No More Mr. Nice Guy

One week ago a man was arrested for slashing his tormentor with a sword: [bold added]

Leor Bergland (Chron photo)

a 27-year-old Berkeley man was standing near the intersection of Fillmore and Oak streets by the Church of 8 Wheels roller skating rink when he saw [Leor] Bergland wearing the red MAGA hat, which is popular among President Trump supporters. The man swatted the hat off Bergland’s head, police said — and in return, Bergland whipped out a sword and badly slashed the victim’s left hand.

Mr. Bergland clearly over-reacted, most would agree, and was rightly arrested. Comments:

1) Trump supporters feel defensive because of physical attacks on people who wear MAGA hats and the lack of media sympathy. Worse, the media are quick to pile on MAGA-hat wearers at the first hint of the latter's wrongdoing (e.g., Covington boys' "sneering", fake assault on Jussie Smollett). As of March 10th:

Over the past few weeks, we have seen several assaults against people wearing MAGA hats. Late last month, an 81-year-old New Jersey man was attacked after being confronted because he was wearing the red cap. In Massachusetts, a woman assaulted a patron in a Mexican restaurant because she was offended by his MAGA hat. She is now facing deportation. Lastly, A man was arrested in Kentucky after pulling a gun on a man who was sporting the supposedly offensive headgear.

Crime scene (Chron photo)

Now that we have an incident where a MAGA person indeed has done wrong, the national media have not publicized this story. Why not? (Kind answer: to dampen the anger on both sides. Unkind answer: people who attack Trump supporters may now be more hesitant to do so, and the media want them to keep at it.)

2) Hollywood makes heroes out of loners, who, when pushed around, respond with over-the-top violence. In this real-life incident, the slasher wasn't looking for trouble:

Back in San Francisco, Bergland apparently didn’t make many ripples at his home in the Elk Hotel, an 88-unit supportive housing complex for formerly homeless people.

Some at the hotel on Thursday recognized him as a resident, but none said he stood out in any particular way.

Alex Mohamed, manager of the next-door Gladstone Market Deli & Liquor, told The Chronicle that Bergland sometimes would pop in twice a day at his store.

“He’s quiet,” Mohamed said. “If I say ‘hi’ to him, he barely says ‘hi’ back.”

Appeals to reason and civility haven't worked, but maybe fear of physical harm will result in more politeness all around.