While I can agree with some of what you've said here, I think painting the entire group of rally-goers with a broad brush of disdain is an overreaction. I'd guess that 99% of them had no idea whatsoever that there was a threat nearby until the shots rang out. As OP states, the behavior of the crowd at that point and afterwards was largely commendable. I do, however, agree that the bizarre video-taking reaction so many in our culture have devolved into does not seem healthy nor well-intentioned. It would, in fact, be a topic worthy of discussion in a more even-tempered, less caustic and accusatory tone. Just mho.
As far as those who actually did see the guy up on the roof with the rifle, I agree that they should have been heading to the main area and yelling "GUN!!!" to everyone and their cousin and telling them to spread it into the crowd and over to the security, keep yelling if they still allowed POTUS to get on stage.
There really aren't attendees near enough to POTUS while he's on stage (for his own safety) to be able to do anything to help protect him once the shooting began. It took perhaps a second or two for POTUS to realize what was happening and get down on the ground, another second or two for the SS to pile on top of him and so any spectators getting in the way would have been counterproductive.
There is blame to be had, but I don't think a blanket disparagement of the entire group there is warranted. I know this is upsetting, friend, and there's much in our culture's degradation that has contributed to the lack of action, but these are topics that can and should be discussed, IMHO, in a more thoughtful way.
While I can agree with some of what you've said here, I think painting the entire group of rally-goers with a broad brush of disdain is an overreaction. I'd guess that 99% of them had no idea whatsoever that there was a threat nearby until the shots rang out. As OP states, the behavior of the crowd at that point and afterwards was largely commendable. I do, however, agree that the bizarre video-taking reaction so many in our culture have devolved into does not seem healthy nor well-intentioned. It would, in fact, be a topic worthy of discussion in a more even-tempered, less caustic and accusatory tone. Just mho.
As far as those who actually did see the guy up on the roof with the rifle, I agree that they should have been heading to the main area and yelling "GUN!!!" To everyone and their cousin and telling them to spread it into the crowd and over to the security, keep yelling if they still allowed POTUS to get on stage.
There really aren't attendees near enough to POTUS while he's on stage (for his own safety) to be able to do anything to help protect him once the shooting began. It took perhaps a second or two for POTUS to realize what was happening and get down on the ground, another second or two for the SS to pile on top of him and so any spectators getting in the way would have been counterproductive.
There is blame to be had, but I don't think a blanket disparagement of the entire group there is warranted. I know this is upsetting, friend, and there's much in our culture's degradation that has contributed to the lack of action, but these are topics that can and should be discussed, IMHO, in a more thoughtful way.
While I can agree with some of what you've said here, I think painting the entire group of rally-goers with a broad brush of disdain is an overreaction. I'd guess that 99% of them had no idea whatsoever that there was a threat nearby until the shots rang out. As OP states, the behavior of the crowd at that point and afterwards was largely commendable. I do, however, agree that the bizarre video-taking reaction so many in our culture have devolved into does not seem healthy nor well-intentioned. It would, in fact, be a topic worthy of discussion in a more even-tempered, less caustic and accusatory tone. Just mho.
As far as those who actually did see the guy up on the roof with the rifle, I agree that they should have been heading to the main area and yelling "GUN!!!" To everyone and their cousin and telling them to spread it into the crowd and over to the security, keep yelling if they still allowed POTUS to get on stage.
There really aren't attendees near enough to POTUS while he's on stage (for his own safety) to be able to do anything to help protect him once the shooting began. It took perhaps a second or two for POTUS to realize what was happening, another second or two for the SS to pile on top of him and so any spectators getting in the way would have been counterproductive.
There is blame to be had, but I don't think a blanket disparagement of the entire group there is warranted. I know this is upsetting, friend, and there's much in our culture's degradation that has contributed to the lack of action, but these are topics that can and should be discussed, IMHO, in a more thoughtful way.