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Protests over Missouri teen's death turn violent[W:647,807]

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I see this keep getting mentioned in the media and on here:

Two-thirds of Ferguson's population is black, and yet the mayor is white, and so are five of the six city council members.

The police chief is also white. There are only three African-Americans on the 53-person police force.


How many blacks applied to be officers and were rejected? How many blacks ran for city council or Mayor?

Nobody can seem to answer that, but everyone bitches about the racial makeup. If blacks aren't trying to be police officers, then yes, there won't be many on the force.

If the black population in this town wanted a black mayor and city council members, they would be there.

2/3 of the population is black and that would elect anybody, so the question is why are those seats held by whites?

I think the color of somebodys skin matters more to media outlets than to the actual residents of this area.
 
CNN has reported that the mayor ran unopposed. I doubt the police are able to release information about how many black folks apply to be officers. Many interviews with black folks have revealed that they feel there is a racial divide. CNN didn't manufacture that.

So then a black person should have opposed the mayor. And you're right, the PD can't say how many blacks applied, but it is certainly relevant to the constant mention of it. If they don't apply, they won't be on the force. If it comes out that most who apply are rejected for non-correct reasons (they're former felons or something like that), then they have a gripe. But if not, no they don't have a gripe.
 
If the black population in this town wanted a black mayor and city council members, they would be there.

2/3 of the population is black and that would elect anybody, so the question is why are those seats held by whites?

I think the color of somebodys skin matters more to media outlets than to the actual residents of this area.

Exactly. I assume these people have their positions based on citizens' votes. Can't vote for a black person if there are none running.

But it makes for good media chatter to say, incessantly, that the mayor is white, and the council members are white, and there are only 3 blacks on a 53 person force.
 
If the cops weren't calling them animals it might help. If the cops weren't pointing guns at them it might help. Even in Iraq, the military doesn't point their guns at civilians.
I am not saying the cops should not carry some of the blame.
Their "cowboy" attitude (no disrespect to real cowboys) only added to the mess.
 
Breaking news out of Ferguson is that Michael Brown was a suspect in a Robbery that just accured before he was stopped by the Police

Changes things a bit doesn't it.
 
CNN has reported that the mayor ran unopposed. I doubt the police are able to release information about how many black folks apply to be officers. Many interviews with black folks have revealed that they feel there is a racial divide. CNN didn't manufacture that.

LOL....perhaps of their own making?

This is learned, orchestrated behavior from the leaders they follow.
 
So then a black person should have opposed the mayor. And you're right, the PD can't say how many blacks applied, but it is certainly relevant to the constant mention of it. If they don't apply, they won't be on the force. If it comes out that most who apply are rejected for non-correct reasons (they're former felons or something like that), then they have a gripe. But if not, no they don't have a gripe.

So there can't be a legitimate reason why they don't apply or run for office?
 
Breaking news out of Ferguson is that Michael Brown was a suspect in a Robbery that just accured before he was stopped by the Police

Changes things a bit doesn't it.

He was still unarmed. But yes, it makes the description of him as a "thug" accurate if he was in fact the one to commit a strong arm robbery.
 
LOL....perhaps of their own making?

This is learned, orchestrated behavior from the leaders they follow.

What do you propose to alter that perception?
 
So there can't be a legitimate reason why they don't apply or run for office?

Is that a rhetorical question? Because I don't have the answer....nor do you.

You can't be a PO if you don't apply for the job. You can't be mayor if you don't run. You can't be a city council member if you don't run. Are you going to dispute that?
 
Is that a rhetorical question? Because I don't have the answer....nor do you.

You can't be a PO if you don't apply for the job. You can't be mayor if you don't run. You can't be a city council member if you don't run. Are you going to dispute that?

No, I don't dispute that. Why do you think they don't apply/run?
 
Former Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan's take

While Tim Dolan was leading the Minneapolis Police Department, he saw his fair share of civil unrest. Looking at the powerful images coming out of Ferguson, he said he is reminded of the 1960s -- and he says police need to remember something too.

"It's not a war. We're not at war with these protesters," Dolan said. "We're there to protect their right to protest and make sure things are peaceful and make sure nobody gets hurt."

Ferguson police have been widely criticized for their handling of Wednesday night's protests. An over-zealous officer fired tear gas and rubber bullets in a peaceful crowd, and police even arrested two journalists covering the unrest. According to Dolan, the problem may have started with how police presented themselves.

"If you come out in the turtle gear and the head gear and the face mask and the riot sticks -- you're dressed for a fight and you're probably going to get one," Dolan said.

During the Republican National Convention, Dolan made it a point to remind officers that every day was a new day -- and not to carry tensions forward. He stressed that it is OK to match force with force, but said it's also important to meet peace with peace.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/2...ssouri-and-what-minneapolis-is-doing-about-it

*I appreciate this mans comments*
 
No, I don't dispute that. Why do you think they don't apply/run?

Again with the rhetorical question. How on Earth would I know why they don't apply and why they don't run. Nor do you. The fact is that you said the mayor ran opposed. The fact is the majority of that city is black. If they ran a black man against the white mayor, they easily could have defeated the white mayor and replaced him with a black person, couldn't they? But they didn't. So the media should, if they are responsible, point that out instead of complaining that the mayor is white.
 
What do you propose to alter that perception?

First, I wish the media and liberal leaders would stop fostering racial divides to serve their purpose.

Truth is, I find that people actually get along very well in general. Like you I'm sure, I'm around all sorts of people all the time, and it's nothing but respectful and pleasant and enjoyable all the time. My kids play sports with kids from all over the area, I work with all sorts of people from different backgrounds, and I'm out and about all the time in all corners of the area I live.

However, it gets preached to the black community that I'm actually at home planning their demise and inventing ways to limit their opportunities every way possible. I'm demonized while just sitting at home eating with my family.

I see this in black people's eyes often when I meet them for the first time. It takes time to break down a barrier that should have never been there in the first place.

I'm not unique. I'm like most every white person they meet. I don't harbor this hatred they're told I do. And this is despite the fact that I'm politically very conservative in general, which should mean nothing, but the media has translated as bigoted and hateful.

It disgusts me that they're fed this crap, and that I feel like I have to "prove" that I'm a decent person every time. I don't go to any extra effort than for anyone else, but it does cross my mind.
 
There must be a reason though, right?

There is reason for everything.
If the reason that there are no blacks in local government in an area that is overwhelmingly black, the reason is most likely because none of them run. Why they don't run, I have no idea.

There is a school district near us that is overwhelmingly Hispanic, about 70%, but had no Hispanics on the school board. One ofthe professional racists came in and sued the district. The school district had to start electing board members from their various areas instead of at large. Oh, and the professional racist pocketed a bunch of cash for his efforts.

If minorities are not in elected office, the most likely reason is that they don't run.
 
Again with the rhetorical question. How on Earth would I know why they don't apply and why they don't run. Nor do you. The fact is that you said the mayor ran opposed. The fact is the majority of that city is black. If they ran a black man against the white mayor, they easily could have defeated the white mayor and replaced him with a black person, couldn't they? But they didn't. So the media should, if they are responsible, point that out instead of complaining that the mayor is white.

When I ask you what you think, it is not a rhetorical question.

I said the mayor ran unopposed. That doesn't mean that the black community voted for him in majority. They may have stayed home instead of voting.

I suspect the community feels marginalized and therefore acts accordingly.
 
When I ask you what you think, it is not a rhetorical question.

I said the mayor ran unopposed. That doesn't mean that the black community voted for him in majority. They may have stayed home instead of voting.

I suspect the community feels marginalized and therefore acts accordingly.

I'll say it again. The only way they could have removed the white Mayor and replace him with a black person was to have a black person oppose him. I never said the blacks voted for the white mayor, so I have no clue why you said that.

They can feel as marginalized as they want. Sheer numbers are on their side. They could vote in persons of any color or gender or whatever they want. Those are the facts. The city is overwhelmingly black.

They don't have black Mayors and black city council members because they don't run them. If someone can produce evidence that black people are trying to get on the police force but are being rejected for no cause, then they have an issue there. But if they can't, or it turns out that in fact they aren't even trying, then there is no story here, no racism, no "I feel sorry for them because all of the government reps in the town are white", period.
 
No, I don't dispute that. Why do you think they don't apply/run?

Why are you assuming the do not apply or run?

Maybe the white man was the best person for the job.
 
First, I wish the media and liberal leaders would stop fostering racial divides to serve their purpose.

Truth is, I find that people actually get along very well in general. Like you I'm sure, I'm around all sorts of people all the time, and it's nothing but respectful and pleasant and enjoyable all the time. My kids play sports with kids from all over the area, I work with all sorts of people from different backgrounds, and I'm out and about all the time in all corners of the area I live.

However, it gets preached to the black community that I'm actually at home planning their demise and inventing ways to limit their opportunities every way possible. I'm demonized while just sitting at home eating with my family.

I see this in black people's eyes often when I meet them for the first time. It takes time to break down a barrier that should have never been there in the first place.

I'm not unique. I'm like most every white person they meet. I don't harbor this hatred they're told I do. And this is despite the fact that I'm politically very conservative in general, which should mean nothing, but the media has translated as bigoted and hateful.

It disgusts me that they're fed this crap, and that I feel like I have to "prove" that I'm a decent person every time. I don't go to any extra effort than for anyone else, but it does cross my mind.

You can't blame the media solely. There is institutional racism. From being stopped more often to being convicted at higher rates, to receiving longer sentences, black people are still marginalized. And telling them to "get over it" isn't helping their memory of worse times for their community. Society is taught to be more suspicious of young black men. The media is partially to blame. Young black men are partially to blame. Even black people are more wary about young black men than they are young white men. There is a racial divide and people have to recognize it before we can move forward.
 
I'll say it again. The only way they could have removed the white Mayor and replace him with a black person was to have a black person oppose him. I never said the blacks voted for the white mayor, so I have no clue why you said that.

They can feel as marginalized as they want. Sheer numbers are on their side. They could vote in persons of any color or gender or whatever they want. Those are the facts. The city is overwhelmingly black.

They don't have black Mayors and black city council members because they don't run them. If someone can produce evidence that black people are trying to get on the police force but are being rejected for no cause, then they have an issue there. But if they can't, or it turns out that in fact they aren't even trying, then there is no story here, no racism, no "I feel sorry for them because all of the government reps in the town are white", period.

Why do you think they don't apply/run?
 
There is reason for everything.
If the reason that there are no blacks in local government in an area that is overwhelmingly black, the reason is most likely because none of them run. Why they don't run, I have no idea.

There is a school district near us that is overwhelmingly Hispanic, about 70%, but had no Hispanics on the school board. One ofthe professional racists came in and sued the district. The school district had to start electing board members from their various areas instead of at large. Oh, and the professional racist pocketed a bunch of cash for his efforts.

If minorities are not in elected office, the most likely reason is that they don't run.

"Professional racists" ~ I wonder why minorities feel marginalized. :roll:
 
When I ask you what you think, it is not a rhetorical question.

I said the mayor ran unopposed. That doesn't mean that the black community voted for him in majority. They may have stayed home instead of voting.

I suspect the community feels marginalized and therefore acts accordingly.

That makes sense. After all, if one black person does something the others just fall in behind, right?
 
Why are you assuming the do not apply or run?

Maybe the white man was the best person for the job.

Are you saying that blacks aren't qualified?
 
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