Bad Boys II

[hollodero]

(05-31-2020, 01:21 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I just want to comment on number 4, in bold. The important thing to keep in mind about this one is that Kaepernick was protesting this. He was protesting police brutality in a peaceful manner, yet those in power decided to ignore that and change the narrative. There is a MLK quote floating around about rioting being the language of the unheard. This isn't intended to justify rioting, but to point out why it is happening. Peaceful protests, like what Kaepernick engaged in, have been ignored, mocked, derided, etc. Pence's actions were an example of that. This is why rioting happens from these protests (not counting the agitators that make it worse). They tell the black community to peacefully protest, and then mock them or, at the very least, blatantly disregard their concerns when they do.

I get that. I do not contradict that conclusion either.

My issue would rather be that when those folks, Pence et al., condemn violence, the reaction is "look who's talking", and I feel it shouldn't be. Maybe I'm on an island here, but am I really completely off when this rings like saying "well, peaceful protest didn't help, look how all the Pences reacted to that, so we really have no other choice than to turn it violent"? Because that is I tone I do see in those, and I still say this is the wrong conclusion. Even if I might get the desperation behind it.

Needless to say, burning buildings etc. does not hit society or the system, but innocent folks, most likely ones that are just as appalled by the Floyd murder as anyone. In a sense I get the explanation, but I don't like the explanation turned into an excuse.