I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving with the indigenous population. (It’s likely, however, if the Indians had known where this was going they might have suggested the Pilgrims order out.)
A little more than a week ago, on November 19th, 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty by a jury of eleven white people and one person of color, of all five charges including murder, stemming from a deadly street protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020. The day before Jacob Blake, a black man, was shot four times in the back and three times on the side as he opened the driver’s door to his girlfriend’s SUV.
Amazingly, Blake survived though he required numerous surgeries. But the white cop who fired the shots faced no charges. This led to angry protests in the streets that included considerable looting. TV coverage and social media apparently inspired Rittenhouse, then 17, to drive from Antioch, Illinois to Kenosha. Unfortunately, he was carrying his trusty assault rifle. (Despite being under age to have any gun, much less such the deadly the AR-15.)
So it was Rittenhouse killed two men and permanently paralyzed a third but claimed self defense. In what some labeled an Oscar worthy performance, in his trial testimony Rittenhouse broke down crying. It was rather odd, however, because there were no tears. (To be fair, he didn’t have the benefit of tear-inducing glycerin that actors and actresses use.)
Kyle got an “A” for effort as he squeezed his face and squinted his eyes over and over hoping to open the flood gates but it only released a tiny drop. At one point he sneaked a peek at the jury to see if they were buying it.
(Spoiler alert: They were!)
Yes, “Kryin’ Kyle” got off scot free and is the darling of the right wing gun rights activists. Ted Nugent, the over the hill rocker, reportedly has offered to provide Rittenhouse a lifetime’s worth of ammunition. (What could go wrong there?)
The history of unarmed black men being killed by white men goes back to slavery that began in this country in 1619 when 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown. But in the public eye where an unarmed black man is killed by someone who claims self defense, that may have started with George Zimmerman.
On February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, George Zimmerman fatally shot Travon Martin and was also found not guilty. I could list dozens, maybe hundreds of similar cases but I’m only allowed 800 words.
Such is the current case in Georgia of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year old black man who went jogging and tragically he wound up dead. The three white men who were charged with his murder claimed self defense. Thankfully, they were all found guilty.
Arbery, a seemingly model citizen, died as a result of the twisted belief that citizens need to become vigilantes. If the three defendants were found not guilty I dreaded the possibility of more violence. That brings me back to Kyle, who in some circles, is the toast of the town. (Whereas his poor victims it could be said just wound up toast.)
The day after his non-guilty Kyle received an offer to be an intern in a congressman’s office. The Congressman is the infamous Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) who is being investigated for sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl and having paid for her travels with him. (On the other hand, Kyle is only 18 so he might be an excellent conduit for Gaetz.)
If Kyle works out well with Gaetz but Gaetz winds up going to prison maybe he could pass him on to Donald Trump who appears to be getting ready for a 2024 presidential run. Remember when Trump bragged, “I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I wouldn’t lose a vote.” Forget just one person, Kyle shot three, killing two and leaving the third paralyzed for life. Rittenhouse could be a perfect minion for Trump and has already visited the former president in Mar-a-Lago.
And Trump, who is a lifelong philanderer, could help Kyle who some have suggested is an “Incel.” That’s a term to describe an online community of young men who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually, typically associated with views that are hostile toward women and men who are sexually active.
Though I hope not, Kyle could learn at the feet of the master. Because if Trump is good at anything it’s cheating, including: The IRS, kids cancer charity, vendors, lawyers, golf, Trump University and, of possible prurient interest to Rittenhouse, women as Trump not only cheated on all three wives but his mistresses, too. (Maybe I should have changed “master” with “monster?”)
Jack is at: facebook.com/jackneworth, twitter.com/jackneworth and jackdailypress@aol.com
photo caption: While giving Oscar-worthy testimony in his murder trial Kyle Rittenhouse broke down with a single tear.
