Why it is Important to Practice Stoicism.

 

This point got buried in a semi-related thread, but I think it deserves it’s own.

Last week, 75-year-old Martin Gugino was shoved by a member of Buffalo New York’s emergency response unit. I live in upstate New York and this story has almost surpassed the George Floyd murder as the number one topic that every idiot on social media has to give their opinion on. I was pretty disgusted by the video when I first saw it. It’s pretty graphic. Then I started approaching the issue from the perspective of logic and reason. Stoicism is important because emotions tend to blur the truth. Be like Mr. Spock when approaching these situations. Reason. Logic. Stoicism.

Look at how this is being covered by the local media:

 

The cops brutally assaulted a 75-year-old man. This was an innocent old man who was minding his own business, and besides, who on Earth would push a man that old? What possible harm could this man have done? All of Buffalo’s emergency response unit has resigned as a result of this. Governor Cuomo has been very outspoken about wanting these men fired. I’ve seen all opposing opinions on this immediately shot down as heartless, ignorant, boot-licking, etc. But let’s look at this through the lens of reason, logic, and stoicism.

I’ve heard that the police should have handled this better. I’m not so sure about that. If a police officer shows up to a domestic disturbance call, his goal is to deescalate the situation. He probably shouldn’t just charge in and beat the meth-head who hit his wife. But we are not talking about normal police officers here. If riot control is called in, the situation has already been escalated. Protester or pedestrian, you need to move. This is the last step before the military drop in and you are in a dangerous environment. And you really shouldn’t be touching them. Which brings me to…

Do not touch an officer. Label me a cop sympathizer, I don’t care. “But James, this old man just touched them, it’s not like he threw a punch. And besides, how could he harm anyone at his age?” Oh boy, we’ll get back to this one in a bit. I think the officer probably did go easy on this man. If this was a young person, they probably would have been met with significantly more force.

So what kind of 75-year-old man attends protests? My grandfather went to the VFW in his spare time. I can’t imagine something like a protest even crossing his mind. So, who is Martin Gugino? Here we go, this puts everything into perspective:

“Peace activist”

“Western New York Peace Center”

“Very devoted to principle”

This is a washed-up Marxist loser who has wasted his entire life. This man-made no dent in the universe. When Martin Gugino is on his deathbed (apparently he has recovered from this incident), he will look over his life and I can guarantee he will have nothing outside of his politics and ideology. No agency and purpose. I have no sympathy for losers like this. And what exactly was this man doing when he was touching the officers?

Trying to interfere with police communications. I’m sorry, but this is obvious. I don’t want to hear that this was just a coincidence. Nobody “scans” people with their phones like that. People should be asking questions instead of reacting when they see things like this. Why was a 75-year-old man at a BLM protest? Why would he touch an officer? When you start looking through the lens of logic and reason, these questions add up. Practice stoicism, or else the truth will be buried.

Published in Journalism
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 41 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    Who wants this job going forward?

    The agitators.

    • #31
  2. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    I just want to know who’s going to protect and serve in this new normal?

    “the community”.

    The Minneapolis authorities are streaming Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) even as I type this.

     

    • #32
  3. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    JamesSalerno: “Peace activist”

    That has been a euphemism for “friend of our enemies” for many decades.

    • #33
  4. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    Who wants this job going forward? It’s worse than thankless. It puts you at risk for false accusations potentially leading to criminal charges and long prison terms.

    That is part of the left’s game plan.

    • #34
  5. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    . What kind of pussy would find that video to be “tough to watch”?

    Docs who have dealt with TBI patients, for one. Friends and family members of TBI patients for another. I’m both. I can still think he’s a danger to society and that he played an evil game, asked for trouble and got it. 

    I can also think that even if he deserved everything he got, the optics are terrible. He probably was willing to risk injury and death for a propaganda image that promotes revolution. The image of blood on the sidewalk has a visceral impact. The back story doesn’t unless you have a deeper understanding than most people do of how evil Gugino’s cause is.

    • #35
  6. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    The lesson is that old geezers ought not to confront police.

    Maybe frail 75 year olds shouldn’t go to protests? 

    Unless he was hoping to martyr himself for the cause.

    • #36
  7. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    I just want to know who’s going to protect and serve in this new normal?

    “the community”.

     

    I would say “the Gangs”, who are already running parts of the big cities anyway.  Now what would be there to hold them back?

    And eventually probably the Mullahs.  Like in parts of Paris, and parts of Londonistan.

    Lotsa luck, America.

    • #37
  8. Douglas Pratt Coolidge
    Douglas Pratt
    @DouglasPratt

    Sure enough…

     

    https://pjmedia.com/columns/jack-dunphy/2020/06/08/theres-more-to-the-story-of-the-elderly-protester-knocked-down-by-buffalo-police-than-youre-being-told-n508740

     

    • #38
  9. JamesSalerno Inactive
    JamesSalerno
    @JamesSalerno

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Sure enough…

     

    https://pjmedia.com/columns/jack-dunphy/2020/06/08/theres-more-to-the-story-of-the-elderly-protester-knocked-down-by-buffalo-police-than-youre-being-told-n508740

     

    Need to know if the blood was real. If it wasn’t, shouldn’t that get the officers off the hook? Can the EMT’s who picked up Gugino release information to the police?

    • #39
  10. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    JamesSalerno (View Comment):

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    Sure enough…

     

    https://pjmedia.com/columns/jack-dunphy/2020/06/08/theres-more-to-the-story-of-the-elderly-protester-knocked-down-by-buffalo-police-than-youre-being-told-n508740

     

    Need to know if the blood was real. If it wasn’t, shouldn’t that get the officers off the hook? Can the EMT’s who picked up Gugino release information to the police?

    Also, investigate the contents of his cell phone. 

    • #40
  11. JamesSalerno Inactive
    JamesSalerno
    @JamesSalerno

    New York Times running cover for this guy and for Antifa:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/nyregion/who-is-martin-gugino-buffalo-police.html

    Spineless coward Mitt Romney has also jumped on the bandwagon.

    There is overwhelming evidence that this guy was a provocateur. Even some of the protesters wanted nothing to do with this guy. There is video evidence of Gugino arguing with some kids, who claimed he showed up “for fun” and to get “punched in the face.”

    These cops need to get off the hook and Gugino should receive maximum punishment under the law.

    • #41
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.