I Just Want My Country Back: A Genuine, Unified Plea for Sanity in a Time of Insane Division

Written by Ken Anderson; Originally published March 25, 2025

I Don’t Even Recognize This Country Anymore.

Not long ago, political discourse in America, while passionate and messy, still had boundaries. We could disagree—fiercely, even—but underneath it all, there was a shared foundation: we were Americans first. Today, that foundation feels like it’s cracking. And at the center of the chaos now is Elon Musk. Yes, that Elon Musk.

The Rise of Political Violence

Once hailed as a visionary and a pioneer, he’s now become public enemy number one—not for committing a crime, but for daring to help a Republican President attempt to reform the federal government. His reward? Vicious media smear campaigns (disgustingly, this is not figurative), calls for his destruction by elected officials, doxxing of Tesla owners, and literal terrorism—Tesla dealerships firebombed, buildings shot up, vehicles torched, and even human feces smeared on door handles.

The recent surge in hostility towards Mr. Musk, culminating in these violent attacks on Tesla dealerships and vehicles, reflects a disturbing trend in American political discourse. Musk’s collaboration with President Trump, particularly through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has intensified partisan divisions, leading to actions that undermine the foundational principles of democracy and pose a very real threat to our Constitutional Republic.

The escalation from political disagreement to physical violence is alarming. Tesla properties across the nation have been targeted with arson, gunfire, and vandalism. For instance, multiple incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas, prompting investigations by federal agencies. Similarly, in Las Vegas, several Tesla vehicles were set ablaze using Molotov cocktails. These acts not only endanger lives but also represent a blatant assault on the rule of law.

These incidents are part of a broader trend of increasing political violence in the United States. Factors contributing to this rise include the mainstreaming of extremist ideas and the self-radicalization of individuals through online platforms. This environment has led to a concerning number of Americans willing to undertake or support political violence.

Democratic Principles vs. Fascist Tactics

Historically, fascism is characterized by authoritarianism, suppression of dissent, and the use of violence to achieve political ends. The current actions of some individuals and groups, ostensibly aligned with the Democratic Party, mirror these tactics. The targeting of Musk and Tesla, President Trump, and even innocent people who drive Tesla vehicles under the guise of anti-fascism, paradoxically employs intimidation and destruction—hallmarks of the very ideology they claim to oppose.

Legal Implications: Domestic Terrorism and Treason

The deliberate targeting of Tesla facilities and employees constitutes domestic terrorism, defined as violent acts intended to intimidate or coerce for political purposes. Such offenses carry severe penalties, including lengthy imprisonment. Furthermore, if these actions are found to be coordinated with foreign entities or aimed at undermining the government, charges of treason could be considered, potentially leading to capital punishment. The FBI has initiated a task force to investigate these incidents, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The Case for Martial Law

If our institutions continue to fail to respond, then the federal government may have no choice but to escalate its response. In light of the widespread and organized nature of these violent protests, the consideration of martial law becomes pertinent. Martial law would enable the deployment of military forces to restore order and protect citizens and property. While a drastic measure, it may be necessary to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of the populace.

Jasmine Crockett’s Remarks

During a virtual rally for the Tesla Takedown movement, Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) expressed a controversial birthday wish:

“On March 29, it’s my birthday, and all I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down.”

She emphasized that her call for action was nonviolent, focusing on economic impact rather than physical harm. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi cautioned Crockett to “tread very carefully,” labeling recent acts of vandalism against Tesla properties as “domestic terrorism.”

Such rhetoric from elected officials is not just irresponsible—it’s dangerous. It contributes to an environment where violence becomes normalized. Words have power, and when those in power speak recklessly, the consequences can be deadly.

Chuck Schumer’s Mobilization Efforts

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been accused of inciting far-left activists after stating:

“We are mobilizing in New York. We have people going to the Republican districts and going after these Republicans who are voting for this and forcing them to either change their vote or face the consequences.”

Following these remarks, a luncheon in New York’s Rockland County, featuring Republican Representative Mike Lawler, was disrupted by protesters. The demonstration turned physical, leading to accusations that Schumer’s rhetoric contributed to the unrest.

This is not leadership—it’s incitement. And it’s anti-American. It’s domestic terrorism, it’s tyranny, and fascism.

Fallacies We Shouldn’t Fall For

As we navigate these difficult times, we must be vigilant against the logical fallacies used to manipulate us. Chief among them is the ad hominem fallacy: attacking the person instead of addressing their ideas.

Take this common jab: “Elon Musk is just a greedy billionaire who wants more power—of course he’s helping Trump. You can’t trust anything he says about government reform.”

This doesn’t address what Musk is doing; it attacks who he is. That’s not a rebuttal—that’s a deflection. If someone has valid criticisms of policy or process, debate the ideas. Resorting to character attacks only shows the weakness of your position.

I Do Not Enjoy Mentioning This

I don’t write this as a political strategist or a media personality. I write this as a man who’s worn many hats in life—a maker, a creator, a small business owner—but more importantly, as someone who has served his community (not in the military), who has witnessed sacrifice, and who carries the weight of memory.

When I was 17 years old, I finished my Firefighter-1 class and received my card. For two more months, all I did was sit at my fire station and I ran every call we received for that entire summer. When my senior year of high school began, all was perfect for about 3 days. Then on a Tuesday morning in September of 2001, I watched in horror as 343 firefighters were killed doing exactly what I had been doing all summer: just trying to help people.

Two months before that, my final training scenario was to rescue a baby from a mock disaster—a fire on the 4th floor in a high-rise building. That training, surreal in hindsight, became chillingly prophetic. On 9/11, I cried with seasoned firefighters, the very people I never thought even had the physical ability to cry before that day.

That day, I saw what unity meant. When the buildings collapsed, a thick dust covered everything… including the people. I recall seeing images of men and women carrying others to safety. Others standing in shock, looking at the plumes. The unmistakable sound of the PASS devices built into the Scott SCBA the firefighters used to breathe. The alarms in those Scott breathing apparatuses activated and rang until they were turned off with a quick double-click of the reset button. It meant firefighters were not moving but their SCBA was still on. It meant that there were firefighters injured & trapped. It meant every single alarm going off was the sound of a trapped or dead firefighter (see video in the first comment to hear what I mean). Can you imagine having a common bond with people who are family to you, then imagine over 300 people in that group. Finally, imagine every second, you hear 300 family members begging for help. THAT is what that felt like.

I remember seeing one firefighter take off his helmet and slam it into the ground. I remember seeing firefighters crying and holding each other. I remember seeing that dust covering people so completely that you couldn’t tell if the person was Black, white, Hispanic, an Islander, an African, Russian, Chinese, Korean, or Japanese.

I felt what it meant to be American. We didn’t ask who you voted for. We didn’t care about your race or religion. We just helped each other. The next day, we all felt what it was like to be American: I stood in line to donate blood. I am certain many of the people reading this right now remember standing in those lines. I stood in line for 5 hours before the Red Cross came out and said they ran out of supplies. Later, I remember the news telling people that waiting times at blood donation centers weren’t being measured in minutes or hours… they were being measured in days. People brought food, drink, flowers, cards, candles. Children begging to come inside and see the cool things we had. People in the community coordinated with each other to make sure the volunteers had breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for months!

That unity is the very thing I see dying now—and it breaks my heart.

The hatred directed toward Elon Musk isn’t really about him. It’s about fear. Fear that he might shine light into very dark corners of our government—waste, fraud, abuse, and possibly decades of corruption. Those who benefit from the shadows are terrified of what might be revealed. And so they incite rage, they incite vandalism, they incite intimidation.

But if we become violent in return—if we match their rage with our own—we lose. We lose our country. We lose our souls.

A Call for Unity and Constructive Discourse

We must reject this call to hatred. We must ignore the leaders and influencers—left or right—who are pushing us toward a civil war of ideas fought with literal weapons. We must remind ourselves that violence is not justice, and justice is not revenge. The desire to reclaim a sense of unity and respectful political engagement is shared by many. Addressing these challenges requires collective efforts to promote civil discourse, condemn violence unequivocally, and hold public figures accountable for their rhetoric. By fostering an environment where diverse opinions can be expressed peacefully, we can work towards healing the divisions that currently plague our nation.

My plea is simple: protest all you want. Speak up. March. Vote. Write. But do not raise a hand to your neighbor. Do not torch a car. Do not throw bricks through windows. That is not patriotism. That is not courage. That is cowardice masquerading as activism.

Absolutely do NOT blindly follow any leader. Don’t blindly believe President Trump, don’t blindly believe fascist tyranny, don’t blindly believe Elon, and for the love of humanity, don’t blindly accept what I am saying either! Pick this apart, be as critical as you want to be. Tell me I am wrong, tell me I am an idiot… but don’t throw an ad hominem my way without having the guts to debate me on it.

I don’t want revenge.

I just want my country back.

I want a country where children grow up learning to debate with respect, not destroy in anger. I want neighbors who can vote differently and still shake hands. I want politicians who serve, not divide. And I want people—good people—to speak out against this madness.

If my experience on 9/11 can serve any purpose, let it be this: in our darkest moments, unity is not just possible—it is necessary. We came together once. We can do it again.

But it starts with you. It starts with me.

Conclusion

Recently, during some legislative hearings, Senator Kennedy asked “sanctuary city” mayors a pretty simple question and it really hit me hard. He asked, “Do you love your country more than you hate Donald Trump, or do you hate Donald Trump more than you love your country?” This may be one of the most ingenious questions I’ve ever heard. How would you have answered?

If you answer that you love your country more, then you would agree that you’d have to admit when President Trump does something good and support the effort. But if you say you hate President Trump more than you love your country, well, your constituents are going to have some pretty angry questions they’re going to make you answer before your next election. You could always just lie, but if you’re Schumer or Crockett, you can freely admit that it’s about destroying Donald Trump FAR MORE than your love of country as those two especially seem to confirm on a daily basis.

The United States stands at a crossroads where political passions have spilled over into dangerous territory. The principles of democracy—debate, dissent, and compromise—are being overshadowed by acts of violence and intimidation. It is imperative for all political leaders and citizens to unequivocally condemn these actions, uphold the rule of law, and reaffirm a commitment to resolving differences through peaceful and democratic means.

Let’s protest with our voices, not our fists. Let’s rebuild this country with truth, not lies. And let’s stop being pawns in someone else’s political war.

Because America is worth saving.

And we’re running out of time.