GideonDelta

Exactly, when all of this started, the only thing I possibly "faulted" Rittenhouse for was the fact he was in Kenosha during this unrest.

However, after seeing all of the footage, his testimony, and other witnesses' testimony I've had to reevaluate my own view on that. I personally wouldn't have been in Kenosha – I think. But I think it's very easy for us to fictionalize what was actually happening. Bear with me here, this all leads to a point.

There is constant debate as to who is calling who what. Were the people there "demonstrators"? Were they "protestors"? Were they "rioters"? Who the particpants were is a key factor in determining what to call the event.

And, if we're honest, all of those people were participants. Even in the same gatherings. Some were legitimately protesting. Some were "demonstrating" (if there is any meaningful differentiation between the two). And, some, were indeed rioters.

It wasn't just a riot or just a protest, but I think a fair label would be civil unrest. Police were too afraid to advance without fully armored squads. The fire department and ambulatory services were not responding to emergencies. Buildings were boarded up. Armed militias, essentially, were guarding property as volatile mobs of people ebbed and flowed between different states of emotions.

Civilization was breaking down.

Kyle went out into the middle of that, for better or worse, to offer help. I don't care if he wanted to be a hero. I don't care if he wanted to be a police officer or an EMT or a firefighter. He was a 17 year old who, when civilization started unraveling, he joined other people, in holding civilization together.

That's NOT melodrama. Watch the footage of that night. Now imagine that happening in your city. Imagine being in your home as mobs of people are screaming and lighting shit on fire and your government is too afraid to even come and stop them. This kid grabbed a gun, grabbed some medical supplies, and went out there offering to help.

What would have happened if even a tenth of the people in Kenosha had grabbed a gun, grabbed some firstaid kits, and took to the streets? What if people in every city that was lit on fire did what Kyle did?

What if Kyle hadn't been alone that night? What if there had been more people on the streets FOR civilization than against it? What if more people were trying to keep things together? What if the government had actually stepped in and stopped the rioters so life and property would have been safe?

Since when did we value civilization so little that we will just allow it to unravel and watch from a distance? Kyle didn't watch from a distance. Kyle did what most of us are too afraid to do. And the prosecution knows that. And the prosecution wants to make an example of Kyle and anyone else who decides to stand up for civilization.