OPINION
The National Guard in Altadena, January 10, 2025 (File Photo – Melissa Michelson)
In times of turmoil, a chilling new trend is unfolding that blurs the line between public safety and political theater.
By John Boucher
The decision to deploy the National Guard, against the explicit wishes of a state governor, goes beyond quelling unrest. It’s about controlling the narrative. It’s about shaping public perception of power and order. Crucially, it’s about ensuring that the story told benefits those in control of the levers of power.
This isn’t a move born out of necessity or concern for public safety. When federal troops are sent in to impose “order,” they do not calm the situation; they intensify it. Federal intervention tends to inflame existing tensions, creating a dangerous feedback loop of unrest. Those in power understand that this chaos doesn’t weaken their control, it feeds it. It perpetuates a story of a nation on the verge of collapse. This positions the administration as the sole guardian of that fragile peace. It serves as ammunition for future elections.
A Spectacle to Control the Narrative
In today’s media-driven world, the deployment of National Guard troops is a calculated move to dominate the daily news. Imagine the imagery: protests in the streets, followed by rows of troops marching in, symbolizing strength and authority. The equation becomes clear: protests = chaos, troops = control, and the leader = the only one who can restore order.
What makes this power grab even more unsettling is its connection to a deeply politicized form of Christianity that seeks to blend faith with authority. This isn’t about protecting the public; it’s about controlling hearts and minds.
The deployment of federal troops is not about maintaining peace, it’s about fostering division. By stoking unrest, the administration can deflect blame onto “leftists,” “immigrants,” and “Democrats,” casting them as the architects of chaos. They are not just responding to the protests, they are fueling them. The conversation shifts away from systemic issues and onto a digestible reporting of lawlessness.
How Long Until States Push Back?
This move is a test of boundaries: how far can the federal government stretch its power before states push back? How will the courts react to this overreach? Most importantly, how will the public interpret this ongoing battle for control?
Eroding State Authority
What we are witnessing is a demonstration of power to erode state authority and centralize control. It’s a message that says, “I can and will bypass you if I choose.” It’s a power grab disguised as a public safety measure. The underlying goal is not to maintain order. It sets a precedent for something much more severe in the future, should the need arise.
We cannot ignore the troubling undercurrent of Christian Nationalism that seeks to intertwine national identity with a weaponized form of Christianity to make the most devout Christian cringe. When Jesus spoke of peace, he didn’t call for military force or control through fear. He didn’t demand that crowds be subdued by violence. Instead, he flipped tables in protest against a system that oppressed the marginalized, welcomed outsiders, healed the sick, and refused to return violence with violence. He preached mercy, love, and understanding, not brute force masquerading as order.
A Distorted Interpretation of Christianity
The version of Christianity invoked here is not taken from the Gospels. It’s a twisted, interpretation that uses Jesus’ name to justify a worldview of domination and exclusion. This is not about following the teachings of Christ. It’s about using religion as a vehicle for power and control, to sanctify brutality under a false banner of righteousness.
This is not about protecting Americans; it’s about controlling the narrative. It’s about using the National Guard to project strength to amplify fear. It entrenches a political ideology that undermines the very fabric of democracy. The stakes are high. What we are witnessing may only be the beginning. If we fail to confront this manipulation of power now, we risk letting the story we’re being told today shape a United States where freedom, democracy, and public safety are hollowed out for political gain.
That’s not just a concern, it’s a warning.
John Boucher is a resident of the San Gabriel Valley
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