Bad Boys II

[hollodero]

(05-31-2020, 10:48 AM)Dill Wrote: I assumed that Sharpton was addressing the black community in currently rioting cities and in those where riots were a possibility. Let's take a look at the fuller context. Condemning the destruction in Minneapolis, and addressing the question of how to productively channel outrage, Sharpton says:

"You don't do it by appearing criminal yourself, . . . .We are not the ones that inflict the pain. We are the ones that have been pained, and our reaction must show that and highlight that. Otherwise, people will exploit that and change the focus into demonizing those that conduct themselves in a violent way rather than those saying, as the Floyd family is saying, we want justice.". . .

"Some of the stores that are being damaged are black-owned stores!" Sharpton exclaimed. "So we cannot become so reckless that we are destroying each other in our rage."

So as any competent rhetorician should, he addresses his audience on their own ethical ground, in a manner which recognizes their interests and goals. If you want to fight the subjection of the black community by the dominant white, then how does it make sense to burn black businesses, thereby hurting the people in whose interest you claim to act?  "All lives matter" would be completely tone deaf here, for that audience, since post-racial ideology has been a major obstacle to reform.  Sharpton is more voice saying "Violence changes the subject and just helps 'the man,' so stop it!"

Unless one construes Sharpton to be saying that people won't demonize the violent if they choose to burn only white and Asian business instead of black, it would be hard to get "ok to burn non-black business" from his comments.

I still think the black-owned store comment was totally unnecessary. The message could have well done without that addendum. And "we shall not destroy each other" quite reads as an affirmation to rather destroy some non-black stores. I know, I know, he probably did not mean it that way. But it was a thoughtless comment and you did not quite change my mind on that. It was not wise to bring that up, imho.