Civil War and the War on Civility

Could we be headed for another Civil War in 2021? Austin Sarat asked the question in a June 30, 2019 post on wbur.org entitled “Is America Heading For Another Civil War?”. Sarat sums up the article with the following statement.

“Without advance planning and clear assurances from the president and his potential Democratic opponents concerning the peaceful transfer of power, Americans face the frightening prospect that in 2020 and beyond we may find ourselves (perhaps in the streets, perhaps not) in a new civil war.”

The alleged plot against the Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer by rightwing groups was spoiled by a monthlong FBI investigation according to Adam Gabbatt. He posted the details in an October 9, 2020 write up for the Guardian entitled “How the alleged plot to kidnap Michigan’s Democratic governor unravelled”.

The goal of the group was to start a civil war. My mind instantly went to race war, but the two are different. As details develop, we will see if the intent was to use the civil war to overthrow the government of Michigan was a precursor to starting a race war.

Hopefully civility will win out and people will realize that this civil unrest cannot be sustained.