On December 29, 1170, four knights loyal to King Henry II murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket.
A few weeks prior to this, Becket had excommunicated some folks who were involved in the crowning of Henry II’s son as heir apparent. Becket felt that the coronation was an affront to the Church’s power of coronation–in essence, that the crown had usurped some of the power delegated to the Church.
Upon hearing that Becket had done this, Henry II became angry and, according to oral tradition, said, “will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” (accounts of the exact words of his utterance vary–a contemporary biographer claims it was “What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and brought up in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?”)
The four knights–Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton–confronted and then murdered Becket in the cathedral at Canterbury. They had taken Henry’s utterance as a tacit command, and acted upon it.
Stochastic Terrorism is a fairly modern term that has resonance today. In brief, it has to do with demonization of a person or persons so that they will become targets of violence. It’s the Henry/Becket thing one more step removed. Let’s say I’m speaking to an audience in which I repeatedly emphasize that my enemy is a monster, inhuman, unworthy of basic rights and dignity, and is furthermore evil, a scourge, a disease to be eradicated. If this speech is given enough, and to enough people, I can be reasonably sure that someone in my audience will be so moved by this invective as to take violent action against my enemy.
In this way, I can achieve my ends of violence without ever getting my own hands dirty. I can claim that I didn’t do anything, and that I am not responsible for what some crazed, “lone wolf” actor might have done.
I can call the press “the enemy of the people.” I can say that my political opponents are “the enemy within.” I can advocate for “one really violent day” to put an end to crime. These are all things Donald Trump has said on camera. He himself doesn’t need to issue a Presidential order to cause harm on those he dislikes. He knows–either through his understanding of mob psychology or through some animal cunning–that if he speaks this way for long enough, loudly enough, and frequently enough, someone in his following will do his work for him.
December 4, 2016. Edgar Maddison Welch enters the Comet Ping Pong pizza parlor and opened fire. He had become convinced through QAnon conspiracy theories that the restaurant was the headquarters for some child sex slave ring. Welch is now out of prison.
October 28, 2020. David DePape attacks and severely injures Paul Pelosi, husband of then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. After his arrest, he admitted to believing in various conspiracy theories, including the “stolen” 2020 election. In May of 2024, DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
January 6, 2021. Thousands of Trump supporters–having been encouraged by Trump himself–stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaking past Capitol Police and entering the building. The mob chanted “Hang Mike Pence” and erected a gallows. Congress was evacuated to safety as the mob broke into the Senate chamber. Over 1,200 people have been charged with various crimes, and the arrests, trials, and sentencing continues to this day.
I could go on, but I think the point’s been made.
Be seeing you!
A few weeks prior to this, Becket had excommunicated some folks who were involved in the crowning of Henry II’s son as heir apparent. Becket felt that the coronation was an affront to the Church’s power of coronation–in essence, that the crown had usurped some of the power delegated to the Church.
Upon hearing that Becket had done this, Henry II became angry and, according to oral tradition, said, “will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” (accounts of the exact words of his utterance vary–a contemporary biographer claims it was “What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and brought up in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?”)
The four knights–Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton–confronted and then murdered Becket in the cathedral at Canterbury. They had taken Henry’s utterance as a tacit command, and acted upon it.
Stochastic Terrorism is a fairly modern term that has resonance today. In brief, it has to do with demonization of a person or persons so that they will become targets of violence. It’s the Henry/Becket thing one more step removed. Let’s say I’m speaking to an audience in which I repeatedly emphasize that my enemy is a monster, inhuman, unworthy of basic rights and dignity, and is furthermore evil, a scourge, a disease to be eradicated. If this speech is given enough, and to enough people, I can be reasonably sure that someone in my audience will be so moved by this invective as to take violent action against my enemy.
In this way, I can achieve my ends of violence without ever getting my own hands dirty. I can claim that I didn’t do anything, and that I am not responsible for what some crazed, “lone wolf” actor might have done.
I can call the press “the enemy of the people.” I can say that my political opponents are “the enemy within.” I can advocate for “one really violent day” to put an end to crime. These are all things Donald Trump has said on camera. He himself doesn’t need to issue a Presidential order to cause harm on those he dislikes. He knows–either through his understanding of mob psychology or through some animal cunning–that if he speaks this way for long enough, loudly enough, and frequently enough, someone in his following will do his work for him.
December 4, 2016. Edgar Maddison Welch enters the Comet Ping Pong pizza parlor and opened fire. He had become convinced through QAnon conspiracy theories that the restaurant was the headquarters for some child sex slave ring. Welch is now out of prison.
October 28, 2020. David DePape attacks and severely injures Paul Pelosi, husband of then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. After his arrest, he admitted to believing in various conspiracy theories, including the “stolen” 2020 election. In May of 2024, DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
January 6, 2021. Thousands of Trump supporters–having been encouraged by Trump himself–stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaking past Capitol Police and entering the building. The mob chanted “Hang Mike Pence” and erected a gallows. Congress was evacuated to safety as the mob broke into the Senate chamber. Over 1,200 people have been charged with various crimes, and the arrests, trials, and sentencing continues to this day.
I could go on, but I think the point’s been made.
Be seeing you!
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