XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.politics.elections, alt.politics.trump   
   XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns   
   From: nospam@ix.netcom.com   
      
   Words have meaning.   
      
   The events of Jan. 6 have been described by Senator Schumer as a date that   
   will live in infamy — harkening back to FDR’s words after the attack on   
   Pearl Harbor. Others have compared Jan. 6 with 9-11. Some historians   
   declared it to be the worst act of rebellion since the nation’s founding,   
   while others believe there’s been nothing like it since the Civil War. The   
   news media and the Left use “insurrection” to describe Jan. 6.   
      
   They’re all wrong.   
      
   Historically, Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787), the Whiskey Rebellion (1790),   
   and Fries Rebellion (1799) were actual acts of insurrection.   
      
   Post-Civil War, the Wilmington Insurrection (1898) is by far worse than   
   Jan. 6. Another one, the Battle of Athens, TN (1946), involved local armed   
   WWII GIs taking over the town, forcing the corrupt sheriff to hide in the   
   jail clinging to the election ballot boxes, until he finally surrendered   
   and the GIs’ candidate won the election. There were the L.A. riots of   
   1992.   
      
   And the BLM riots during the summer of 2020 caused 18 deaths, over $1   
   billion dollars in damage, including federal and state buildings, and in   
   some cities sovereign nations were declared.   
      
   Jan. 6. caused $1.5 million in damage and, despite what was often   
   reported, one person was killed. An unarmed woman, Ashley Babbitt, was   
   shot by a Capitol police officer. The officer’s interview on NBC resulted   
   in more questions than answers about why he fired his weapon and killed   
   Babbitt.   
      
   The word insurrection is a legal term. Under federal law it’s a crime to   
   incite or engage in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of   
   the U.S. or its laws. Black’s Law Dictionary defines insurrection as “a   
   violent revolt against oppressive authority.” It is to be distinguished   
   from a mob or riot based on organization of an armed uprising. Mobs and   
   riots can involve unlawful and violent acts, but they aren’t necessarily   
   insurrections. A revolt is an act to overthrow the government.   
   Insurrection, therefore, requires an organized group that plans an attack   
   to overthrow the government.   
      
   To date, a small percentage of the approximately 725 charged have been   
   accused of violent crimes, and no charges of rebellion or insurrection   
   have been filed. Around 165 have pled guilty to charges — mostly to   
   misdemeanors. Only 30 were given jail time. The FBI investigation has   
   yielded little evidence of a coordinated and organized attack. Instead, 95   
   percent of the participants were acting individually.   
      
   An AP story intending to link Trump to the riot published some of the   
   comments made by participants during court appearances. None of them   
   stated that the event was planned. Indeed, most indicated they didn’t   
   really know why they did it. They said they felt inspired by Trump’s   
   comments and believed the election was fraudulent, but there was no   
   organized or coordinated plan to attack the Capitol.   
      
   Most of the Jan. 6 participants have been charged with trespass. One local   
   man was at the Capitol dressed as George Washington for selfies. A woman   
   from Missouri recently admitted being at the Capitol and stealing a broken   
   sign.   
      
   Video footage shows people walking single file past idle officers as they   
   entered the building. Afterward, most exited on their own accord.   
      
   Very few were arrested that day. Since Jan. 6, the DOJ has used a campaign   
   of “shock and awe” to round up and detain people, again predominantly   
   charged with misdemeanors. Compared with the BLM riots, prosecutors do   
   seem more zealous about Jan. 6. Yet, insurrection charges haven’t been   
   filed.   
      
   Confrontation between officers and rioters did happen. Violence definitely   
   occurred. But, the only shot fired was, again, by the officer who killed   
   Babbitt.   
      
   Jan. 6 was a horrible event. People who acted violently or damaged   
   property should be prosecuted. Those who unlawfully trespassed should also   
   be prosecuted. But as bad as Jan. 6 actually was, it was not the worst in   
   American history. It can’t be compared to Pearl Harbor or 9-11. It’s not   
   even the worst this century.   
      
   Because words have meaning, Jan. 6 can’t be called an “insurrection” just   
   to satisfy the urge to convey a particular seriousness of the event or to   
   propagate a political narrative. This type of narrative is aimed at   
   silencing conservatives, not describing what happened that day. Most   
   participants were not violent people. They weren’t acting as part of a   
   coordinated rebellion. There was no intent to topple the government. They   
   were impassioned citizens at a rally that turned into a riot. It was   
   shameful, but not an insurrection.   
      
   Derek Snyder is an attorney and resident of Joplin.   
      
   https://www.news-leader.com/story/opinion/2022/01/15/jan-6-wasnt-   
   insurrection-stop-calling-what-isnt/6514508001/   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)