Baltimore riots
 

Well, all hell is breaking loose in Baltimore, 7 police officers seriously injured, fires set with cars and a CVS destroyed, rocks and bottles thrown at police and firefighters. National Guard activated by Governor as nightfall may result in more lawlessness. This is what happens when folks trivialize long standing legit complaints...peaceful protestors are infiltrated by thugs bent on taking advantage of the situation...so sad!

No this is what happens when folks ignore 56 black murders so far this year in Baltimore and then pretend #blacklivesmatter with the one murder police are involved in. Simply put ignorant people acting ignorant.

The COO of the Orioles has a different perspective:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/04/orio...e-protests-mlb

And that's what makes America, America, different perspectives.

However when one's perspective (not Angelos in particular)leads to looting, rioting and destroying property it should be condemned without excuse. These were not just a few thugs and in fact the majority of those who looted the mall were high school students, attending school and finishing the day's classes. Many also appeared to not be so economically disadvantaged as they drove their vehicles to and from the mall looted. Again just ignorant people/students acting ignorant and ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking the law.

BTW I bet most involved couldn't pick Gray out of a three man lineup and saw the situation as an opportunity to get some free stuff.

http://wiki.monticello.org/mediawiki...28Quotation%29B

throughout the world, within every significant group of people, there are three types of folks...the first group consists of law-abiding people who live their lives adhering to social norms, the second group consists of somewhat weak minded folks who tend to be easily led and while they generally conform to the norm they are at risk for anti-social behavior if and when they become agitated or fall under the control of others, the third group consists of what we construe as the "criminal element", these are folks who display no regard for others and react to any event with behavior that only benefits them. The first group constitutes the overwhelming majority but when a grievance becomes significant enough, their voice is muted as a minority yelling can drown out the majority speaking softly. Baltimore is an example of this...we should condemn the violence but understand the underlying grievance. Perception becomes reality and only knowledge and understanding can change perception.

:tro:

Well said.

Sounds like politicians and our business "leaders" that are selling out our future generations to line their own pockets now.

Just heard the National Guard has arrived and is protecting City Hall. Meanwhile the looting of private businesses continues unimpeded.

There is hope however as demonstrated by this 'Mom of the Year'. Kind of reminds me of my Mom AND Grandma. :)

http://wgntv.com/2015/04/28/mom-of-t...g-rioting-son/

yeah, when i read that part of what he posted i thought 'sounds like politicians'.

Rioting is wrong no matter what the color of skin or reason. In Vancouver people (mainly white) rioted over the Canucks WINNING the Stanley Cup. Still doesn't make what happened in Baltimore OK or more just.

We got a glimpse last night of what would happen if police decided to let things go unimpeded and anarchy reigned.

Again it's odd the murders of 56 black people, so far this year, in Baltimore, prior to the killing of Freddie Gray didn't seem to matter to anyone. We're less than halfway thru this year. Will the next 56 murders committed by those outside of the police department matter?

I also wonder if Mr. Gray would have been one preventing the violence or one participating in the violence?

I must ask the author of the article you cited why she left out the pumpkin and football rioters' actions of looting and attacking police.

And JMS must be busy otherwise he'd be on here typing 'straw man argument' ;)

Too bad there isn't a Loyola Academy in every city.:)

:tro:

'....those on social media who can't understand why people are still protesting in Ferguson. Typically those people have been white conservatives who want to sweep the police-brutality issues that plague black communities under the rug.'

yeah...there's no such thing as brutality, or racism for that matter! said the person who encounters neither, therefore it doesn't exist for anyone.

and then there's this twisted take, with no consistency:

http://www.inquisitr.com/1916634/fox...cist-ferguson/

megan kelly says we don't have a racism problem, and then talks about companies having all kinds of racist emails in their inboxes...
er, so is racism not a big deal because it doesn't exist, or because it's so prevalent, megan?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...liance/391640/

To wit:
"When nonviolence is preached as an attempt to evade the repercussions of political brutality, it betrays itself. When nonviolence begins halfway through the war with the aggressor calling time out, it exposes itself as a ruse. When nonviolence is preached by the representatives of the state, while the state doles out heaps of violence to its citizens, it reveals itself to be a con. And none of this can mean that rioting or violence is "correct" or "wise," any more than a forest fire can be "correct" or "wise." Wisdom isn't the point tonight. Disrespect is. In this case, disrespect for the hollow law and failed order that so regularly disrespects the community."

I think Megan Kelly is very capable of having opinions on things that directly affect her (maternity leave, etc.). Anything else, she'll spout the company line. Which, as you note, can often be incoherent.

From McSweeneys:

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/p...e-from-ll-bean

They rioted in 1915? ;)

Thank you very much for making me spit Diet Coke on my computer screen.

Sorry Montreal? Canadians are all the same.;)

You going to AP Sat.?

Freddy Gray's arrest record:

•March 20, 2015: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
•March 13, 2015: Malicious destruction of property, second-degree assault
•January 20, 2015: Fourth-degree burglary, trespassing
•January 14, 2015: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute
•December 31, 2014: Possession of narcotics with intent to distribute
•December 14, 2014: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
•August 31, 2014: Illegal gambling, trespassing
•January 25, 2014: Possession of marijuana
•September 28, 2013: Distribution of narcotics, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, second-degree assault, second-degree escape
•April 13, 2012: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, violation of probation
•July 16, 2008: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute
•March 28, 2008: Unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance
•March 14, 2008: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to manufacture and distribute
•February 11, 2008: Unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance
•August 29, 2007: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, violation of probation
•August 28, 2007: Possession of marijuana
•August 23, 2007: False statement to a peace officer, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance
•July 16, 2007: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance (2 counts)