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No, They’re Not Stupid: Why Leftists Destroyed A Statue of an Elk in Portland

Jul 5, 2020 5:00 pm By Robert Spencer

My latest in PJ Media:

Thursday night in Portland, Antifa and BLM rioters set fire to a 120-year-old statue of an elk, causing it such extensive damage that it had to be removed. They’ve accordingly come in for some mockery on social media, as people wonder how the elk expressed his “racism” and “white supremacism.” Many take the destruction of the elk statue as a manifestation of the same stupidity that led rioters who proclaimed they were out to destroy monuments to slave-holders to target statues of General Grant and Abraham Lincoln. But the rioters aren’t stupid, even as they destroyed the elk. Once one understands what their real goal is, all their actions make sense.

Antifa and Black Lives Matter are terrorists not just because they are open Marxists who want to destroy the United States as a free republic and establish an authoritarian socialist state in its place; they’re also terrorists because terror is one of their principal tactics. They want to make you afraid. They want to make you think the ground is unsteady beneath your feet, that the old order is crumbling, and that they represent the new, energized vanguard, or what another terrorist, Osama bin Laden, called “the strong horse.” They also want to make you think that at any moment, you yourself could be targeted and destroyed, even if you’re as innocent of wrongthink and unacceptable political opinions as the Portland elk.

In that, they emulate every Marxist state that has ever existed. In his monumental Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn explains that the law-enforcement apparatus of Stalinist Russia wasn’t in the least interested in the justice of what they were doing. Officials “had no profound reasons for their choice of whom to arrest and whom not to arrest. They merely had over-all assignments, quotas for a specific number of arrests. These quotas might be filled on an orderly basis or wholly arbitrarily. In 1937 a woman came to the reception room of the Novocherkassk NKVD to ask what she should do about the unfed unweaned infant of a neighbor who had been arrested. They said: ‘Sit down, we’ll find out.’ She sat there for two hours—whereupon they took her and tossed her into a cell. They had a total plan which had to be fulfilled in a hurry, and there was no one available to send out into the city—and here was this woman already in their hands!”

That woman was like the elk in Portland. Once news of her arrest got out, her neighbors would be well and truly terrorized: The authorities were always watching, always ready to act, always vigilant, and to all appearances arbitrary. The only hope, and it was a slim one, of avoiding arrest and a term in the gulag was to toe the Soviet line with fanatical scrupulosity, hoping by a display of zeal for the regime to make it inconceivable that the regime one served so ardently would betray such ardor.

There is much more. Read the rest here.

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Filed Under: Featured, Robert Spencer, United States Tagged With: oregon, Portland


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Comments

  1. RichardL says

    Jul 5, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    when a revolution starts eating its own, there is light at the end of tunnel. If Trump gets reelected he will clean house.

    • mortimer says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 7:01 pm

      The president pointed out that many arrests of law-breakers have been made and that others are following. These fanatics (that’s what they are) have been seen on camera, ratted out by their ‘friends’ and accomplices and they will be going to jail, to court and to prison.

      It’s obvious that Marxists want to remove history as they tried to do in the Soviet Union. The current government of Russian is restoring and rebuilding thousands of churches desecrated by the Soviets. The United States will also rebuild the monuments to its past heroes and will move on to a stronger and smarter future. History cannot truly be destroyed, because it will be re-constructed by academics who carefully and slowly piece it back together.

      The book-burners and the statue-wreckers are on the losing side of history.

      • Miguel Ángel says

        Jul 7, 2020 at 2:09 pm

        I am Scottish yet I fear greatly what I hear is happening to the once great USA; its BLM& Antifa terrorists and how much damage they are continuing to inflict in my country also. Why is the police not allowed to stop these monument destroyers? Why in New York with the most iconic monument of all – the liberty statue – are leftist/islamic/blm allowed to rally cry ‘ death to America ‘??? Why is the police not taking action? Although I don’t have profound knowledge perhaps, like someone as yourself on these goings on, I am afraid because I don’t see law and order being permitted to stop their abhorrent behaviour & actions. I really fear these grotesque people and all their rhetoric

    • curious george says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 7:26 pm

      RichardL says

      when a revolution starts eating its own, there is light at the end of tunnel. If Trump gets reelected he will clean house.
      ………………………………………………
      Optimistic but not realistic, RichardL. That light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.

      “If Trump gets reelected, he will clean house.”

      The keyword in this sentence is “if.” The chances of Trump getting re-elected are in doubt.

      Cleaning house is a major stumbling block; the deep state is not going to sit idly by and allow Trump to be re-elected. Going to jail is not an option for them.

      There is the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein mystery. The information from that investigation alone, the unspeakable acts that took place on his private island, and the people involved, will cause severe damage to people in the deep state.

      Next up, Anthony Weiner and the reams of information found on his laptop that still needs disclosure. This is another serious threat to the deep state. What highly sensitive information was he privy to?

      • Ginny says

        Jul 6, 2020 at 7:32 am

        The will to stop this is simply missing. Other societies and civilizations have disappeared for the same reason. With even 40% of voters still seeing Biden as a legitimate candidate, I fear complacency, willful ignorance and stupidity will bring our end. Trump too has way too many swamp creatures on his staff. If he is eliminated here is no buffer zone of super for us. The GOP are generally cowards just trying to get along. We really are on the razor’s edge of survival.

        • Boogster says

          Jul 6, 2020 at 9:30 am

          All true, people talk tough online but nobody organizes anything to fight back.

        • curious george says

          Jul 6, 2020 at 1:57 pm

          Ginny says

          The will to stop this is simply missing. Other societies and civilizations have disappeared for the same reason.
          ……………………………………..
          The first part of the statement, “The will to stop this is simply missing.”

          The situation appears to be a combination of those who are complacent and those, who like a deer caught in the headlights, don’t know “what” to do “how” to respond.

          That’s what I refer to as “the silent majority.”

          The link below, hopefully will address the second part of the statement.

          The Eight Stages of the Rise and Fall of Civilizations

          https://blog.adw.org/2016/10/eight-stages-rise-fall-civilizations/

        • curious george says

          Jul 6, 2020 at 5:45 pm

          Boogster says

          All true, people talk tough online but nobody organizes anything to fight back.
          ………………………………..

          Horowitz: We can no longer celebrate our independence. We must fight for it again

          https://www.conservativereview.com/news/horowitz-can-no-longer-celebrate-independence-must-fight/

        • gravenimage says

          Jul 6, 2020 at 8:53 pm

          Good posts, curious george.

      • curious george says

        Jul 7, 2020 at 3:31 pm

        Thank you, gravenimage

    • Carl says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      Trump needs more than 4 more years to clean the mess!

      Buy Gold, buy guns, and study your back woods.

      • Bezelel says

        Jul 5, 2020 at 9:50 pm

        Praise The Lord and pass the ammunition 🙂

      • curious george says

        Jul 5, 2020 at 9:50 pm

        Carl says

        Trump needs more than 4 more years to clean the mess!
        ………………………………

        He may not get another 4 years.

        Here’s How Dem Candidates Who Supported Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal Are Faring In The Primaries

        https://dailycaller.com/2020/07/05/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-green-new-deal-elections/

      • cephash says

        Jul 6, 2020 at 9:53 am

        And elect reliable conservatives in 2024.

        • curious george says

          Jul 6, 2020 at 5:01 pm

          cephash says
          And elect reliable conservatives in 2024.
          …………………………..
          Really? 2024?

          We still have the November 2020 election to hurdle.

          And, how does one go about electing “reliable” conservatives? How well did that work out in the Supreme Court with John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch?

    • newsupplements says

      Jul 6, 2020 at 5:41 am

      Why would he wait that long? Seems tome he has already been elected to do just that.

      • curious george says

        Jul 6, 2020 at 2:24 pm

        newsupplements says

        Why would he wait that long? Seems tome he has already been elected to do just that.
        ……………………………..
        +1

        Excellent question and one that I have heard other conservative pundits ask.

        Frankly, “trying to pull the plug when one is up to their a… in alligators, is a challenge.”

    • muneshadowe says

      Jul 6, 2020 at 5:54 am

      Let us hope.

    • Douglas McIntosh says

      Aug 29, 2020 at 1:08 am

      I live in downtown Portland for the last 24 years. I used to sit in that park, read my summer books, watch the beautiful Elk, and enjoy the urban environment. You are totally wrong about what they did inspiring fear. It inspired RAGE, CONTEMPT, AND A FIERCE DETERMINATION to hold these Marxist Scum accountable. I am a patient man. Don’t worry, we are coming. We are coming.

  2. somehistory says

    Jul 5, 2020 at 6:17 pm

    It depends on one’s definition of “stupid.” One way to look at it is that ***all criminals…terrorists or otherwise…*** are stupid. The Psalmist wrote that “The foolish one has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.'”

    Just as satan the devil is crafty…and stupid…so are his children. There is an end waiting for all who serve the demon “god of this system” and it is the same end awaiting the demon who guides the people meant for destruction. And all of their claims of racism and wanting equality are a woven fabric of lies. It’s all about power: taking it and subjecting all others to their evil demands.

    Jesus said that the “thief”…satan the devil, “comes to steal, kill and destroy.” That is why satan’s children are so intent on stealing…some of the rioters are outright demanding money, food, goods in blatant extortion…killing and destroying whatever is in their path.
    This should come as no surprise that they even kill their own when it suits them, and destruction even of things that were built by authentic “slaves.” Because satan is destroying the very children he is guiding all the way to their destruction.

    Crafty. Diabolical. And stupid, if one looks at the end result of all of their actions.

    • Bezelel says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 9:55 pm

      “Crafty. Diabolical. And stupid, if one looks at the end result of all of their actions”.I definitely agree. I am hoping such acts will awaken,not (woken) the conscience of the misguided.

  3. FYI says

    Jul 5, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Meanwhile the Little Mermaid statue in Denmark has been vandalized with “Racist Fish” daubed on it.
    How can such a thing as a ‘racist fish’ even possibly exist?
    {‘racist fish’ sounds like the name of a… fascist band}

    • FYI says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      Somewhere out there in the Pacific Ocean is an angry Hammerhead Shark and you would not believe what he said about the Chinese {communists}:Racist Fish and an anti-communist bigot.

      • Carl says

        Jul 5, 2020 at 8:16 pm

        Well, there’s a White Shark in the same waters looking for dinner. He’ll have millions to chose from.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 7:02 pm

      Thank you FYI–I hadn’t heard about this bit of insanity:

      “Denmark’s Little Mermaid statue vandalized with ‘racist fish’ graffiti”

      https://www.fox13news.com/news/denmarks-little-mermaid-statue-vandalized-with-racist-fish-graffiti

  4. don vito says

    Jul 5, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    It also raises donated money, collected by actblue, the laundered money goes to the dnc and obiden political campaign So, torch dhimmicrat ruled cities, blame Trump, raise money for dhimmicrat party and politicians, then dhimmicrat mayors, governors and congress critters demand federal tax money to repair the torched cities, diabolical.

  5. gravenimage says

    Jul 5, 2020 at 6:54 pm

    No, They’re Not Stupid: Why Leftists Destroyed A Statue of an Elk in Portland
    ……………

    I was thinking this was a passion for destruction that got out of hand–but this analysis from Robert Spencer is even more chilling, and is consistent when you consider the Marxist ideology of BLM and of Antifa.

    Here is the Portland Elk:

    https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRkn-3YWBAos_bUKJzJNyEPKfkUUoOfP9nKZQ&usqp=CAU

    Here it is being destroyed:

    https://www.blazingcatfur.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Elk-statue-Portland-fire.jpg

    This is–or was–a beautiful work, and about as non-political a work as one can find–and one generally beloved by all Portlandians.

    • Bezelel says

      Jul 5, 2020 at 9:58 pm

      Shades of khmer rouge.

    • Ray Jarman says

      Jul 6, 2020 at 12:42 am

      GravenImage,

      It brought tears to my eyes to see this.

    • Kangi_Yotaka says

      Jul 6, 2020 at 8:31 pm

      Er….had the sculptor *seen* an elk before?

      Destruction of property is a crime, but I don’t think I’d call this a “beautiful work” – it looks like the poor thing got its head caught in something and was half-turned into a giraffe.

      • gravenimage says

        Jul 6, 2020 at 8:59 pm

        I’m an animal artist, and I think this is a fine work–this elk is just not as thick-bodied as some.

        But that’s the thing about art in a free society–most of us can express our differing taste without destroying things.

        • Bezelel says

          Jul 7, 2020 at 12:29 am

          all the male antlered animals necks thicken during rut season, they don’t stay that way. Their hormones go berserk also and they don’t taste as good. I started drawing animals as a child before drawing people and purposely went for the more natural look in the movements and settings. graven, some of us just aren’t cut out to for painting grandiose monster stags on velvet, with maybe some red eyes?

        • gravenimage says

          Jul 7, 2020 at 12:48 am

          I have to tell you, I did my one and only painting on velvet when I was 14 years old…

        • Bezelel says

          Jul 7, 2020 at 4:26 pm

          I’ve airbrushed T shirts but let’s not tell everyone.

        • gravenimage says

          Jul 8, 2020 at 12:50 am

          🙂

  6. Ray Jarman says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 12:39 am

    Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn also wrote that if the people had stood their ground and killed those who came in the middle of the night, that maybe the Bolsheviks would have given up. He also stated that Linin almost cried in that the people of Russia would go to the Gulags on their own without a fight if so ordered.

    I pray and hope that the American people have the courage to stand their ground and protect the 2nd Amendment so when the state thugs come in the night, they will be met with force. I also hope that unlike the Russian armed forces who performed as directed by the tyrants, the American forces would uphold the Constitution to which they have sworn an oath.

  7. c says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 3:28 am

    The other day I was in a heated argument with a black guy about “BLM”.
    I said: “Why not destroy Michaelangelo’s “David” because he doesn’t have big lips?”
    He said: “Yes!”

    • owensgate says

      Jul 6, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      The worst is yet to come. The moslems will take care of that when they get control of Europe, statues and fountains will be destroyed, the Sistine Chapel will be a mosque, without the “artwork”, and here in the USA, “Bambi” will be removed from streaming by Disney, in deference to the destruction of the Nuclear Family, quite an oxymoron when you think of who Disney’s demographic is supposed to be…

      • cynthia curran says

        Jul 7, 2020 at 5:35 pm

        Disney was hit by left wing protesters two years ago to pay their workers at Anaheim and Orlando more money since then they are gathering to leftist causes.

      • cynthia curran says

        Jul 7, 2020 at 5:36 pm

        Disney was hit by the service labor unions to rise wages two years ago, so naturally they tend to give into leftist groups.

  8. Mo says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 8:52 am

    I have recently started, “Gulag Archipelago” (the abridged version. The parallels to what we are starting to see are chilling.

  9. Linde Barrera says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 11:03 am

    Thank you Robert Spencer for this article. It just hammers home the Orwellian slogan: “Big Brother Is Watching YOU”. 😈

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 6, 2020 at 9:00 pm

      +1

  10. OLD GUY says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 11:20 am

    It’s vary difficult to stand you’re ground when you don’t know who is backing you up. Most of us are law abiding citizens of this country and we need to be heard NOW. If our voices are not heard these left wing socialist/communist will continue and escalate their plan to change America. When law enforcement and political leaders don’t protect the law abiding citizens and use the law to discourage citizens from protecting themselves it puts us in a vary dangerous position. If you use force to stop the threat of destruction of your property or life you are likely to be charged with criminal action costing you a lot of money to defend your action and possible prison time.

    We the people are being put in a bad position.

  11. rooare says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    Leftists and Islamists must destroy history and/or anything that would remind people of their past and silence all dissent bc their ideology cannot compete in the marketplace of ideas.

  12. Don Ameche says

    Jul 6, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    EXCELLENT article. Robert Spencer says exactly what needs to be said about this incident and how it connects to the larger goal of the BLM/Antifa/muslim cabal and their Democrat Party supporters. ( and yes I’m including the DNC base in this because there has been absolutely NO push back from them whatsoever).

  13. cynthia curran says

    Jul 7, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    I still don’t think they are smart as you state. Two young women were hit by a car on the freeway since they had been protesting 17 days in a roll on the freeway. One was killed. These means they lack common sense or might have wanted a marytr.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 8, 2020 at 12:52 am

      They just expect others to watch out for them, no matter how irresponsible they are.

  14. Tim says

    Jul 11, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    congratulations on this article, Robert

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