Unconstructed Thoughts On The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 8 months ago
It’s a dangerous thing to offer up initial, unconstructed thoughts since they may all prove to be nonsense because of lack of information. And yet I do have initial reactions that can serve as an open thread for discussion.
The police were worthless once again. I had to bring it to my wife’s attention one more time while we were watching SWAT teams outside in safety while children poured out of the building that by procedure, the police would protect themselves first and foremost. The children come later. That shocked my wife.
The shooter did his nefarious deeds inside unabated and unmolested. He then apparently shot at least two more people outside after he was finished, and the police caught him outside, not inside. The police apparently didn’t prevent a single death or injury. No one will protect you and your family except you.
Next thought. Expect yet another push for gun control laws that only affect peaceable men and women.
Final thought. How sad for the poor children in the school, and how sad for their parents. This picture is sad too.
This person did exactly what s/he was taught to do: run, hide (and fight, but this last part would have been irrelevant). This picture is the picture of failure. It is emblematic of the failure of American society to deal with the concept of self defense. If this poor student had gotten to the point of fighting, according to DHS instructions, s/he could have only thrown potted plants and chairs.
Again, how sad.
On February 15, 2018 at 2:48 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
Re: “This person did exactly what s/he was taught to do: run, hide (and fight, but this last part would have been irrelevant). This picture is the picture of failure. It is emblematic of the failure of American society to deal with the concept of self defense. If this poor student had gotten to the point of fighting, according to DHS instructions, s/he could have only thrown potted plants and chairs.”
How true…
In Great Britain, it is now illegal for Her Majesty’s subjects to use lethal force to defend themselves even inside their own homes! A few years ago, there were rumors stateside that use of an edged weapon – such as a knife – in self-defense was to be made illegal in Britain. I do not know if such laws come to pass or not. The scuttlebutt has it that defense-minded Britons now own baseball bats.
Such draconian laws, it seems to me, are of a piece with efforts by the western ruling elites to delegitimize manhood itself and concomitant efforts to feminize western society.
If one opens one’s eyes and looks for the signs of the feminization of the West, and the attack upon traditional manhood, they are everywhere. I am in my fifties now, but as a boy, I used to enjoy watching war movies – usually fare involving some heroic mission behind enemy lines or a famous air, sea or land battle in which our men triumphed over evil.
“Von Ryan’s Express,” “Where Eagles Dare,” “The Guns of Navarone,” “Patton,” “Midway,” “Tora, Tora, Tora!,” “The Battle of Britain,” and so many others.
These films not only drew clear lines between the good guys and the bad guys, they celebrated the virtues of traditional manhood – defense of the weak, fighting oppression and tyranny, ingenuity in the face of hardships, perseverance in overcoming obstacles, and the fight to preserve the good in the face of evil.
Today, Hollywood rarely makes movies that show “our side” as the good guys, and then only in historical dramas where the enemies are politically-correct – i.e., the Nazis. The so-called “global war on terror” has been going on since 2001, but virtually no film director or producer anywhere has made a film even remotely critical of Islam or Muslims, despite the fact that the people we are fighting in this war are in fact Muslims.
Hollywood seems most-comfortable making films in which Americans die, such as “Thirteen Hours” and “Lone Survivor.” Only Clint Eastwood bucked the trend with “American Sniper,” but it is tough to imagine any of the younger crop of directors making that film, sorry to say.
Things have gotten so bad that Hollywood doesn’t even feel comfortable making WWII movies in which the Allies are shown winning. Instead, we are lectured by the cultural Marxists to empathize with our enemies, past and present, instead of defeating them in battle. About the only person of note making traditional war films is the aforementioned Clint Eastwood, and he’s at the end of his long career.
I do hope Mr. Eastwood lives a long life, as he seems to be the only guy in town with the courage to tell some of these stories, such as in his new film “The 5:17 to Paris.”
The larger point in all of this is that traditional manhood and its virtues are under attack, not just from feminists but from cultural Marxists at the highest levels of government and business.
The sad part about it all is that this “attack” upon manhood appears to be working. Research scientists in medicine, endocrinology and developmental biology are quite concerned about the decline of the stuff of manhood in post-society – literally the “stuff” of manhood, as in declining sperm counts in men of reproductive age, and declining levels of serum testosterone in developed societies in Europe and elsewhere.
Gee, call me conspiracy-minded, but isn’t it “convenient” for the agenda of the globalist elites that there are so many pseudo-estrogens and xeno-estrogens in the environment and in our food chain right now!
Why the attacks upon manhood? The answer may be as simple as this: a society of feminized people, whether male or female, is more-easily ruled thanks to its passivity, timidity, and weakness. A society of such people – lacking even the faintest impulses of self-protection and self-preservation, will have become as H.G. Wells foresaw in his science fiction novel, “The Time Machine,” (1895) – Eloi, easily-preyed upon by the fierce Morlocks.
For a sneak preview of what such a society looks like, readers are urged to study present-day Sweden, with the native Swedes as the Eloi, and the Muslim “immigrants” as the Morlocks.
On February 15, 2018 at 7:23 am, ragman said:
I can’t improve on what Georgiaboy said but this morning it has come to light that warning signs were everywhere. He threatened other students at the school and was expelled, he tortured and killed small animals and put it on instagram, he threatened to shoot up the school. These events were well known. Where were the FBI , NSA , and the rest of the worthiness govt enforcers? I’ll tell ya where. They were watching porn and illegally spying on American citizens among other things. Disband them all!
On February 15, 2018 at 8:09 am, Ghost Who Walks said:
Jim Stone website has s video you can download showing newscaster telling of girl who was talking to Cruz in hallway when shots were fired elsewhere.
On February 15, 2018 at 8:30 am, Ned said:
Here’s the link that Ghost Who Walks spoke about. Scroll partway down. http://82.221.129.208/.zg5.html
On February 15, 2018 at 10:45 am, jim said:
very good article, and unfortunately, so true!!!
On February 15, 2018 at 11:15 am, Fred said:
Again, more than a dozen youngsters dead and NO RETURN FIRE from anywhere. Whoever did this apparently just waltzed around the school and when done casually walked outside. Every single one of these deaths is on the shoulders of federal government. It’s their law, it’s their policy that our children should be herded into indoctrination centers and be left defenseless.
Dear Federal Government, This is your fault.
But what’s 17 more dead to the biggest mass murderer in the 1800’s, 20th century (including abortion), and guess what, the US is number one in death by government again so far again this century. It’s a proud moment for politicians everywhere to blame everything and anybody but themselves. God will recompense all of this on your heads, ALL OF IT! You motherfuckers.
On February 15, 2018 at 11:41 am, Chris said:
There are about 1 LEO per 3000 people in the USA. There are about 4000 students, and additional teachers and staff at that school. Where were the two armed law enforcement officers that should have been present in that mass of soft targets?
On February 15, 2018 at 1:00 pm, Fred said:
3…2…1…and he was known to authorities.
I thought that the Fusion Centers were supposed to “connect the dots”.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/briannasacks/the-fbi-was-warned-about-a-school-shooting-threat-from?utm_term=.veXqbokqY#.rqbr5QarX
Oh and we’re saved. Pres Trump says that the feds are working closely with states and locals and that mental health is a top priority. So the feds kill hundreds of millions and are here to save us from ourselves. Pffft.
On February 15, 2018 at 1:57 pm, Irwin Corey said:
“Attack on manhood”. One could only conclude that Georgiaboy 61 has a serious phallic issue. Your gun is not your penis, and, if that is how you define manhood, then you don’t know what being a man is really about.
All you espouse is MORE GUNS, MORE GUNS. When will you learn you are a tool of the NRA and those who profit from your ilk.
On February 15, 2018 at 2:25 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Irwin,
You should think a little deeper before you write, but I left your comment for purposes of embarrassment (to you).
I’ll let him speak for himself, but by manhood he means the God-given duty to protect and defend his family and community.
On February 15, 2018 at 2:39 pm, Yuri said:
Very wise to keep comments limited in the immediate aftermath, while the story (and the narrative) is still uncertain.
I will say this, though: I don’t know all the details regarding FBI’s foreknowledge of this shooting, and I am hardly the type to defend LEOs generally and federal LEOs specifically; BUT, unlike others reacting to this incident (some commenting here) I’m not quite ready to start implementing a federal “Pre-Crime” program.
On February 15, 2018 at 2:45 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Yuri,
Neither am I. Again, *personal defense*. That means for men, protect your families and communities. For the children, if as a parent you must herd them into a school of indoctrination rather than home school them, then provide for their protection with teachers, security, yourselves and other men on duty rotation.
The police are under no legal obligation to supply you with personal defense. Castle Rock v. Gonzales, and other cases as you know.
On February 15, 2018 at 4:48 pm, Bill Robbins said:
Another text-book case for a syndrome familiar to just about everyone, but either ignored or swept under the rug, until it’s too late.
On February 15, 2018 at 5:45 pm, moe mensale said:
@Chris,
I used to live 5 miles from that school. The Douglas High School campus is massive. It’s not inconceivable that the shooter didn’t run into the cops during his shooting spree. He also blended in with the other students – no back trench coat crap.
On February 15, 2018 at 7:24 pm, moe mensale said:
Meant to say “no black trench coat crap.”
On February 15, 2018 at 7:24 pm, Chris Mallory said:
The cops were useless.
From the AP:
“Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at a news conference Thursday that Nikolas Cruz tried to mix in with a group of students fleeing the school. The sheriff says he then headed to a Wal-Mart and bought a drink at a Subway restaurant before walking to a McDonald’s.
Israel says Cruz was confronted by a police officer and taken into custody about 40 minutes after leaving the McDonald’s.”
“A Florida sheriff says the suspect in a high school shooting that killed 17 people fired into five classrooms before dropping his rifle and fleeing on foot.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel says 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz fired into three rooms on the first floor of the school in Parkland, then went back and fired again into two of those rooms. He says the shooter fired into one other room on that floor before moving to the second floor and shooting one person in a classroom there.
The sheriff says the gunman then dropped his rifle and backpack containing extra ammunition and ran out of the school. As he crossed fields, he tried to blend in with fleeing students.”
So in an area within walking distance of a commercial tract, this guy had time to shoot into 5 classrooms on 2 floors before the cops entered the building?
On February 15, 2018 at 7:31 pm, moe mensale said:
“If this poor student had gotten to the point of fighting, according to DHS instructions, s/he could have only thrown potted plants and chairs.”
@Herschel,
What more can we expect from the students beyond gang tackling the perp if possible? After all, none of them can legally possess a firearm on campus. And even if they could, I think the scene would become more chaotic.
Now the staff and teachers on the other hand is a different story. I believe they could return fire in a more calm, collected mindset. But most politicians won’t allow this.
On February 15, 2018 at 7:34 pm, moe mensale said:
@Ghost Who Walks,
I’d take that video with a large grain of salt. Maybe I’m just being overly cautious until all the facts are known but one student out of 3,000 actually has a discussion with the alleged shooter during the shooting? Maybe fake news?
On February 15, 2018 at 7:47 pm, Ned said:
Moe – this elaborates on the issue a little deeper. I don’t know if it’s rotten, but it sure smells funny.
On February 15, 2018 at 7:48 pm, Ned said:
This -> http://www.northcrane.com/2018/02/multiple-eye-witnesses-confirm-multiple-shooters-involved-florida-massacre/
On February 15, 2018 at 8:17 pm, Gryphon said:
Fools, Bunglers and Incompetents received info that this person planned a school shooting, but did Nothing. Seeing that the ‘deep state’ bureauRats want things like this to happen, I’m not surprised the Threats were Ignored. And I hadn’t considered this, Captain, but You are correct, piggies show up and Do Nothing, in case one of them might get Hurt…
And the MRAP’s, Tacticool gear and Body Armor just makes them look even more Foolish.
On February 15, 2018 at 11:41 pm, Yuri said:
As a non-parent, I will now cavalierly propose a solution to the problem of school shootings:
Ban public schools.
We need “School Control” (or, maybe .. “we needs us sum “skool Kontroll””; whichever you prefer)
Admittedly, I have no need for Public Daycare because I have no children. Still, I’m rather tired of having my rights infringed to pay for Daycare for other people’s kids, only have my rights further threatened when one of the daycare attendees becomes maladjusted (presumably by said “care”) and blows a gasket.
For all I know at this point, maybe (MAGA-hat-wearing) Nikolas Cruz just didn’t fit in at a school where a student calls Trump a “piece of shit” for offering condolences and prayers, and immediately demanding gun control.
Now, Cruz surely had issues. But where did his fellow student learn that gun control is the panacaea for murder, and that not immediately imposing that cure-all of gun control is the equivalent of having blood on your hands? It could have been her parents, I guess. Maybe something her parents spontaneously tweeted to her from across the dinner table.
At any rate, my preferred solution is, and will obstinately remain, to make the entire country a “Public School-Free Zone”
Guns don’t get kids killed in school shootings, … schools do.
On February 15, 2018 at 11:45 pm, Yuri said:
edit: “and immediately demands gun control.”
Anyway, that one’s here:
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/north-america/i-dont-want-your-condolences-you-piece-of-s-student-slams-trump-over-gun-control-after-17-killed-at-florida-school-36606766.html
On February 15, 2018 at 11:59 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
Re: “Irwin Corey said:
“Attack on manhood”. One could only conclude that Georgiaboy 61 has a serious phallic issue. Your gun is not your penis, and, if that is how you define manhood, then you don’t know what being a man is really about.
All you espouse is MORE GUNS, MORE GUNS. When will you learn you are a tool of the NRA and those who profit from your ilk.”
Off your meds, are you? That’s too bad, but it isn’t my problem. So tell me, does George Soros pay you well to write such dreck? By the way, being insulted by the likes of you I wear as a badge of honor.
On February 16, 2018 at 5:07 am, Will said:
You folks recall Sandy Hook? The Lanza boy was packing 2 handguns. Specifically identified as a glock and a Sig Sauer. After a goofy coroner gave a public statement, they morphed into a bushmaster AR. So the “authorities” either can’t distinguish pistol from rifle brass and 30 round mags strewn all about…….OR Lanza policed up all his spent brass and empty mags, hid that and the AR in a locker, offed himself with one of the pistols, and it took the authorities over 16 hours to find the murder weapon. Seriously, WTF?
On February 16, 2018 at 10:41 am, Fred said:
“After a goofy coroner gave a public statement, they morphed into a bushmaster AR”
The same coroner who is no longer with us? Hate when that happens.
On February 16, 2018 at 11:27 am, Dov Sar said:
How did he end up getting to go to McDonalds and Walmart afterwards?
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2018/02/suspect-went-to-mcdonalds-subway-after-florida-school-shooting-sheriff/
And how did he hide the AR while he was walking down the hall speaking to the female high school student as per the news interview?
On February 16, 2018 at 11:39 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Dov,
Many unanswered questions, for sure.
On February 16, 2018 at 1:14 pm, Fred said:
Fibbies are out saying that they failed to fuse the fuses while not connecting the dots in the fusion centers where they fuse things. Of course if the gym teacher had been armed he might have been able to shoot… whoever …did this. Oh well, all the po-po went home safe and that’s what matters.
On February 16, 2018 at 2:58 pm, moe mensale said:
@Ned,
So Jewish students see better than the goyim students? :)
On February 16, 2018 at 6:35 pm, Yuri said:
I don’t comment a lot, so I apologize in advance for a third comment in one thread.
Every time it happens, the reactions are predictable. As is the intensity of those reactions.
The list of reactions is usually fairly short; falling into maybe 5 to 7 categories.
There is a point, a frozen moment in time, when bullets meet flesh, where the age and sex and race and height and IQ and guilt and innocence of those struck doesn’t matter. At that same point in time, the motives, history, warning-signs, craziness, and evilness of the one who fired the bullets that meet flesh, likewise, are immaterial.
Looking backward in time from that moment will soon become everyone’s consuming passion.
I have begun looking primarily at what happens from that moment forward. I see only one thing. Each time.
Ripples.
One of the major categories of reactions deals with mental illness. I’m not going to get into the details of those reactions or what I think of them; but, I bring it up for a reason. The ripples that I see every time are ripples of “crazy”.
They spread out just like ripples from a stone thrown in a still pond. They are shaped according to the distance to shore, the shape of the shoreline, and the depth of the water; but, out they spread.
The Flu, or other contagion, might be another fair analogy. It doesn’t matter much, all I see is the radiating spread of the ripple-contagion.
Now, I may be crazy in ways and for reasons entirely separate from the issue of school-shootings; but the craziest I get is hearing or reading all of the reactions to a school shooting, and the reactions to those reactions.
In the aftermath of one of these events, the voices of sanity are silent … and silenced. Every reaction is crazier than the last. Logic, reason, compassion, and formerly-strongly-held-beliefs are all jettisoned onto the heaving heap of crazy.
I will not be more specific as to which reactions I find crazy, or why. I find it ALL crazy. Which makes me crazy. Thus, turning me into just another ripple.
If this skinny loner with a troubled past and uresolved mental and emotional problems wanted a megaphone for his crazy … he got it. The biggest one in the world.
The amplification is deafening. Maddening.
My personal policy (o.k., I don’t actually have “policies” per se) in the future will be that upon my initial hearing of any school shooting incident, I will not read any news about it, any reactions to it, and will, in fact, simply pretend it did not happen.
I will also pretend that any comments or reactions by me in the aftermath of this Florida incident, or prior school shootings never happened.
Thatisall.
On February 17, 2018 at 8:42 am, Talktome said:
@irwin – good job completely misunderstanding what georgisboy was writing. Then compounding it with personal attacks. I’m guessing you represent exactly what GA meant.