[Gratia]

Re # 5: 100% agree.

These riots are purely about a Kent State moment, and the rioters know that. They are consciously trying to provoke a “massacre.” Every rioter involved aspires to be a martyr, knowing that only a few are needed and so the chances of being “the one” are quite small.

The rioters are inspired with a heroic vision of themselves as willing to sacrifice their lives in order to spark a bigger, more violent situation involving millions. The inspiration (IMO) is fueled by drugs, brainwashing, delusions of grandeur, and the high of inflicting destruction.

The true wonderment is that both law enforcement and our side in general have been almost miraculous in not taking the bait. It is frustrating to see, but necessary to avoid Kent State, which would truly be a smashing communist success and the start of general chaos and violence which we have not seen since the Civil War.

[Chainmail]

Excellent point: Kent State. It didn't matter how much the demonstrators provoked the National Guard troops or even that it was rumored that someone fired shots at the troops first, all that mattered were the images of "students murdered" and gas-mask wearing (thus inhuman looking) men firing rifles.

Those images did more damage than the Tet Offensive.