em_tsuj wrote:
I just want to take this opportunity to come out against the uncalled for violence that happened a few days ago in Ferguson. There was no need for the nameless attacker to shoot those police officers.
First let me say this though, I am 100% sympathetic to the aims of the protesters in Ferguson. I am black. I grew up in the rural South where there is still a system of racial oppression by police officers (not in all jurisdictions, but in many). This is a hold over from the Jim Crow days. I am sympathetic to any social group who has historically been oppressed by the government whether state, local, or the U.S. Federal government.
I am not a believer in opportunism for people who want to use injustice as a justification for violence. I am glad that the corrupt city government of Ferguson is being dismantled. I hope that the right actions are taken here and that they can be used in other jurisdictions where racial discrimination is used by cops. I am highly skeptical that the right actions will be taken, however, considering how the release of the DOJ report was handled. They should have prepared for possible violent backlash from protesters. I will be glad when Eric Holder is gone as the Attorney General.
I am concerned about the way that the media is handling the killing of unarmed black men by white police officers. I am glad the issue is gaining national attention. It is nothing new, but this is the first time I have seen a national uproar about it. At the same time, I think they are being opportunistic, trying to foment unrest to gain ratings. I don't trust the analysis of mainstream U.S. media. I think it is biased toward sensationalism, focusing on gaining a reaction instead of getting at the truth. As Sweetleaf has pointed out, it isn't just black men who are being killed. A white female was killed by the police near where she lives, so the question isn't so much racism as it is unchecked power by police officers. We need a system where police officers are held accountable if they kill someone.
Anyway, I am surprised no one else has posted anything about this. What are your thoughts on these recent developments?
I agree with what you said and I'm a caucasian person. I full heartly agree about what you said about the media using events like this to get good ratings. Here's my reasoning, a black man shoots and kills another black man nobody bats an eye. However, if a white guy shoots and kill a black guy it gains national attention. The media only cares about damn ratings. I am also against police brutality and they should be penalized for crimes they commit too.
15 Mar 2015, 9:46 pm
