I have found myself watching the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse this week. And I know I have not been alone in feeling of sadness, anger and disgust in turns as I witnessed this case unfold.
I admit to an extra bias in this case. I see a lot of my son in Kyle Rittenhouse. I’m sure I am not the only mom who got into their feelings… at least if social media can at all be believed.
I see a young man coming of age who has served his community and family. Who chose to be responsible, personally, for the good of his community.
Someone whose service translated to actions of protection and respect.
A trait that many in our ruling class would rather stifle, society wide.
It’s inconvenient, that civic responsibility, to those that would rather “deconstruct” than build.
It too is inconvenient to those who preach civic responsibility, but think that responsibility ends at the ballot booth, or the end of a promotional book tour.
I have thoughts and opinions about the facts of the case… namely why these charges were ever brought in the first place. Especially once you see the videos and understand exactly what was happening in Kenosha, Wisconsin on the evening of August 25, 2020.
Several themes are repeating throughout the trial, themes that much of the left are trying to destroy and remake in their fundamental transformation of the United States.
It’s not just the individual’s right to self defense taking a front row seat at this trial.
A right to assembly is included in our first amendment. Included is a right to organize in an individual’s best interests.
At least for now. Sorta.
At question, in the prosecution’s eyes, is not the unlawful assembly that proceeded to burn and loot the business community of Kenosha over multiple nights or even the inaction of city and state governments to protect private property and businesses over a week of riots and arson.
It wasn’t that arsonists and rioters were looking for trouble and destruction.
No, there’s more concern that that a random person, a minor, had the temerity to feel a sense of duty to protect his community in the face of left wing violence. And then put those feelings into action.
This is the behavior that deserves criminal charges and the obvious disdain of the prosecutor. A teenager who removed graffiti and volunteered with the local fire and police departments.
Not this… Or this…
Cases like Rittenhouse’s capture the nation’s attention exactly because the facts at issue mirror so perfectly the questions we are trying to answer as a society.
It’s been quite apparent over the last decade, and longer if we are being honest, the two-tiered track of our justice system. The government chooses winners and losers, protects favored citizens and destroys those who dissent.
Rittenhouse is sadly just another to add to the list.
The difference between Rittenhouse and other dissidents? His actions, rather than his words, are what’s dangerous to the left.
That a 17 year old stood in the breach, that people, regular citizens, were required to protect what was theirs - their community, their friends and family, their private businesses - from those bent on destruction.
That citizens can (and should) protect what they value.
That defense of your person has no limits in deadly situations.
And that those who are paid to protect and lead communities can and do make “strategic decisions” that result in retreat in the face of a mob, leaving business and residents alike at the mercy of those “mostly peaceful” arsonists and rioters that set a path of destruction across America last summer.
Rittenhouses’s actions are even more threatening to the smart set on the right.
“He had no business in Kenosha!” seems to be the common refrain from supposed right leaning pundits who have spent half their careers championing individual rights, only to cede the rhetorical ground the minute the bright national lights shined on Kenosha.
Thank goodness the residents of Kenosha weren’t depending on the likes of the right’s glitterati and loudest 2nd Amendment defenders. Their answer, wait for the trained professionals, whom they have given license to defend property and person.
They want to foster dependence on a system that has no actual duty to respond, as has been made clear over and over again.
The result of that dependence… over $2 billion in damages during the Summer of Love, businesses and people ruined, a city centers destroyed.
And a 17 year old on trial for murder.
The professional right wants you just as compliant to their schemes as the left does.
The right will leave you to twist in the wind, your reputation and life tattered by a media gleeful to move along a political narrative while they spend their efforts and time working to lower the effective tax rate for multinational corporations and undercut the activists who have made their careers possible.
Our stubborn independence doesn’t require fidelity to a man or a brand. It doesn’t matter if that man is Kyle Rittenhouse or any other. It requires fidelity to principles in practice and deed, rather than only as rhetorical flourishes.
And it requires those that take seriously the responsibility of citizenship.
The system has no desire to protect, coddle or help you. In fact, for a large portion of society, it would rather be rid of you and your ideals that are inconvenient to their political power supply.
That shouldn’t stop any of us from doing what is right if trouble decides to visit our towns.
It will require more stubbornness and more of that “toxic masculinity” that says no, not now, not here.
I have too been following this case and watched his testimony. He did very well on the stand. He was correct in every aspect of his decision making. He had every right to be there. It was where his father and other family members lived.
He did not shoot to protect anything other than to protect his life. He did not shoot them in the back.
Who in their right mind tries to attack someone with a gun. Maybe another criminal. Of course we can not bring up the priors of the dead and or injured but they were no saints. Had they not been there they would still be alive but they choose to riot, loot and destroy others property.
And attack someone who did not have the same beliefs.
I sure hope Kyle is let off.
As a CCW carrier. We need to protect our rights. FYI you attack me and I feel threatened for my life you are gonna get shot!