Recently, Leftists in America are becoming more and more associated with the image of the guillotine. Mock guillotines show up with increasing frequency at protests, and along with the clenched fist, hammer and sickle, and Molotov cocktails, this has become a common symbol of their movement. If this was a rare occurrence, I could dismiss it as bored Antifa/BLM groupies practicing their arts and crafts skills, while taking a break from their study of intersectional systemic structural racism and “fiery but mostly peaceful” riot planning. The coast-to-coast appearance with increasing frequency of this Leftist icon is worth noting.
When reviewing some of the many recent arrests made in Portland during recent riots, I came across this police report, which included the photo above of a mock guillotine practice session by the Antifa/BLM protestors before they went into full “fiery, but mostly peaceful riot mode.” While they had a stuffed bear in the guillotine at the time, they did eventually burn the bear alone with some handy American flags for practice and to maintain their cool street cred.
The guillotine became most famous as the preferred tool of the French Revolution where the successful Revolutionaries chopped off the head of the king, the queen, and thousands of nobles. Eventually, of course, it was used to chop off the heads of their fellow Revolutionaries (something few modern “woke” folk want to remember) , and in total, this humble device was put to use ending the lives of roughly 17,000 in a few months (many more were killed using other methods). Good times were had by very few.
While the French continued to use the guillotine as a tool for executing criminals convicted of serious crimes, the last person to be officially executed by guillotine in France was in 1977.
In America, the use of the guillotine as positive political imagery has not been common until recently. Now, it appears the left has adopted this icon and fetishized it as part of their street theatre and imagery. For those of us who don’t spend our nights trying to commit arson, tossing rocks at police, or violently assaulting the police, this might seem a little odd. However, I’ve been told I’m no friend to the Revolution, so I wouldn’t understand.
I guess that is true. I don’t understand how the guillotine as a symbol of your movement is helpful to promote peace, but then again “peace” appears to no longer be the goal. That peaceful façade has been scorched away with “fiery, but mostly peaceful” violence. The challenge for those who don’t appreciate and endorse arson fires, don’t usually attack police (even when we get an obnoxious speeding ticket), or who don’t want to assault or maim those with whom we disagree politically – a guillotine icon is not likely to improve the Leftist image or win more “peaceful” converts.
The guillotine image might be winning some converts, just not those who want peace.
Like all “revolutionary” Leftist movements, the current American ideological flavor of the month currently in vogue on college campuses (like nearby Evergreen State College) seems to be promoting violence (but, “mostly peaceful” of course) as the goal. The imagery of violence helps promote this objective. To the impatient Left the ends will always justify the means. The clenched fist is not peaceful, but it helps silence those who disagree with you. The hammer and sickle doesn’t stand for peace, but it can enslave those you want to control. The Molotov Cocktail doesn’t improve the neighborhood, but it is handy if you want to burn it down. Attacking police and the political opposition with explosives, green lasers, rocks, and frozen water bottles really won’t improve the community, but it is fun to pretend you are doing something useful and their leaders (oh yeah, they are “leaderless” – sure…) needs to keep the “useful idiots” busy (A phrase erroneously attributed to Lenin, – see here).
Finally, the guillotine practice routine is also unlikely to encourage people who don’t enjoy riots to let the guillotine supporters take political control. Sure, the Democratic Party seems to be trending that way, and perhaps they are ignorant enough to think they can control it (Hey, we only want to cut off Republican heads!). However, this movement of violence, riots, arson, drive for total control, and the viciousness of the mob is more likely to create a unified opposition that will eventually intervene to stop the mouth-foaming insane. Breaking every window on most businesses in downtown Seattle might seem fun, with looting as an added bonus, but someone has to clean up afterwards. Normal people eventually get tired of cleaning up someone else’s street theatre – even in Seattle and Portland. The Left can pretend those guillotines are only for the “rich” or the police, or the political opposition, but average people see the message of violence and destruction.
Of course, you can call me crazy, but I’m never going to be on the same side as the guys with the guillotines…
***I was able to find one non-Leftist protest where a mock guillotine was used. See here. Fortunately, this has yet to be a commonplace image in EVERY Leftist political protest, and extremely rare anywhere else…
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
Background articles and documents:
Leftists storm suburb with Guillotine, burn American flags, “Get in the F**** Streets”
Leftists Bring Guillotine with Trump effigy on it to White House during RNC Convention
Reason – You’re not allowed to film: The fight to control who reports from Portland
Andy Ngo begins posting mugshots of Antifa
Video of Andy Ngo get assaulted by Antifa
Antifa Mob Viciously assaults journalist Andy Ngo at Portland Rally
Hey Glen; so looks like u have a “nay sayer” to your article? Well, bottom line; there’s no excuse for poor or dangerous to others [ something some of us learned from…somebody] behavior. Costly;sheeply; follow the cash or misguided passion that says it’s ok to destroy “yours”. I wasn’t there, thank the fact my truck aint goin’ but i appreciate you letting me know your perspective based on the references. Wonder where your commenters references may be?
These kids; adults; wow; definitely not raised on a farm. Would appear radio frequency radiation may have invaded the DNA? Thanks for the article; I can vet beyond u if i choose. But aside from keeping faith in a contorted system -DISCLAIMER; i have no intent to violence; pardon the roosters that are too aggressive w my lovely egg laying hens. You’re ok and better for putting your concerns out there for folks to be aware of. Thanks as always for telling me where your info comes from; i can, if i will, do the rest ; carpe diem Dear
Robin, I love naysayers…
Jacobins. These people are Jacobins, and like the rest of their rhetoric and ideology the guillotine is foreign in nature.
Native Americans are not fond of yet more destructive things from foreign lands…especially this one.
“The eagle flies above but the fish swims in his own s**t”
……..don’t be the fish.
i must say, Glen, it is unworthy of you to post this kind of incendiary, hysterical, and false information. It has been absolutely determined, even by conservative law enforcement, homeland security, national intelligence, and FBI officials that the overwhelming majority of violent acts have been precipitated not be “Antifa” (an organization that doesn’t even formally exist), but by right-wing fringe groups like the Proud Boys and the Boogaloos, and Joey Gibson’s religious whackos. You’re right that the French revolutionaries lopped off the heads of at last a few hundred persons, which is frightening behavior to be sure, but, as Mark Twain once remarked, people really should educate themselves a bit about the French Revolution before they get into a tizzy about it. Bear in mind that the US is at this moment illegally detaining a number of suspected “terrorists” at Guantanamo, an offshore concentration camp, where some — including women and even children — have been tortured and murdered. Your recent stories are, to be candid, only adding to the confusion and anger that suffuses the United States these days, and I’m surprised to see you doing it.
HAHAHA! Where is your next stand up comedy act? I would like to attend because you are HILARIOUS!
Terry, as always, it is good to hear from you, my friend. Maybe I’ve just been spending too much time in Seattle and interviewing too many people attending these events. Plus, it is annoying when the Mega-corporations act as censors and try to stifle and silence free speech (which I’ve been experiencing now). As you well know, I believe activism is important, debate is critical, confrontation of our elected officials and the bureaucracies they direct is also critical. Speak truth to power. I just don’t think this street violence leads to a good place, and while I don’t want to silence anyone – I think it is fair to point out when their actions are leading there. They don’t want people like me saying anything. Attempts at intimidation are common. We are living in strange days my friend.
Glen, I didn’t expect to live this long, but I’m glad I did, because I’ve always wanted to be around during a world – changing epoch like our present time, which offers so much hope for radical change. The Covid virus has laid bare much of the rot that pervades American political/social life, and presents an opportunity to rethink who we are, if we have the courage to do so. Historically, pandemics have always led to upheaval and eventually, positive reform. Of course most people are frightened by any suggestion of change, but change is necessary and inevitable. So let’s try to not freak out, alright? We are working ourselves thru a great dramatic moment, and riling folks up with hysterical rants about “violent Marxist transgender immigrant hippie black arsonists” just adds to the confusion at a time when many people have become mentally disturbed and we need to be clear and keep calm. Same for all this talk about guillotines. Have you met a single American who has read a single book about the French Revolution? Or recognizes the names Voltaire or Rousseau or Diderot? Seriously.
So let’s hang tight and deal with the moment like reasoned adults, because I’m convinced things will have to get worse before they get better, and the election, regardless of how it goes, is unlikely to resolve anything. Gird thy loins, O chlidren of Zion! I predict that by Thanksgiving, well after the California fires have been extinguished, America will be ablaze. People often scoff at me when I talk like this, but I’m almost always right about these things. A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country.
Glen, probably few of your readers are aware that we go back as far as we do, and I wouldn’t expect any of them to understand a relationship as complex as ours; but I assure you that my appreciation for your work remains undiminished.
Blah, blah, blah. Next flight to Canada departs in ten minutes. You wont be missed.
Terrence, please cite specific violent acts perpetrated by those you name. I’m trying to understand your perspective as it is absolutely opposite of mine.
~Whitney
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