January 25, 2021

Riots protesting coronavirus restrictions: police attacked, cars and bikes set on fire, fireworks thrown, supermarkets looted, shop windows smashed.

"This has nothing to do with protest, this is criminal violence and we will treat it as such," the Dutch prime minister said, quoted in "Covid: Dutch PM Mark Rutte condemns curfew riots as 'criminal violence" (BBC).

In Eindhoven, golf balls and fireworks were hurled at police in full riot gear, who eventually used tear gas to clear the crowds. Burning bikes were built into barricades. In the eastern city of Enschede, rioters threw rocks at the windows of a hospital. A Covid-19 testing centre was also set alight on Saturday evening in the northern village of Urk, local authorities said.

The government imposed a nighttime curfew, the first since WWII. 

95 comments:

Unknown said...

Is MSNBC reporting this as a "mostly peaceful" protest?

Roughcoat said...

"There are only two things I can't stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and . . . the Dutch."

MayBee said...

I wonder if COVID can spread at an anti-COVID restriction riot, or if only BLM riots and pro-Biden dance parties are immune.

robother said...

Remind me. What was the governing power imposing curfews on the Dutch during WWII? Oh, right.

Wince said...

Coke should do an Antifa and BLM ad, like the old 'like to teach the world to sing' commercials.

The consequence-free response of Democrats in office taught everyone globally a set of perverse incentives as to how street violence works politically.

Lurker21 said...

TV is all impeachment and COVID and both are going to get worse before they get better.

I can't fault people who watch the Kardashians or the Real Housewives anymore if that's the alternative.

Lurker21 said...

"Shop windows smashed"

Wooden shoes come in handy sometimes, I guess.

jim said...

Urk finally makes the news!

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

COVID political theatre is the only available theatre available so people continue to be entertained by it. I myself am bored with it and wish to move on to normal living without the stupid masks and fake fear of the Black Plague.

John henry said...

You know something we don't hear about at all any more? The yellow vest movement in France. Still going strong 2-1/2 years later.

Or the Dutch farmer protests still ongoing.

Or French carbecues.

John Henry

Scott Patton said...

How do you burn a bike? Seems like it would be hard to keep lit. Back tire and seat padding/cover. Front tire and hand grips. Not sure about brake and shift cables.

daskol said...

When do we get the fun part of dystopia, like hunger games style reality TV?

Big Mike said...

The government imposed a nighttime curfew, the first since WWII.

Can I presume that curfew was put in place by the Nazis? Interesting precedent.

Kassaar said...

The Netherlands (sadly, my country) has the one but lowest vaccination rate of the 27 EU countries (only Bulgaria is doing worse).
The riots conveniently deflect attention from that embarrassing fact.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1196071/covid-19-vaccination-rate-in-europe-by-country/

Fernandinande said...

Remind me. What was the governing power imposing curfews on the Dutch during WWII? Oh, right.

If it wasn't for the US Army they'd all be speaking Hollandaise.

Temujin said...

Just when all of the world's governments were looking around, looking at each other and saying quietly to themselves and each other, "Wow. I really didn't think they'd go for this shut down for this long. If they'll do this, we can order them to do anything."

And now this.

What's an authoritarian to do? I know. Let's go ask Gretchen Whitmer. She seems nice.

Leland said...

When is the trial on lockdowns inciting riots?

Freder Frederson said...

Can I presume that curfew was put in place by the Nazis? Interesting precedent.

Not necessarily. The Netherlands were under occupation for a good chunk of the war, but not the whole war.

gilbar said...

that damn Trump! MUST he Ruin, EVERYTHING?

gilbar said...

Lurker21 said...
"Shop windows smashed"
Wooden shoes come in handy sometimes, I guess.


and thus, the Word Sabot
1a : a wooden shoe worn in various European countries
and Thus! the word Sabotage

Though, Technically, you're Supposed to throw them into the machinery; but, windows work too

Gusty Winds said...

Except for the free heroine needles and the red light district, the Netherlands is worthless.

Chris said...

What does a curfew have to do with covid? Governor Gretchen Witless has imposed a curfew here in Michigan, but what is the science behind it?

Gusty Winds said...

I’m having a hard time feeling bad for the Europeans. Smarmy, look down their noses at Americans, and in the last decade they let their culture be completely destroyed by “importing” low cost labor from Syria and other parts of the middle east. Didn’t work out so well. They have given up their rights to an unelected bureaucracy in Brussels (kind of like we just did with Biden).

The entire continent has penis envy.

Matt Sablan said...

"What does a curfew have to do with covid? Governor Gretchen Witless has imposed a curfew here in Michigan, but what is the science behind it?"

-- The rationale in DC/VA has been: People do stupider things at night and drink more, so if we keep people from bars and restaurants late at night, clearly, there will be fewer people doing stupid things.

In this case though, I think the curfew has to do with the rioting/protests, more so than the virus. At least, that's how I read the last sentence of what was quoted; I could be wrong. Because I didn't click through the link.

Stay Safe said...

Dutch Hillbillies.

Hahaha!

bgates said...

Can I presume that curfew was put in place by the Nazis?

yep

Danno said...

Roughcoat said..."There are only two things I can't stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and . . . the Dutch."

Are you South African?

from the Kingston Trio- .... South Africans hate the Dutch. And I don't like anybody very much!

Jalanl said...

Gilbar - you beat me to it! Exhibit number 4,832,042 that Trump just jumped in front of a parade - the parade goes on. The people who think they should be in charge because of credentials will wake up - but probably not!

Humperdink said...

Tear gas? The Dutch are behind the curve. We gun down our protesters.

Mikey NTH said...

The Establishment has a plan to deal with the commoners.


(I didn't say it was a *good* plan.)

holdfast said...

No, we only shoot the white, small female ones.

tim maguire said...

Governments will need to be pressured to lift the lockdowns as the case counts lower. If opening up is done through government initiative, they'll be left in place far longer than necessary.

Mary Beth said...

Nice little analysis tacked on at the end. If only they had adopted harsh measures earlier there would be no backlash now. I don't know why she doesn't think there would have been a backlash then.

A ban on flights from the UK, South Africa and South America has been put in place due to fears over new variants of the virus.

This would have happened no matter how tightly they had buttoned down before.

Sebastian said...

"The government imposed a nighttime curfew"

Cuz as everyone knows, Covid doesn't spread in the daytime.

tim maguire said...

Kassaar said...The Netherlands (sadly, my country) has the one but lowest vaccination rate of the 27 EU countries (only Bulgaria is doing worse).
The riots conveniently deflect attention from that embarrassing fact.


That's true everywhere--riots create an atmosphere of chaos and instability, which makes it easier for the government to do things they wouldn't get away with during periods of calm.

tim maguire said...

Danno said...
Roughcoat said..."There are only two things I can't stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and . . . the Dutch."

Are you South African?


It's an Austin Powers reference.

Mary Beth said...

Lurker21 said...

"Shop windows smashed"

Wooden shoes come in handy sometimes, I guess.

1/25/21, 8:28 AM


sabotage (n.)

"1907 (from 1903 as a French word in English), from French sabotage, from saboter "to sabotage, bungle," literally "walk noisily," from sabot "wooden shoe" (13c.), altered (by association with Old French bot "boot") from earlier savate "old shoe."

Mary Beth said...

I should have scrolled down. I see that gilbar already posted about wooden shoes and sabotage.

Joe Smith said...

I used to work with a Dutch guy many years ago...very nice and very smart.

I visited the Netherlands in the early '80s and really liked it.

I've only flown on KLM once, but the flight attendants were hot as hell, and the 50-something in the crew was the hottest of all.

Not a bad place, I guess, if they can keep certain citizens from beheading others.

daskol said...

"There are only two things I can't stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and . . . the Dutch."

Tom Lehrer said it better: I know that there are people in this world who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that.

daskol said...

The Dutch: closer to a corporation than a culture or a country.

daskol said...

Most crowded country on earth, all beneath sea level. They have no depth left to sink to.

daskol said...

Eindhoven is not in Holland, but it is in the Netherlands.

Ken B said...

Fernandistein writes “ If it wasn't for the US Army they'd all be speaking Hollandaise.”

Canadian troops liberated Holland.

Ken B said...

I don’t get the nighttime curfew. Assuming people will go out, giving them more hours to do so lowers the density at gathering places doesn’t it? I mean, the logic would also apply after say 2pm, or before 1pm so that everyone must do the same 1 hour window.

That said, rubber bullets should be used in the first 5 minutes of any riot.

Joe Smith said...

"Canadian troops liberated Holland."

Did they bring their delicious bacon?

Along with Hollandaise you're two-thirds of the way to a yummy breakfast.

Joe Smith said...

Make that half-way : )

daskol said...

Did they bring their delicious bacon?

Peameal bacon

Michael said...

The Dutch, unlike Americans, have first hand experience living under actual Nazis.

Narr said...

Portions of northern Holland remained under German occupation until May 8, 1945.

As to the importation of cheap labor, that at least would make sense, but AFAIK in Germany anyway most of the 'migrants' are unemployed and unemployable despite being young males.
Or maybe -because- they're young males of a certain favored group-- welfare grifters a la the Tsarnaevs of Joisey.

At any rate I didn't look any deeper than the BBC story, but it's curious that there isn't any clear attempt to describe the rioters' political or ethnic bases and demands--which can only mean that Our Betters haven't decided what spin is most favorable to themselves.

Narr
We enjoyed our week or so in Holland in '78

Narr said...

American soldiers fought and died in the Netherlands-- the 82nd and 101st of course, but also the 30th and probably a few others I can't recall offhand.

Why are the Dutch the tallest population?

Narr
Because their land is below sea level!

MadTownGuy said...

"In Eindhoven, golf balls and fireworks were hurled at police in full riot gear, who eventually used tear gas to clear the crowds."

Same MO as Antifa. What are the odds of it being the same people?

Roughcoat said...

Canadian First Army performed poorly in the Normandy Campaign, especially at the top command levels. Canadian incompetence at all levels in the Battle of the Falaise Gap allowed a large portion of the German Army in France to escape encirclement, thus arguably prolonging the war into 1945. The poor performance of Canadian First Army has been addressed in numerous historical accounts, notably e.g. in the highly controversial 1992 CBC production "The Valour and the Horror."

Cacimbo said...

Look at photos from the riots and the locations - all places with high number of new immigrants. These appear to be the usual immigrants rioters. Same ones who burn the cars in France. Some native Dutch may object to the shutdowns - but are mostly not the people peacefully burning their own neighborhoods.

Anonymous said...

BADuBois said...
Is MSNBC reporting this as a "mostly peaceful" protest?


This would be option B:

White Supremacy

Sam L. said...

The Dutch fight back against their oppressors...

Anonymous said...

Ken B said...
Fernandistein writes “ If it wasn't for the US Army they'd all be speaking Hollandaise.”

Canadian troops liberated Holland.


It was in Montgomery's area, so most of the troops were commonwealth.

IIRC The Canadians focused on clearing the islands that eventually opened Amsterdam's port. Till that happened they and the locals were short of supplies.

As for liberating Urk and surrounds? That was the American 101st, during Market Garden.

stlcdr said...

Joe Smith said...
I used to work with a Dutch guy many years ago...very nice and very smart.

I visited the Netherlands in the early '80s and really liked it.

I've only flown on KLM once, but the flight attendants were hot as hell, and the 50-something in the crew was the hottest of all.

Not a bad place, I guess, if they can keep certain citizens from beheading others.

1/25/21, 9:53 AM


Always, always, always fly KLM.

Here's a phrase I always use: I hate the French, but never met a Frenchman I didn't like. Applies to almost every culture: we are all individuals, and not defined by our country or kin.

hombre said...

The Dutch? Wow!

The Ruling Class doesn’t seem to get that the iron-handed “Father Knows Best” style doesn’t cut it any more. The ChiCom Virus has proved that it doesn’t know best; doesn’t know shit.

Who made the rule that if it is violent, it is not a protest? Democrats covering for BLM? Word gets around among the potentates.

Old and slow said...

"In Eindhoven, golf balls and fireworks were hurled at police"

You know, it's a good thing these rioters aren't conservatives. Some of us play golf... I'd be downright dangerous with a bucket of golf balls, a 5 iron, and a righteous sense of entitlement and anger.

Instead we see a bunch of freaky tattooed losers who throw like girls.

Robert Cook said...

"I can't fault people who watch the Kardashians or the Real Housewives anymore if that's the alternative."

I can. If the only alternative on tv to the Kardashians or the Real (sic) Housewives is coverage of COVID-19 and impeachment--which isn't really true--then among the readily available better choices are to read a book...listen to music...go for a walk or a bike ride...make love to your loved one or to yourself...start a new hobby...do some housecleaning...pare your nails...meditate...contemplate one's mortality...get a colon cleanse...anything is better than watching the Kardashians or the Real (sic) Housewives! Those who watch those shows are just guilty of giving in to truly base impulses!

JPS said...

I'm sorry to see this. I hope things will be OK as soon as possible.

The Netherlands was pretty reasonable in their response to COVID. Everyone tried to be careful, but for the most part the country remained open.

I was in Italy through the spring. When their lockdown lifted I had to return to the U.S. for visa reasons. Coming back to the U.S. was easy. Returning to my family, still in Italy, proved tougher.

I made what turned out to be a very short trip to Amsterdam, which was still allowing Americans in. I still remember the EU passport control officer's cheerful hail, after conferring with his superior: "Hey, you're good to go. We don't know how you're going to get into Italy. But welcome, and good luck."

Through my futile day of looking into one dead end after another, including a trip across town to visit the Italian honorary consul, people were nothing but welcoming and helpful. And as I went back through the E.U. border control to board my flight back to the U.S., another officer expressed surprise that I'd been there all of eight hours, followed by real sympathy when I explained I was trying to get back to my family but Italy didn't want me back.

And yeah, KLM is squared away. (Always loved that Nigel Powers joke that Roughcoat beat me to, though.)

Anonymous said...

stlcdr said...
Joe Smith said...
I used to work with a Dutch guy many years ago...very nice and very smart.

I visited the Netherlands in the early '80s and really liked it.

I've only flown on KLM once, but the flight attendants were hot as hell, and the 50-somestlcdr said...
Joe Smith said...
I used to work with a Dutch guy many years ago...very nice and very smart.

I visited the Netherlands in the early '80s and really liked it.

I've only flown on KLM once, but the flight attendants were hot as hell, and the 50-something in the crew was the hottest of all.

Not a bad place, I guess, if they can keep certain citizens from beheading others.

1/25/21, 9:53 AM

Always, always, always fly KLM.

Here's a phrase I always use: I hate the French, but never met a Frenchman I didn't like. Applies to almost every culture: we are all individuals, and not defined by our country or kin.


I make the distinction between Parisians and provincial French.

Parisians are New Yorkers on steroids with French accents

JK Brown said...

When they start burning the bikes, you know it's getting serious.

Francisco D said...

BADuBois said...Is MSNBC reporting this as a "mostly peaceful" protest?

No. That is for the good protesters. These people are insurrectionists and should be shot.

gilbar said...

Old and slow said...
it's a good thing these rioters aren't conservatives. Some of us play golf... I'd be downright dangerous with a bucket of golf balls, a 5 iron, and a righteous sense of entitlement and anger.


Artillery lends dignity to what otherwise would be a common brawl

n.n said...

Is MSNBC reporting this as a "mostly peaceful" protest?

No. That is for the good protesters. These people are insurrectionists and should be shot.


Summary execution. Elective abortion. Planned Protester. Whether they pose a risk or not. Forward!

BUMBLE BEE said...

There you go... dissin Freder's pals with facts.

gilbar said...

I found this while looking for the correct quote above (which i got wrong*)
It is Completely Off Topic... But, COMPLETELY TRUE (and, come to think of it: on topic!)

Gunner time is always right; it might not be correct, but it’s always right.




got it wrong* Frederick the Great said it would otherwise be a Vulgar Brawl

Joe Smith said...

"No. That is for the good protesters. These people are insurrectionists and should be shot."

I agree. Send Ken B to kill them all.

They have bicycles and some of the seats are kind of pointy.

And some have colorful streamers coming out of the handles that could be used to strangle people.

Clearly these are weapons.

They all should die.

Tinderbox said...

What! There are deplorables in the Netherlands?

FullMoon said...

Burning bikes in deference to climate change.
Less pollution than burning police cars.

Fernandinande said...

“If it wasn't for the US Army they'd all be speaking Hollandaise.”

Canadian troops liberated Holland.


If it wasn't for the US Army they'd all be speaking Canadian.

tcrosse said...

Burning bikes in deference to climate change.

Evidently the fish don't need them.

Dr Weevil said...

I have to say that I have flown KLM once and will never do it again. Twentyish years ago, I flew from Detroit to Manchester, changing planes in Amsterdam. (For another 12+ years after that, my hour in Amsterdam was my only experience of the European continent.)

Anyway, as we approached Amsterdam, a stewardess brought me a wheelchair. When I said "What? I don't need a wheelchair", she and all the other stewards and stewardesses bunched up behind her openly pointed and laughed at me. WTF? I was then a middle-aged bald guy, probably a little grumpy-looking after the long flight, but hadn't done anything to attract anger or mockery.

Though only 1/8 Dutch myself, I do look rather like Pim Fortuyn, flamingly-guy hard-right Dutch politician, but that's hardly my fault, and I imagine he would have been in first class. It was May 4th, and someone in Manchester told me that's Dutch Liberation Day, but again, WTF? Are all pink-cheeked bald-headed white guys supposed to be Nazis or something?

Half an hour later, in the airport, I asked the guy at the metal detector not to put my 3.5" floppy with all my data on it through the machine. (I was on my way to give some lectures in England.) The fact that he did so anyway was annoying, but the fact that he did it laughing and said "Ha ha! All your data - GONE!" (it wasn't) proved him an asshole. A simple "Sorry, can't do that" would have sufficed.

In short, I can't speak for anyone else, but I've found quite a high percentage of Dutch people (not Dutch-Americans) I've dealt with to be total assholes.

Narr said...

Nope on the artillery. It was a Sandhurst cadet about 1900 who told the examining board that "the purpose of cavalry on the modern battlefield is to lend tone to what would otherwise be mere vulgar brawling."

Just as it is the purpose of librarians to bring sense and order to what would otherwise be mere pigpiles of professorial piffling.

I was friends with a man who had been in the 30th ID in WWII-- a silver star recipient. I asked him about allies and he rolled his eyes at the Brits but said the 30th always liked working with the Canadians.

The most discreditable thing about Canadians in WWII that I can think of is the notorious case where a moron Canuck colonel allowed the Krauts to execute a couple of their deserters AFTER THE SURRENDER.

Narr
Think about that



JaimeRoberto said...

Now that's how you insurrect.

Quaestor said...

Wooden shoes come in handy sometimes, I guess.

Some years ago I watched a televised presentation of Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L'inutile precauzione" with a group of friends. At rise in Act One, the chorus is on stage -- a street in Seville where Figaro the barber sings his famous aria. Unfortunately, the costume designer of that production had dressed the chorus in Spanish peasant attire, including wooden shoes that made a noisome clatter on the stage. Hearing the din of those clogs I shouted "Sabotage!" hoping for a laugh, but no one got the joke. So much for wasted badinage.

Quaestor said...

Regarding the artillery/cavalry quip, folks may be taking things too literally..."

Narr said...

KLM has always been good when we've traveled with them, and as I said we enjoyed our short stay in the Netherlands.

OTOH, one of the biggest asshoes I ever met was a young Dutch woman--quite attractive--who was on a transatlantic flight with us--probably on the way back here in '78. It started off well, as we exchanged pleasantries but gradually it got political and she clearly didn't like America after Vietnam much. I thought it was rich after her description of growing up well off because her family had owned a little shipping line in Indonesia (formerly the N. E. I.)

As a soft-spoken Southern American, I find a lot of Europeans to be brusque.

Narr
Much like Newyawkas.


tcrosse said...

Before boarding a flight from Schiphol to MSP the Dutch security guy gave my nuts a good feel and then examined the contents of my wallet. OTOH the Czech security guys in Prague were perfect gentlemen.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

If new WHO* and CDC test guidelines had been in place in 2020 instead of being published 1/20/21 then up to 90% of positive tests would not have been counted as “cases” in 2020 as they are not being counted now. Whaddaya know, new case rates are falling everywhere. Yes Ken B it was fake crisis all along. It was at least 90% overblown according to the same health officials we relied on last year. Another way of explaining overstatement of caseload by 90% is to call it a HOAX or a FRAUD.

* https://www.who.int/news/item/20-01-2021-who-information-notice-for-ivd-users-2020-05

*analysis here: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/01/right_on_schedule_covid_pivots_for_biden.html

5M - Eckstine said...

What lessons have we learned from the pandemic?
1. China is dishonest to a fault.
2. Public Health officials across the board lack wisdom, lack experience, can't manager their way out of a wet paper bag.
3. Politicians are uncreative souls that don't inspire confidence or leadership in managing a health crisis and maintaining an economy.

Wokeism is a panic fear inducing machine meant to destroy stuff.

5M - Eckstine said...

Who really thinks public health is counting covid metrics correctly? If they were there would be a central database used to drill into and report on. A relative of a deceased could go there and see the truth of what happened.

DavidUW said...

The Dutch drink Germans’ piss.

Low swamp dwellers.

Roughcoat said...

it got political and she clearly didn't like America after Vietnam much.

You should have asked her about the Netherland's (failed) post-WW2 war to suppress the NEI independence movement, when the Dutch used Japanese army units to put down the insurgents, or asked her about the fate of the South Moluccans.

DavidUW said...

As a soft-spoken Southern American, I find a lot of Europeans to be brusque.
>>
Most mediterraneans are friendly. And the women haven't been poisoned by "feminism" like northerners.

Northerners don't smile and seem rude to Americans. Germans hate Americans more than the French, especially the French outside of Paris, who are actually pretty normal people.

I've been back and forth to Germany and other countries over there since 1994. Germans bitched about Clinton back then, just in case anyone ever suffered the notion that they just hate our Republican politicians.

DavidUW said...

Also.

I've known and interacted with many Euros. It's part of my work.

The only Euros I know who moved here and became actual American citizens were non-Parisian French.

tim in vermont said...

My guess is that the people protesting the lockdowns were serving as a cover for the Black Bloc types who just love violence. Kind of like what happened at the Capitol.

The only Euros I know who moved here and became actual American citizens were non-Parisian French.

Can confirm. The French are surprisingly pro American once you get outside of certain poliitcal classes.

tim in vermont said...

"a young Dutch woman--quite attractive”

That’s almost redundant.

Narr said...

I didn't bring up Dutch imperialism and her role in it because I was tired, and polite.

The most anti-American foreigner I ever met was a Westernized Iranian woman who had grown up in France and was working in Manhattan with my wife back in the early '80s. She was married to an American, a minor thriller- and screen-writer. She eventually moved back to (the south of) France.

I've rarely encountered outright hostility to Americans from any of the Europeans I have run across in my limited wanderings on the continent--not even in dreaded Paris, capitol (after The Hague!) of anti-Americanism, and not even when a little hostility might have been merited.

Narr
Brusque, yes; hostile, no

Narr said...

Quaestor, that "sabotage" story is classic-- some of my best quips go right over most people (except here of course).

Since we're on WWII (and by extension the WWII movies that run in our minds), I set an entire crowded theater to guffawing once in 1967. My friends Kenny and Greg and I had ridden the bus from Laurelwood to downtown, to see The Dirty Dozen (at the grand old Lowe's State IIRC).

We sat in the middle, feet up on the chair backs in front of us, when, during a split-second break in the gunfire during the chateau assault, I let go with one of the most prodigious farts I've ever enjoyed. I could not have timed it better if I'd tried, and the
place was howling. I laugh as I recall it, and whenever I watch it.

This would have been about the same year that I beat Jesse Faulkner--who had a couple of years and about seventy pounds on me--in an impromptu flatulence contest in health class.
It was more fun than basketball.

Narr
Play to your strengths

daskol said...

Since selling our company to an Anglo-Dutch conglomerate a couple years ago, I work for and with Euros, mostly Brits and French day to day but a real smorgasboard of 'em. The contempt for Americans that surrounds me in Brooklyn is far more vicious and potent than what I've sensed from Euros, and even the most privileged Europeans harbor something like a protective affection for their domestic peasants in a noblesse oblige way that I don't see at home. The most contemptuosly anti-American and deplorable-haters are our own elite and those who ape them.

daskol said...

Narr-the-farter, sounds like you could have had a minor career on the early Howard Stern show.

Narr said...

daskol, that's high praise in my book!

You are correct about the contrasting attitudes of elites: Lincoln was right when he foretold that only Americans could destroy America.

Narr
Some things just have to come out