Thread: Baltimore riots: Peace replaces violence on city's streets

Originally Posted by Ryan5

Baltimore is a third world city run by poverty pimps that make Al-Sharpton seem like a virtuous man. Watch The Wire. It's a great show that demonstrates this reality. Some places and demographics simply are hopeless.

"Black people are inferior watch this fictional show for proof."

This was taken in Baltimore today.

Originally Posted by Thrilla

such discussions can't be had until after the children get bored with having had their fun( or they are forced to cease) and adults take over.... but yes, such discussions need to take place.

I have zero problem with folks being outraged at injustices... I have a problem when their initial reaction is violence and destruction, though.
for that reason, I can't support the rioters/protesters .... well, that and I am of the belief that protesters/rioters are no longer reasonable actors, but simply a mob...and unthinking, unreasonable, irrational, mob.

I also share your cynicism.... we'll be having the same chat again during the next dust-up.

While I agree with your post, I also find that it doesn't excuse the discussions that aren't had after these events subside. What stops politicians and police departments from dealing with these issues 2 years after there are no longer riots? What stopped them from having it 30 years after the CRA'64? Why is it that these issues only come to light after a police brutality incident? I think the reason for that is that there is a concerted effort to keep us away from meaningful discussion on the issue.

We've seen it on DP. The problem some DP members have with Obama's words is that he discussed the issue to a degree that was far more than a platitude. They have a problem with him not being more "passionate" about telling people that rioting and looting are inexcusable. They have an issue with Obama saying things which make them feel icky about discussing the racial issues in America. That is far more problematic than any race issue. The fact that there is a contingent of people who find discussing race issues 'politically incorrect' if the goal isn't to denigrate minorities in some way. That's absolutely disgusting.

Originally Posted by Phys251

This was taken in Baltimore today.

He's offering water instead of coffee and donuts? He clearly hates the police.

Originally Posted by Ryan5

Can sit and deny what's common knowledge to anyone and everybody that Baltimore is a drug run drug fiend den all you want but the only people you're fooling are yourselves. The DNC politicians never visit once the areas that elected them after they win office. The Wire, which is highly critical of Baltimore, was created by a Baltimore cop.

Wow, as much as a like the Wire, and all but really really dont make this a ****ing Partisan issue.... Dont make wild generalization about all politicians who run under Party names, and really dont make these wild generalizations because:
1.)Geographical politics and the history
2.)Its not just the big bad Democrats




I cant believe this is turning into a goddamn ****ing partisan issue...

Originally Posted by TheDemSocialist

Its clear that there is a police brutality problem in this country, and its clear that the African American populations in this country often times end up as the victims. Its also clear that there is a police militarization problem in this country. Its also clear that many people dont want to talk about it. Am I in favor of riots? No. Am I in favor of peaceful marches, and disobedience? Absolutely. Can I understand why the riots are happening and understand why some feel this is their only outlet? I cannot 100% understand that, but I can somewhat understand that.

It however incredibly uplifting to see some of the things coming out of Baltimore right now: many in their community cleaning up their streets, gangs uniting and trying to stop the rioting and the violent protesters, individuals standing between hostile protesters and individuals trying to calm both sides down, the Nation of Islam blocking looters and also trying to calm violent protesters and rioters.

When excessive force becomes an institutionalized problem in a police force, as it is in the Baltimore PD, then the legitimacy of their authority is lost. If people want to go out there and occupy highways, city-streets, government buildings, or engage in any other peaceful form of protest and keep doing those things until they have guarantees that meaningful and prompt change is in process then I would support them. If the police were out there brutalizing peaceful demonstrators, as they did during the OWS movement, then I would wholeheartedly support the right and obligation of protesters to respond with proportionate means to defend themselves. I understand the frustrations people have with the lack of progress towards reducing the frequency of these issues, reforming the police force, and casualties along the way, but it does not justify or even explain what happened in Baltimore.

Burning down a community center for seniors, HIV testing, and job placement that your impoverished neighbors spent years raising funds to build for your community, looting, ransacking pharmacy prescriptions and stealing people’s medications and attacking innocent people in the process, slicing fire-hoses when the fire department tries to put out the fires they set in their community’s homes and businesses, etc. They are doing more and longer lasting damage to their community than the police ever have and none of that can possibly be motivated by a desire for change in police interaction. It isn't an outlet for anything except the exploitation of a tragic issue for personal gain and, in my view, the death of Freddie Gray is a just a thinly veiled pretext for a crime spree for those victimizing their own community.

One of the things I noticed, and has so far gone unsaid in the media, was the deafening silence from Jesse Jackson. He was there, but said nothing. Did nothing. That was surprising to me until I thought about it for awhile. I think he belongs to the parents and grandparents of those punks tearing their community apart and has very little if any influence over millennials and teenagers. His ability to influence the black community has entered its twilight years and maybe he knows it and I think there is something lost there in terms of lessons learned. At the core of sympathizing with or participating in violence against the police is really ignorance of what ultimately made the civil rights movement a success in effecting change. It wasn't pillaging, arson, or violence. It was gaining sympathy for the cause by being brutalized when going about your business, doing normal things, or peacefully protesting while the world watched. It was sacrificing your own safety so that other people could see it for themselves and experience it vicariously. The younger generation needs a replacement for the old guard. They need smart, persuasive, inspiring, and motivational community leaders who can control the mob and channel their frustrations into a meaningful movement that yields positive results. They need that not only to influence external change but also change internal to their communities. That is notably lacking right now.

...It's clear that what we have to do is change the culture within the Baltimore Police Department," Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said Tuesday....

I would say so

...[NRA Executive VP LaPierre]“I also think, though, that what people all over the country fear today is being abandoned by their government. If a tornado hits, if a hurricane hits, if a riot occurs that they’re going be out there alone. And the only way they’re going protect themselves in the cold and the dark, when they’re vulnerable is with a firearm. And I think that indicates how relevant and essential the Second Amendment is in today’s society to fundamental human survival.”

Then Durbin turned to the chief and stated “Well, Chief Johnson, you’ve heard it.” He continued, “The belief of the NRA is the Second Amendment has to give American citizens the firepower to fight back against you, against our government.”

When LaPierre went to comment on the maligned statement by Senator Durbin he was cut off.

The Baltimore County police chief responded, “I find it to be scary, creepy. And it’s simply just not based on logic. Certainly, law enforcement across this nation is well-prepared to deal with any natural or man-made disaster that will occur. And, frankly, I just — I can’t relate to that kind of thinking.”...