stochastic terrorism.” To use a crude example, imagine a mafia boss saying to a group of his cronies “It’d be a shame if Joe Smith got his legs broke and couldn’t walk for a while” and then two days later Joe Smith is assaulted, resulting in fractures of both of his legs.
One person exercising their freedom of speech in a way that is perhaps critical, but not specifically threatening. Soon thereafter, numerous strangers with no connection to the speaker engaging in harassment or worse to the person or people being criticized. Its very disturbing. It suggests that some people in our society think that they can and should try to intimidate, silence or harm others because they hold different views.
In the case of the January 6th insurrection, it seems clear that the criminal acts were committed by people who had convinced themselves that they were “patriots” working to preserve democracy in some way. Of course, when the sitting President on the United States is urging them to do something (a non-specific something, but don’t just sit there), I can see why they might feel that way.
I’ve got news for those who want to hide behind social media accounts and sic the extremist crazies on their fellow citizens: You cannot bully your way into dominating America.
Two attorneys this week, both facing felony charges in the state of Georgia for their role in subverting the presidential election in that state pled guilty to reduced charges in return for their complete and honest cooperation with prosecutors as the trials of other people involved in the same conspiracy are ongoing. Justice may occur more slowly than we might like, but it appears to be happening.
I’m not sure what to do about some of this stuff. Over time we may see adjustments made, either to how we define freedom of speech, or how we hold people accountable for speech that results in harm to others. As society changes, our laws need to adjust as well. Right now it seems very unfair to me that unpaid public servants such as school board members have to change their phone numbers and contemplate personal safety protocols that would never occur to those of us who have not served in such a fashion.
“Stochastic Terrorism” is too fancy a term. “Remote Control _____” is more appropriate. Insert the verb as warranted: Bullying, Harassment, Kidnapping, Assault…however it manifests, it won’t be effective if we recognize it for what it is, and hold the offenders properly accountable.
Stay mindful and observant, friend.
Sunday Supper
This recipe for Beef Bourguignon from Serious seems like a wonderful option for supper tonight. This Succotash Salad would be a great compliment, and these Lemon Bars would deliver a finish akin to the wonderful Lemon Curd Tart currently being served at Ghostwriter Public House, in Johnstown. That crew consistently knocks it out of the park.
Sunday Music
This week I offer a grab bag of musical options: This wonderful duet by Al Green and Bonnie Raitt, a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze by the late, great Jeff Ray, or this extended live performance of Purple Rain by the one and only Prince. Enjoy!
Have a great week ahead! Offer support to others. Make good use of this day. And let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,
Neal