These posts, coupled with the comments on news sites, illustrate very clearly why there is still a problem with race in this country. I cannot even tell you how disgusting the comments on local Nashville news are. It's fucking insane. The worst part, to me, is that it's not anonymous. Any asshole can spout racist rhetoric under an assumed name -- but on Facebook news sites, people are putting their full names behind some of the most reprehensible, foul remarks I've ever seen. It's unbelievable.
That's why I don't read the comments. Those people are unhinged and they make me want to hide on an island.
Ugh, agreed, I definitely stay away from the comments on news websites. Even when the topic is innocuous, there are crazies posting. It's really disgusting to see what comes out with a topic like this.
DH and I have been talking about this a lot. He is a LEO in a diverse town. We both agree that LEOs who take advantage of their position to inflict harm on the members of the community that they are trying to protect should be prosecuted, perhaps even more severely than violent non-officers. The offense is so much worse because it is a betrayal on top of a violent action- a betrayal of the community you work for, a betrayal of the oaths you took, and a betrayal of your fellow officers who are trying to do their jobs. Every officer who treats citizens of color differently in any regard is harming the profession because how can you expect people in the community to come to police officers for help if they are worried about how they will be treated? I agree that there are many in the profession who are attracted to it for the wrong reasons- because of the power or status that can be conferred with the uniform. However, my DH is someone who really does try to improve relations within community and the police force. Sometimes it feels like a drop in the bucket and that it won't make a difference, but at least he is trying. I am not trying to defend all LEOs or tout how great my husband is, just put out there that you don't hear about the cops who are doing good things, like you hear about the looters instead of the peaceful protesters (I realize this is on a completely different scale).
One thing that has driven me nuts today is that whenever a story like this is in the news, people (mostly stupid coworkers) ask me if I am worried about my H because he is a target as a white officer. This question baffles me. Do I worry about DH as a white officer? No. He is armed and trained to protect himself. He is also trained to think under pressure, make wise decisions, and not inflict harm. If something happens to him in the line of duty, I know that the offenders will be prosecuted. He is also a police officer by choice. He can go home and take the uniform off. Instead, I can't imagine being the wife or mother of young black man and worrying that just by being who he is, he is exposed to risk and that someone may be able to hurt him or even kill him without facing justice. That we live in a society where the oppressed are vilified for reacting to their oppression. I don't condone the violent protesters, but I understand that they are reacting to a long history of epidemic racism and a system built to keep it that way.
Sorry if I'm repeating myself and I already posted this - my phone is about to die and may have eaten my post. I think the two ideologies for effecting change are not congruous with each other. I am not saying that there is no one who has voted, volunteered, had sit ins or whatever kumbaya shit and has not reached the end of their patience and set a car on fire. There have always been people acting out in riots who share the "message" and those that see the chaos as an opportunity and I think it's the latter group that piles on and makes them spread so quickly.
Still wondering about this, because you absolutely DID say that:
Have these rioters engaged in peaceful protest? Have they volunteered their time to those in their community? Have they written letters to their representatives? Voted? I doubt it.
Please. Like she'll admit it. Also, I enjoy seeing the entire theory of nonviolent protest reduced to "kumbaya shit." That's definitely the way you should characterize the thing you propose as the "right" way to express anger about government-sanctioned murder.
I am genuinely flabbergasted at people quite simply being murdered by law enforcement officers without there being any/insufficient consequences for them.
And I'm shocked that anyone can report those heinous racial crimes as anything else than that. To only say "some" officers have used "excessive force" is laughable. This is clearly not an isolated incident.
Rioting & violence might not be the answer, but in the face of such incredible injustice I have no idea what possibly could bring on the change that is obviously desperately needed.
I've seen this being passes around almost as evidence that black people are with "us" rioting isn't the answer PEACE! When really I viewed it as a terrified mother saying they kill people who look like you for no reason I cannot lose you get your ass inside where you are less likely to be murdered.
I wonder if police could locate the kid from id'ing the mom and arrest him for his participation?
I am genuinely flabbergasted at people quite simply being murdered by law enforcement officers without there being any/insufficient consequences for them.
And I'm shocked that anyone can report those heinous racial crimes as anything else than that. To only say "some" officers have used "excessive force" is laughable. This is clearly not an isolated incident.
Rioting & violence might not be the answer, but in the face of such incredible injustice I have no idea what possibly could bring on the change that is obviously desperately needed.
To all of the people saying that "violence isn't the answer" I don't want you to answer the question of what is the answer to this because most of us realize you can't do that. I want you to think about how you would feel knowing that your child, husband, father or brother could be killed just because of what they look like. Then after they were murdered by having their spine severed, or by getting shot in the back, you would then have to listen to people who look nothing like you explain how if they just "cooperated" or "didn't run" from an unlawful stop they would be alive. This has been going on for generations. Would you want to just sit outside of city hall for a few days with a sign or would you be really fucking pissed?
Again I implore you to remove your head from your ass. I don't think anyone in this thread is saying BURN ALL THE CVSs DOWN but understanding why people are angry and that real change is needed shouldn't be this hard. Since we are all quoting MLK I saw this on reddit today "a riot is the language of the unheard".
ETA Waffles I was just quoting you to agree with you and expand on the bolded.
I am genuinely flabbergasted at people quite simply being murdered by law enforcement officers without there being any/insufficient consequences for them.
And I'm shocked that anyone can report those heinous racial crimes as anything else than that. To only say "some" officers have used "excessive force" is laughable. This is clearly not an isolated incident.
Rioting & violence might not be the answer, but in the face of such incredible injustice I have no idea what possibly could bring on the change that is obviously desperately needed.
To all of the people saying that "violence isn't the answer" I don't want you to answer the question of what is the answer to this because most of us realize you can't do that. I want you to think about how you would feel knowing that your child, husband, father or brother could be killed just because of what they look like. Then after they were murdered by having their spine severed, or by getting shot in the back, you would then have to listen to people who look nothing like you explain how if they just "cooperated" or "didn't run" from an unlawful stop they would be alive. This has been going on for generations. Would you want to just sit outside of city hall for a few days with a sign or would you be really fucking pissed?
Again I implore you to remove your head from your ass. I don't think anyone in this thread is saying BURN ALL THE CVSs DOWN but understanding why people are angry and that real change is needed shouldn't be this hard. Since we are all quoting MLK I saw this on reddit today "a riot is the language of the unheard".
That's exactly what I'm trying to say here: what else is left in the face of such horrible crimes?
I am genuinely flabbergasted at people quite simply being murdered by law enforcement officers without there being any/insufficient consequences for them.
And I'm shocked that anyone can report those heinous racial crimes as anything else than that. To only say "some" officers have used "excessive force" is laughable. This is clearly not an isolated incident.
Rioting & violence might not be the answer, but in the face of such incredible injustice I have no idea what possibly could bring on the change that is obviously desperately needed.
To all of the people saying that "violence isn't the answer" I don't want you to answer the question of what is the answer to this because most of us realize you can't do that. I want you to think about how you would feel knowing that your child, husband, father or brother could be killed just because of what they look like. Then after they were murdered by having their spine severed, or by getting shot in the back, you would then have to listen to people who look nothing like you explain how if they just "cooperated" or "didn't run" from an unlawful stop they would be alive. This has been going on for generations. Would you want to just sit outside of city hall for a few days with a sign or would you be really fucking pissed?
Again I implore you to remove your head from your ass. I don't think anyone in this thread is saying BURN ALL THE CVSs DOWN but understanding why people are angry and that real change is needed shouldn't be this hard. Since we are all quoting MLK I saw this on reddit today "a riot is the language of the unheard".
I agree. I can't seem to organize my thoughts in an articulate way but if this were my DS I would rage out at anyone I thought responsible. I wouldn't care about any consequences I might face. What does it matter at that point? Every time this happens the families call for an end to the violence and I think that takes so much strength and I'm not sure people consider that.
To all of the people saying that "violence isn't the answer" I don't want you to answer the question of what is the answer to this because most of us realize you can't do that. I want you to think about how you would feel knowing that your child, husband, father or brother could be killed just because of what they look like. Then after they were murdered by having their spine severed, or by getting shot in the back, you would then have to listen to people who look nothing like you explain how if they just "cooperated" or "didn't run" from an unlawful stop they would be alive. This has been going on for generations. Would you want to just sit outside of city hall for a few days with a sign or would you be really fucking pissed?
Again I implore you to remove your head from your ass. I don't think anyone in this thread is saying BURN ALL THE CVSs DOWN but understanding why people are angry and that real change is needed shouldn't be this hard. Since we are all quoting MLK I saw this on reddit today "a riot is the language of the unheard".
I agree. I can't seem to organize my thoughts in an articulate way but if this were my DS I would rage out at anyone I thought responsible. I wouldn't care about any consequences I might face. What does it matter at that point? Every time this happens the families call for an end to the violence and I think that takes so much strength and I'm not sure people consider that.
I agree with this. People in here are doing a much better job of articulating the point than I am. Also, I hate to be all "think of the children" because it is too cliche but when I think about being scared that my baby could be murdered by police, because of nothing he can control, it makes me so sad and scared. I am sure I can only empathize about 1% of what people in the situation actually feel as well.
Thank you ML most of you really held it down in this thread. toledo I LOLed when you asked that poster if she was moving today. @kande818 i did a fist pump when you said " Fuck you"
She got all up under my skin! I am usually so sweet
I will also say that a lot of comments on these boards have made me think a lot less of people, and that makes me unaccountably depressed.
I don't know if I'm particularly sad about it, but I said it earlier that there are a few people who just make me uncomfortable. We always have randoms showing their asses in these threads. That's a given. But someone like Stellas, who for the better part of ten years has continued to share her casually ignorant and offensive world view, whenever the opportunity presents itself? Has nothing of substance to say about anything, but always takes care to drop a turd in the middle of a sensitive topic. Fucking weird, dude.
I will also say that a lot of comments on these boards have made me think a lot less of people, and that makes me unaccountably depressed.
I don't know if I'm particularly sad about it, but I said it earlier that there are a few people who just make me uncomfortable. We always have randoms showing their asses in these threads. That's a given. But someone like Stellas, who for the better part of ten years has continued to share her casually ignorant and offensive world view, whenever the opportunity presents itself? Has nothing of substance to say about anything, but always takes care to drop a turd in the middle of a sensitive topic. Fucking weird, dude.
And when she did leave, for good fucking reason, people were all, "Where did she gooooo? When will she come baaaack?"
I don't know if I'm particularly sad about it, but I said it earlier that there are a few people who just make me uncomfortable. We always have randoms showing their asses in these threads. That's a given. But someone like Stellas, who for the better part of ten years has continued to share her casually ignorant and offensive world view, whenever the opportunity presents itself? Has nothing of substance to say about anything, but always takes care to drop a turd in the middle of a sensitive topic. Fucking weird, dude.
I do feel like there are people who think there is inherent value in a phlegmatic, rigid set of moral absolutes that never wavers or allows emotion to sway them; and it's very common especially in the south, in my experience. Arguing passionately never moves them; invoking anecdotes never raises emotional hackles. It's unnerving to me, and it makes me wonder about the capacity for empathy.
Yes. Exactly. I'm not an emotional person, but I can empathize with those who feel strongly about something that I may not understand, or even agree with. So when I may not feel particularly strongly about something, I still have the grace to keep my "deep" thoughts to myself. Because without experience, that's all they are. Maybe not worthless while they rattle around in your head, but they definitely become that and worse when you inject those thoughts into a discussion as if they're unalienable truths.
And I'mma drop this here, for all the people bitching about how they should all just protest peacefully and barfing out MLK quotes and shit: first story on this page. Read the comments and tell me again how people will fucking listen to you and give your grievances consideration if only you protest peacefully. Please note the most liked comment is calling the MN protesters "animals".
And I'mma drop this here, for all the people bitching about how they should all just protest peacefully and barfing out MLK quotes and shit: first story on this page. Read the comments and tell me again how people will fucking listen to you and give your grievances consideration if only you protest peacefully. Please note the most liked comment is calling the MN protesters "animals".
OMG those comments. Why do the most vile people all get together and post bullshit to Facebook articles? Is there a signal of some sort telling stupid people to come comment?
Sort of related note. The radio show I listen to is having the Cleveland Chief of Police on tomorrow. The DOJ found that they engage in a pattern of excessive force. The radio host was the victim of excessive force and went to trial to defend himself against the trumped up charges. I'm really looking forward to this debate. Saint Monica he's on at 10. Is your schedule clear?
When I come into these threads really late (and I need not say anything because my smart, reliable friends have already said what needs to be said), I simply commit to memory the names of certain posters.
My fingers are twitching to type out a huge argument on an article that a family member posted. My cousin is here and telling me not to do it because there is no arguing with ignorant people and I will just alienate half of my family, but I really don't think I can hold myself back.
My BIL is a State Trooper and will be going tonight. I'm scared for him because he's automatically the enemy. At the same time, I understand the destruction as a means of protest. I don't know how to feel.
My BIL is a State Trooper and will be going tonight. I'm scared for him because he's automatically the enemy. At the same time, I understand the destruction as a means of protest. I don't know how to feel.
I think you can be scared for a loved one, saddened by the destruction and still understand why it is happening, you know? That is totally understandable. I'm sure I would be scared if a loved one wa there right now.
My BIL is a State Trooper and will be going tonight. I'm scared for him because he's automatically the enemy. At the same time, I understand the destruction as a means of protest. I don't know how to feel.
I think you can be scared for a loved one, saddened by the destruction and still understand why it is happening, you know? That is totally understandable. I'm sure I would be scared if a loved one wa there right now.
I just pray he acts in kindness and understanding. I'm scared to ask or know his opinion.
Post by sewpinkgal on Apr 28, 2015 17:14:41 GMT -5
At the risk of sounding like a very naive little white girl, I just want to say thank you to those of you that feel like you are constantly having to educate people on this topic. I, personally, have learned so much following the discussions here and on CEP about race relations in this country. I know it must sometimes feel like talking to a brick wall, but please know that it is not all falling on deaf ears.
I grew up in a diverse neighborhood, with diverse friends, in diverse schools. I thought I had a good handle on what racism looked like in this country, but I was so so wrong. I had no clue just how deep white privilege runs until I started reading these types of discussions. I had already had the blinders removed, but I so clearly remember Jermys once talking about her fears with what her son may face as he gets older and it was like a slap in the face. Something about her specific words made me put myself and my son in their shoes and it made my stomach turn. That feeling has stuck with me, but I also realize it's barely a fraction of fear and anger that many people are living with on a daily basis.
I don't have an answer to how we fix what is wrong in this country, but I so appreciate those of you willing to talk candidly about this topic here. I'd like to hope that what I've have learned/am learning is being passed along to not only my kids, but my friends and family, too.
I used to think I was racially aware and conscious. And for a random white person, I guess was. But then we adopted Edith, and it was shocking how unaware I was of microaggressions and how I would be perceived by other white people and how I wouldn't feel comfortable going certain places anymore. I'm not black and I would never say that I've lived the same experience obviously, but I've gotten an ugly little taste of how my friends and family members are treated, and how my children will be treated. And that was just Edith. Freddie was born the same day that Trayvon Martin was murdered, and I remember saying to my husband, "Jesus, I don't know if we could do right by a boy." and then a couple of months later, we brought him home. And I've been in a low level state of fear ever since.
I'm not going to lie that Freddie Gray has been the worst for me so far because when I read things like Keep Freddie's memory alive or justice for Freddie, it hits me in a place that just guts me.
I used to think I was racially aware and conscious. And for a random white person, I guess was. But then we adopted Edith, and it was shocking how unaware I was of microaggressions and how I would be perceived by other white people and how I wouldn't feel comfortable going certain places anymore. I'm not black and I would never say that I've lived the same experience obviously, but I've gotten an ugly little taste of how my friends and family members are treated, and how my children will be treated. And that was just Edith. Freddie was born the same day that Trayvon Martin was murdered, and I remember saying to my husband, "Jesus, I don't know if we could do right by a boy." and then a couple of months later, we brought him home. And I've been in a low level state of fear ever since.
I'm not going to lie that Freddie Gray has been the worst for me so far because when I read things like Keep Freddie's memory alive or justice for Freddie, it hits me in a place that just guts me.
My boyfriend (who is black, but not from the U.S) just wrote this and it pretty much sums up how I feel and hopefully articulates what some of us have been trying to explain. I especially love the bolded at the end.
For some reason, some of my friends look to me to explain certain things to them, which should be obvious.
For instance yesterday within just two hours three separate people played YouTube videos of the Baltimore riots and then asked me, "what is going on....? Why are they doing this?". They were truly puzzled. I guess they felt like I had some insight into the "young Black American psyche".....
My answer; We have been singing and talking about this since at least the 30s. You listen to the songs, but you don't heed the message. Nobody wants to pay attention until it might directly affect them.
If you systematically deny a population opportunity, equal protection under the law, justice, access to decent education, the hope of a sustainable legal livelihood, housing and communities, parents and positive role models, in short a life worth living, and then you take away their voice to speak out about these things, their ability to organize, while frequently brutalizing and sometimes killing their friends, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, you will assuredly get frequent and mindless rioting.
Sure some will choose to follow the examples of Dr. King and Ghandi by peacefully protesting, but the very worst off with no faith in the system, no real concept of community, and no escape from their lot in life may only remember that all their leaders including Dr. King and Ghandi have been assassinated or incarcerated. They may choose instead to show their rage, anger and outrage at the situation via destruction.
This is not a rational response and this not rocket science!
Look at any place this has occurred over the the last 100 years; England, Ireland, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia, South and North Africa, The Middle East, The Far East, and yes, Ferguson and Baltimore. The conditions and cause are always the same. The result is always the same.
You don't need insight into the young black psyche. You just need to know a little history and understand human beings......Even a faithful dog will turn around and bite if it's constantly mistreated.
several people on my FB (all black) keep posting about how we're jumping to conclusions to assume these situations are about race, and blah blah blah those rioting are making us look bad and they refuse to associate "them" with the rest of the black race and what do they expect blah blah. a lot of new black bs.
i don't know what to do with this. what to say. i'm sad about it, and really irritated.
but mostly i wish they would keep it to their damn selves and shut up.
Respectability politics. That makes me incredibly sad.