The Laughing Wolf

Direct Action

In the wonderful letter by the SA goon who hacked Protest Warrior’s mail list, there was a delightful sentence “This is an autonomous call out for electronic direct action against the RNC.” The key here is the phrase “direct action”

That phrase has a very specific meaning and it is not an online meaning. While I have no idea if the coward behind this attack is old enough to remember and understand, I am.

I have memories of the Red Brigades, Bader Meinhof, and other such fun progressive groups. You see, I remember having to sit real still while the MPs ran mirrors up under the car to see if there was a bomb there before we could enter the base. I remember having to leave an restaurant in or near Vicenza, Italy, because if we did not members of the Red Brigades phoned to say that they would toss a bomb in just for kicks. I remember having to be careful up in Bavaria because of Bader Meinhof members. These and related groups, such as Action Directe used this phrase with a very specific meaning: to kill, to murder someone or as many as they could of “the enemy.” Men, women, children, it really didn’t matter to them, though to be fair they did ask the base to move the kindergarten away from the edge of the base where it might get hit if a bomb just happened to sail over at that point… Completely by accident, of course.

No, direct action does not mean online. It does not mean civil disobedience. It does not mean harmless pranks. It means murder, maiming, and torture. It means blood. It means dealing with the enemy on a permanent and messy basis.

I had really hoped that those particular bad old days and bad old radicals were behind us. Most nostalgia for those groups and days comes from the callow and ignorant, or from nursing homes where the last members reside (or prison, to be fair). I had really hoped I would not see those days, those groups, and that call here ever again. Yet, here it is, from someone claiming to represent the people and freedom, while trying to destroy both. I wonder if the creature fully understands what it has said, and how seriously the actions and the threat will be taken.

LW

UPDATE: Da Goddess points out another not so innocent phrase that was used in the same way back in the bad old days. I certainly hope that the FBI and others are giving this a very serious look.