Then maybe a better term than "civil war" would be "Cultural Revolution with American characteristics."Well, ‘war’ needs two sides. If it’s just one side dishing it out while the other side just takes it and complains impotently, it’s not war, just victimisation and oppression.
There are, sadly, countless examples throughout history, all over the world, where one powerless group is oppressed and victimised by the powerful majority. None of those instances can be described as civil wars unless and until the oppressed minority gains enough power and resolve to fight back in a systematic and organised way to the national level.
Yes, oppressing a minority group is a major contributing factor to civil wars, but realistically, modern civil wars are only viable if the oppressed minority have a reliable foreign backer able to provide weapons, funds and leadership; and/or if a country has recently been ravaged by external invasion that massively degraded the state’s ability to police its own territory and unleashed large quantities of military grade weapons into general circulation. Obviously none of the able applies to the US, as no external power would dare to support any domestic US insurgency, as that would be a declaration of war.
I cannot think of any remotely modern examples where a civil war has broken out in a state absent a foreign backer and/or some event that massively degraded the state’s military and police capabilities beforehand.
The most ‘recent’ example I can think of is ironically the American Civil War. But that came about due to, above all else, the massive vested economics invested associated with slavery that simply does not exist in today’s America. In addition, it takes a degree of bloody-mindedness and belligerence to consciously pursue a deliberate course of action with civil war being a significant possibility that the vast majority of black lives matters supports simply lack.
Simply put, the liberal fringe who are most supportive of black rights are also the most passive and non-violent segments of US society. Can you honestly see vegans and hippies taking up arms and being willing and able to fight and kill for their beliefs? I don’t.
If there is one group within the US who has the mental attributes necessary, financing, organisation and motivating to actually push the US to the brink of a civil war like situation, it is Trump’s ‘good people’ supporters. But there is no need for those people to actually get involved here since the US state will fight their fight for them.
Perhaps I'm indulging in a bit of fantasy and wishful thinking, but I think that even the meekest person will eventually fight back if pushed into a tight enough corner. Yes, even the vegan yoga teacher in west Hollywood might eventually develop an appreciation for his Second Amendment rights.
If the situation deteriorates much further, I can see an argument for China involving itself - at least at arm's length. Just as an example, I believe that certain types of armour-piercing ammunition (e.g., 9mm AP) is illegal in the US because a concealable weapon that can punch through body armour can be problematic for police. Well, very large quantities of such ammunition might inexplicably appear in the US.