All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[worstblogever]

Thing is that how many riots have directly brought about significantly positive change for blacks?

That's not the point.

The point is, a riot isn't "there's something wrong with blacks" or "thugs" or whomever may be causing the riot. The point is, a riot is the only expression the powerless have against a system where they're being treated in inhumane ways. They're not a sign of protest, they're not started with the goal of change. They're just a sign that the system has failed.

(Provided it's not a bunch of drunk, entitled sports fans, mind you. Those riots are a sign the home team lost.)

[Tami]

That was an issue in NJ, mostly pre-2000. Maybe it still is, but I do know efforts were made to bring Supermarkets back into communities that didn't have them. Most communities now have access to Supermarkets and other stores like Target or Walmart.

I may have been partially wrong, the work isn't done yet.

What’s Being Done to Help NJ’s Food Deserts?

There are areas that are still hard hit.

[JamesonAnders]

If riots are the voices of the unheard, they are also very much the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. The point is not to riot. The point is to make the changes necessary so that rioting is never considered. Placing the blame for rioting on the rioters is like placing the blame for the failure of an education system on the students.

[The Cool Thatguy]

That's not the point.

The point is, a riot isn't "there's something wrong with blacks" or "thugs" or whomever may be causing the riot. The point is, a riot is the only expression the powerless have against a system where they're being treated in inhumane ways. They're not a sign of protest, they're not started with the goal of change. They're just a sign that the system has failed.

(Provided it's not a bunch of drunk, entitled sports fans, mind you. Those riots are a sign the home team lost.)

Or the home team won. People can be especially stupid

[Tami]

Holy crap America!!! This administration is looking to create watch lists. He is trying to shred our constitution and democracy before the election. This **** is getting real!!!

Twitter Link

NOT GOOD. "The draft order also requires the Attorney General to establish a working group including state attorneys general that will...monitor or create watch-lists of users based on their interactions with content or other users."

Twitter Link

Trump Wants to Roll Back Social Media Legal Protections; Facebook and Twitter CEOs Weigh In

Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship

[worstblogever]

If riots are the voices of the unheard, they are also very much the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. The point is not to riot. The point is to make the changes necessary so that rioting is never considered. Placing the blame for rioting on the rioters is like placing the blame for the failure of an education system on the students.

And I have to consider that the cause of a riot in a democracy isn't only the actions of the rioters... it's the state that has neglected to make their voices heard.

We are what we build, and if we fall into civil unrest, we have to ask, "How did we get here?" and fix the problems that cause it.

[babyblob]

I am so glad that with a global pandemic going on, our economy hurting, and civil unrest going on that our president chooses to spend his time in a private war with Twitter.

[worstblogever]

I am so glad that with a global pandemic going on, our economy hurting, and civil unrest going on that our president chooses to spend his time in a private war with Twitter.

Body count still grows.

[SquirrelMan]

I am so glad that with a global pandemic going on, our economy hurting, and civil unrest going on that our president chooses to spend his time in a private war with Twitter.

Hey, at least he's not attacking the CBR boards.

[worstblogever]

I think folks complaining about rioting should contemplate the possibility that Target, a billion dollar organization, can build another store after one burned down.

We're not getting George Floyd back. And the men who choked the life out of him are still walking free.

[Tami]

Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested for George Floyd's death.

[Electricmastro]

I think folks complaining about rioting should contemplate the possibility that Target, a billion dollar organization, can build another store after one burned down.

We're not getting George Floyd back. And the men who choked the life out of him are still walking free.

Riots and intolerable conditions can be condemned at the same time, as indeed, condemning one shouldn’t overlook the other. I also hope that those who become heard do what they set about doing for the best to the best of their ability.

Perhaps the only time violent protesting should ever possibly be okay is if peaceful protesting is put down violently is more or less probably the clincher here. Even the mostly peace-oriented MLK, while not necessarily promiting riots, still emphasized on condemning them if intolerable conditions are also condemned, and listening to those worthy of being heard, but have trouble being heard. I’m just hoping whatever justice systems out there are further pressured to stomp out corruption and do the responsible thing, with more activists standing up to further accomplish that.

[BeastieRunner]

Think very hard about whom the president has referred to as THUGS and whom he has referred to as very fine people. See if you can spot any similarities or differences there.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested for George Floyd's death.

What about the other three bastards who participated in Mr. Floyd's death? When will those bastards be thrown in jail?

[Malvolio]

Why is it that cops are more afraid of a single unarmed Black man than they are of 100 white guys with guns?