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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat is NOT helpful in discussions about rioting in {name the city in question}
Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2015, 11:43 PM - Edit history (2)
(Note: I posted this back in November, when the riots in Ferguson were the major topic of discussion. I have reworked it in relation to the current discussions concerning the rioting in Baltimore.)In another thread, the question was asked, how is burning of black owned businesses helpful. It probably isn't, but that isn't really the point of rioting anyway -- more on that in a moment. But if there is one thing that can definitely be said to be unhelpful with respect to
Riots of the type unfolding in
Some will argue that while the rage in Ferguson may be justified, violence and looting never are. Well, perhaps, but when it gets to the point that people feel they must riot in order to be heard, then they are already way past a point where they see any value in recognizing a society's norms for what is considered to be "justified." This is a community that feels it has been denied justice, not just in the case of
What I believe the people of
A friend of mine tonight put it like this:
Is the violence and chaos upsetting, regrettable, and unfortunate? Certainly. Is it occurring because nobody's taken the time to calmly and rationally explain to the rioters why rioting is bad? Fuck you."
Exactly.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)The anger builds and the anger is justified.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)But hey, now they have a chance to rant about the inherent awfulness of protesters and - bonus points! - black people. Seriously, if it wouldn't get me a hide, i could name ten DU'ers off the top of my head whose only concern in these issues, is how much hate they can "legitimately' spew at and about black people.
Meanwhile a bunch of white dudebros named Tad and Alec burn shit down in Keene, NH, and not a peep. Over a pumpkin festival.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)If you think some folks here are racists, have the guts to call them out or STFU about it.
This kind of post is cowardly, since you get to MAKE accusation, but its so vague you never really have to back it up.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)They show up everytime a black kid get shot to criminalize him and say what he should have done to prevent his unarmed self from getting murdered. I can name at LEAST 10.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)What people are pointing out is that that anger is misdirected and harmful to their own community.
I get why the riots are happening and understand the motivation but I fail to see how it helps the community in any way whatsoever.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)Anger is a raw emotion. It is not about help, it is about pressure release.
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Maryland wouldn't have a Republican governor right now.
Looting produces nothing useful. We need to seize political power through the force of numbers at the ballot box!
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2015, 11:51 PM - Edit history (1)
Or that a Democratic governor would have prevented the death of Freddie Grey? Police violence against African Americans happens in states with Democratic and Republican governors like. New York has a Democratic governor. Missouri has a Democratic governor. To suggest that this problem would not be occurring if only the people of Maryland had elected a Democrat is just completely out of touch with reality.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)From my perspective it gives Fox and friends the opportunity to point their fingers and say see it is just a bunch of criminals who deserve what they got.
I get the motivation but it doesn't make it right or helpful.
At some point you have to take responsibility at some point you have to look at your elected officials and say WTF. At some point you have to organize and throw the bumbs out. All these riots are doing is reinforcing the idea that more police presence is needed. Completely counter to what in theory they are trying to achieve.
The anger is justified the target of that anger is wildly off the mark.
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts). . . and rage doesn't operate within anybody's set of rules. And no, it isn't particularly 'helpful.' But, as these folks see it, nothing they have done has been helpful, and indeed, nothing they can do will be helpful either. All they have left is raw, uncontrollable rage. And it is tantamount to throwing gasoline on a fire to lecture them about the need to be 'helpful' at this point.
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2015, 11:40 PM - Edit history (1)
. . . By the time we get to the point where riots such as these break out, we are WAY past the point of careful, deliberate planning and choices. Rational decision-making is no longer even relevant, because from where the rioters sit, if the world ever had any rationality in the first place, for them it long ago ceased to exist. Yes, you are right: riots probably hurt the very communities whose rage they are expressing. But to sit on the sidelines and lecture people about "misdirected" rage is not only pointless, it likely functions as an accelerant to that rage.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)This has been brewing for decades this didn't happen this week. The sad fact is you can go look at the election results and see the piss poor turnout in a lot of the cities where many of these issues are occurring.
These communities need to take part in electing the people who govern them. If that doesn't happen no amount of looting in the world will change a damn thing.
Rage is understandable but pretending these things got out of control by themselves is a cop out. The people that live there cant be bothered until it gets so bad they can't stand it any more. By then it is too late and destroying their own community is worse than pointless it gives ammunition to the very powers they are presumably trying to change.
So what happens now? People wake up tomorrow and cant go get their prescriptions or get food to feed their kids and the same people who are not doing nearly enough to rectify the problems will continue to be there and people who have no resources to drive 20 miles for their necessities will be left with a god awful mess to deal with for weeks months or even years to come.
Register and VOTE all else is bullshit feelgood crap. Feels good to stick it to the man except what really happened is you stuck it to yourself the man will move on and you will be left in an even worse situation than you were before.
VOTE! Take that anger and fucking VOTE.
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts). . . And Republicans and Democrats alike have failed to address the issue in any meaningful, substantive way.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)But the elected officials have never had to worry about the people voting either.
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)including a whole lot of pastors. The amount of people being destructive is small compared.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)The looters are doing the easy part.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)to riot on Eutaw St.
(I mean burning-down the affluent, trendy, hip and gentrified urban district makes more sense, right? That would be productive and not harmful to their own community. It would be directed at the people that have taken all the profits and benefits of the economic and development turn-around of selected sections of Baltimore at-least.)
Egnever
(21,506 posts)And would likely produce a much larger response.
It would still be an ass backwards way of accomplishing the goal but would send a much stronger message.
You want white people to start taking notice of decimation in black communities start burning down their houses instead of your own. When you burn your own it is oh so easy to let you live in the shit you left yourself.
I don't think it would work out well in the end because the black community is horribly outnumbered and outgunned but there would certainly be an immediate outcry for action of some sort. As it stands now i think it is pretty easy for your average white person to look at what is going on and think to themselves and this is why I don't want to live near those folks.
I am lucky, I live in one of the most diverse cities in America and while there is still racism or bigotry here mostly anywhere you go there is a lovely mix of people all getting along quite peacefully.
tblue37
(65,403 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)Is the profession of many on DU.