Shooting and protests in Ferguson, Missouri

[GOBBLINKINGREATLEADER]

Hey I saw that on Facebook. I didn't know how to feel.

[Jeade]

Hey I saw that on Facebook. I didn't know how to feel.

That's where I found it too, actually.

I think he's got a hell of a point.
"White flight" is absolutely part of the problem, and there's whole books written about it.
The fact that he's understanding that white people aren't just the problem is where he totally gets it right.
He's saying that they do have freedom (while rights issues surely exist), and they need to overcome the poor schools, bad neighborhoods, etc. and make a difference within their communities.
If everyone pitched in and ditched racism wholly, we'd probably already be there.

People who claim that violence or poverty is just part of a black person's nature really fucking irritates me.
To absolve white people from the equation isn't right, because we absolutely have something to do with the situation from which so many in the inner cities suffer.
Honestly, for me to even label it as "white people" isn't fair. It's a mess, and it's only loosely related to race.

I'd try going into detail, but I've been following everything for a week and my brain has checked out for the day.

[Taser]

Yep, I believe I've met my socializing quota for the year. horey!1

Also, off/on topic, a pretty great video I saw earlier this morning about the Ferguson riots.

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[bilwit]

No surprise here. All cops are bastards. How do you answer a protest that has drawn attention of the national media? Military ballistic armor, APCs, snipers, turrets, light machine guns, etc. Good ole cops.

[Xant]

No surprise here. All cops are bastards. How do you answer a protest that has drawn attention of the national media? Military ballistic armor, APCs, snipers, turrets, light machine guns, etc. Good ole cops.

"A protest"...

Did you miss the small detail that they're looting and burning shit down, and a lot of them have guns? Robbing a doughnut store sure shows them pou-lice what's what.

[Chosen1]

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/eyewitness-michael-brown-fatal-shooting-missouri

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/antonio-french_n_5677157.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/ryan-reilly-ferguson-arrest_n_5678528.html?1408030697

huseby what kind of liberal garbage have you been reading

[Oberyn]

I wonder if there is a sum less than 'infinite' that would satisfy these idiots who think that all we need to do to solve these problems are PROGRAMS and FUNDING and EDUCATION.

Clearly the problem is a ghetto culture glorifying and excusing unprotected juvenile sex, alcohol/drugs, violence, absentee father-ism, broken homes, joblessness, truancy/dropping out, etc, etc.

Rural and trashy rednecks have lots of the same problems (drug abuse is rampant, alcohol, domestic violence, broken homes, joblessness), but somehow you don't see them trashing their own neighborhoods and looting liquor stores when Billy the methhead gets shot by cops for being a punk retard. Probably because they don't have the benefit of liberal bundle of stickss wringing their hands crying about how the poor disadvantaged trailer trash are totally not at fault and their completely misderected anger, violence and vandalism is totally understandable dontchaknow.

[Angantyr]

The cultural self-image:

[Jeade]

Rural and trashy rednecks have lots of the same problems (drug abuse is rampant, alcohol, domestic violence, broken homes, joblessness), but somehow you don't see them trashing their own neighborhoods and looting liquor stores when Billy the methhead gets shot by cops for being a punk retard.

Well, police shootings are incredibly rare, even in inner-city STL.
Saint Louis has always been known as the city that doesn't riot.
I think the last riot was in the early 60's?

Culture is a problem, but there are a lot of factors that play into this, race, unfortunately, still being relevant.
Programs, funding, and education would all be excellent starts.

As for things like gang violence, I might direct you to this here podcast.
Remember to also check out part two.

[Joseph Porta]

Keep it up and we'll free the shit out of you

Liberate me, please!

[Chosen1]

Jeade, the truth is, minorities are more inclined to commit crimes no matter the circumstances. As a Latino myself, I really hate when people try to make excuses for blacks and hispanics, who turn to crime and leech off of welfare their whole lives.

The first step in fixing a problem is realizing that there IS one. We need to figure out why blacks and hispanics, despite being a fraction of the population, commit the majority of the crimes in the US.

[Kafein]

Figure out why poor people commit crimes and you're done.

[Jeade]

The first step in fixing a problem is realizing that there IS one. We need to figure out why blacks and hispanics, despite being a fraction of the population, commit the majority of the crimes in the US.

Oh, I totally agree there is a problem, and I won't say I think there's an easy answer or fix.
Surely, there's a cultural problem, but I'd hesitate to relate it directly to race.
Instead, I'd say a lot of it is the social and work environment many of these people are stuck in.
For instance, I don't think it's a coincidence that crime rates drop drastically as wealth increases; people can have home ownership, healthcare, good schools, pay for decent groceries, etc.*

Out here in the Bay Area, I'm not terribly concerned about walking through the Berkeley Hills at 3AM, but I'd rather sleep there on a sidewalk with money falling out of my pockets than hop down to downtown Oakland and take the train before morning.

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But yes, they also must be able to help themselves before much can be done.

^{*I am not actually qualified, but this is the Internet and that is my opinion.}

[Chosen1]

[Jeade]

You don't know what it's like being a minority

You're absolutely right, and that can make it difficult to approach something like this.

I linked a couple podcasts from This American Life above that cover the topic of gang violence in Chicago schools.
Listening to some of the students give interviews is really eye-opening on a number of topics, gang violence aside,
Some of it would totally be relevant to the next bit of your quote:

and you are part of this problem by saying shit like it's all because of the income gap or institutionalized racism or some other bullshit like that.

I would never say that, though it's certainly part of the problem, and a complex one to say the least.

Here's the two links!
Part one of Harper High, and part two.
If anyone does have a couple hours and are free and/or willing to give it a listen, I'd urge you to do so.