NBC: Pro-Trump Capitol rioters like the 'QAnon Shaman' looked ridiculous -- by design

[SheltieLover]

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/amp/ncna1254010

When we interpret the T-shirts and symbols, especially given the history of groups like the Ku Klux Klan, the Capitol insurrectionists look a lot more menacing.

The fact that many of the outfits from the Capitol look comical is, historically, not a coincidence.

Snip

When the Ku Klux Klan started in the mid-1860s, Klansmen did not wear the white hoods and robes we imagine them in now. They had no uniform. As historian Elaine Frantz explains in her essay "Midnight Rangers: Costume and Performance in the Reconstruction-Era Ku Klux Klan," the early Klansmen wore something far more similar to the hodgepodge we saw on display at the Capitol last week: animal horns, fur, fake beards, homemade costumes that drew on traditions of carnival or Mardi Gras, masks, pointy hats, polka dots. For Frantz, who also wrote a book about the birth of the KKK, the parallels between the appearance of 19th century Klansmen and the Jan. 6 rioters were impossible to ignore.

"When I looked at this weirdo who was dressed as a Viking, I was like, 'Does he know what he's doing?'" Frantz tells NBC THINK about Angeli. "Is he aware of this tradition, or is it a coincidence? Or is it not just a coincidence and he's not aware, but it's something which travels through our culture in the background? Maybe he doesn't even know what he's doing, but he's doing exactly what he would have done in the 19th century."

Much more at link. Very interesting read which shows how invested these racist traitors are in their radacilized factions!

Like street gangs with their symbolism, in-group / out-group focus & radical agenda!

I am still gob smacked by these costumes and the fact that a prevailing theme was to take pictures / selfies & publicly brag about their illegal actions.

Someone must have assured them they would "win" and that they would not be prosecuted.

[LunaSea]

1. Something else to keep in mind

[Maraya1969]

3. I saw the gorilla! I should go back and see what that means!

[pazzyanne]

10. I saw the gorrilla also, but I lost count of the white passes.

Wonder what that means.

[Lonestarblue]

14. I saw the gorilla but only counted 13 passes.

This reminds me of an argument I used to make when discussing multitasking at work. Yes, we can all do some tasks somewhat simultaneously, but when you try to focus on two or more big tasks at once, they all suffer. It’s one of the reasons states have passed laws barring texting and driving—too many accidents.

[Maraya1969]

41. What white passes?

[pazzyanne]

49. Count passes made by the white shirts? NT

[Maraya1969]

50. You missed my joke.............maybe it wasn't a good one. eom

[pazzyanne]

51. Right over my head apparently!

Sorry, I find humor is harder for me to appreciate the last few days.

[Maraya1969]

52. You said you lost count of the white passes - well I forget we

were told to count the white passes. That's much worse than losing count.

I know it's a bad joke. And things go over my head all the time.

[rainin]

8. When I first saw this, I didn't see the gorilla at all. I was stunned by this demonstration! n/t

[Dave Starsky]

29. Yeah, I was really blown away.

I remember laughing out loud when the presenter said a gorilla had walked through the room. Then I was convinced that he switched videos. But nope. It's a fascinating psychological demonstration.

[uponit7771]

44. +1,

[malaise]

2. Someone must have assured them they would "win" and that they would not be prosecuted

The best part is that Trump actually thought he was going to win and turned out to be a big time LOSER yet again

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Win or not, they thought White Privilege would protect them from consequences. . . . nt

[malaise]

9. Yep - that's the most frightening part of the entire invasion

They believed that to the point that they live streamed it and provided running commentaries, videos and still photos.

[wnylib]

16. They believed that Trump would protect

and pardon them. They expected their coup to work and to be invulnerable to prosecution.

[malaise]

17. Trump also thought it would work

The lunatic is delusional on steroids

[wnylib]

34. What do you make of Trump's recent

words, just posted on video at the gov website? He calls for all demonstrators on the 20th to avoid any form of violence and to maintain order.

I think the words are meant to cover his a$$ after seeing the consequences of the coup to him from businesses and the impeachment.

He only spoke out against violence this time around AFTER the impeachment started and AFTER he was cut from Twitter, Facebook, Wall Street, Deutsche Bank, etc.

Whatever the motivation to call for peace, it will have no effect on the militia mobs and he knows it. It is a statement to hide behind after the damage is done. "I told them to be peaceful. It's the media's fault because I didn't have access to Twitter to get the message out."

He is afraid of the consequences now that he knows it will fail. It will be messy. There will be violence. But it will fail.

[malaise]

37. He was told to make that to try and limit his obvious liability

Way too late. It wasn't merely his speech that incited those people. He was a major part of the planning team.
He should die in a prison dungeon if he doesn't kill himself first.

First he tried to use military aid to destroy Biden (Ukraine) - he was impeached for that
then he started whipping up his fellow white supremacists - proud boys etc., shouting that the police and army were with him.
Then he tried to use his AG and other Cabinet members to destroy Biden - lock him up
Then he started screaming that if he lost it was rigged - he lost
Then he threatened state officials to change the results to give him victory
Then he attacked the Judiciary at every level for not giving him the victory he wanted
The he told ReTHUGs including his VP to overturn the Electoral College results but he wasn't sure how that would go so he and his goons organized this seditious act to overthrow the Legislative branch leading to deaths and injuries. They went there to kill our Speaker, his VP. They went there to loot, plunder and vandalize the US Congress. So he has been impeached again.

He is a fucking criminal who deserves nothing less than prison. And never forget the silence from his enablers along the way.

Evil is too good a word for this monster.

[wnylib]

45. Completely agree, especially on evil.

Almost enough to convert a person to belief in reincarnation.

Adolf Hitler -- died 4/30/45
Donald Trump -- born 6/14/46

[localroger]

32. Well since they're still alive, it obviously did nt

[fleur-de-lisa]

4. They thought they would win and

be celebrated as heroes.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Proud Boys even have a gang punchup as an entrance ritual. . . . nt

[peacebuzzard]

7. thanks SheltieLover

interesting historical reference.

[SheltieLover]

19. YW! 👍

[Harker]

11. Another possibility is that the people in absurd, laughable

costumes weren't looking past the fascist rally, while those in helmets and body armor were.

It'll be educational when the details become more fully understood.

[SheltieLover]

20. I believe there were different groups there for different purposes

Run of the mill magats were, I believe, a smoke screen for more sinister groups.

[Harker]

26. That seems likely.

Soft outer with a hard core.

[SledDriver]

12. They were the distraction

[SheltieLover]

21. Exactly!

[KayF]

13. I was thinking it was so it wouldn't be considered a serious threat

I heard a talk radio guy make this point, is it really an insurrection if they're dressed in furs?

[littlemissmartypants]

15. Hire a clown, expect a circus. nt

[arlyellowdog]

18. Oh please, they're violent idiots

[TomVilmer]

22. Leave us vikings out of this madness, thanks!

Sioux buffalo horned headdress. Only warriors of certain clans who had accomplished specific deeds wore bison horns. And really spaced out Trumpists - hopefully the Q Shaman meets some real Indian braves someday!

[apnu]

24. Sorry man, but too late.

Neo-Nazis have long appropriated Viking symbiology. Angeli is also appropriating Native American symbols, that hat, the pants, the spear, and adding it to his racist mashup.

[apnu]

23. Very good read!

[SheltieLover]

33. Glad you enjoyed the read!

Their behavior is so out there, I'm trying to wrap my head around aspects of it.

[RandiFan1290]

25. Any one see the 'gladiator?'

0:33

[Harker]

27. I'll bet on the other guy.

Any other guy.

[RandiFan1290]

28. lol

[DeminPennswoods]

30. I doubt any of these rioters are or were well enough

read to be copying history. They all have ideas about what is "cool" or "scary" or "tough looking".

I do agree with SheltieLover that the mob consisted of different groups. John Scott-Railton, the Toronto researcher was on MSNBC and described 3 different groups: real terrorists who came equipped for battle, wanna-bes (probably the people in costume) and riot tourists (for lack of a better word), people who just went along to watch or be part of the crowd.

A guest on MSNBC last night made a really good point that the white supremacists/neo-nazis used Trump to advance their own goals more than he used them.

[SheltieLover]

35. Don't forget those engaged in espionage!

Also terrorists & likely armed, but with a different sinister mission.

Creepy concept that they used dump more than he used them! True, I'm sure!

[DeminPennswoods]

43. Those people were/are part of the first group

nt

[ancianita]

31. They're also LARPers, live action role playing video gamers, which means

that a racist convergence is also going on.

Like Star Trek or Comicon participants, they dress in tribute to their favorite character

[SheltieLover]

36. Good grief!

And the apparent desire to be on tee vee. (Another human ambition I truly do not understand, just for the sake of it.)

[C_U_L8R]

38. The costumed roleplay helps them become someone other than themselves.

It's a Halloweeny way to feel more powerful and invincible - hence all the military regalia. And escape their pathetic reality in a rebellious ubermenschish delusion.

[SheltieLover]

39. That too!

Same reason many drive huge pick ups.

[C_U_L8R]

40. Yes. And there's the micro penis issue driving that too.

There's so much inadequacy inside their rage, Freud would have a field day.

[SheltieLover]

42. He sure would

[Denzil_DC]

46. I don't really buy this take.

The "Q-shaman" reportedly acts out in his own neighbourhood. His appearance is as much a mish-mash as the ideas he spouts. I think its main aim is to seek attention. Which he's achieved.

I think the more important point is that the more ridiculous-seeming participants give a veneer of eccentric harmlessness that distracts from those in the insurrection who went to the Capitol with plans and tooled up. We point and laugh at the spectacle, and don't necessarily notice, at least at the time, those who are less eccentrically dressed but have more serious intent.

For anyone who has been active in organizing non-violent demonstrations and civil disobedience campaigns, this will not be a new argument. One justification for state surveillance, definitely pre-dating the digital age, has been that our activities could be infiltrated or used to provide cover for and distract from those with violent intent.

[Harker]

47. There's one (at least) in every crowd.

The guy with the rainbow fright wig and the "John 3:16" sign behind home plate...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollen_Stewart

Barrel Man...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_Man_(Denver_Broncos)

[David__77]

48. I think it's supposed to express "anti-modernity."

Or something like that. The Nazis also struck many as cartoonish.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

53. 14 passes

And saw the gorilla.