Ferguson, MO--I Just Don't Care

[AngC]

I apologize in advance for being caucasian. I had no control over that.

I haven't kept up on the Michael Brown shooting too much, because quite frankly, I'm sick of this sort of thing. I don't know what happened or who was right or who was wrong. I have a really tiny smidgeon of sympathy for his family for their loss. Other than that, I'm just really tired of this sort of thing. Destroy your community; have fun.

I won't try to defend my "racist" attitudes by saying I have some black friends; I don't. I literally haven't seen anyone of that persuasion for a couple years now (black population in this county is less than 1%.) But if I, as a white person, suck so bad, well then just go. Take Ferguson. Leave. We could, perhaps, spend our section-8 dollars on the highways or the space program or parks or....

 

[susanne]

.

I care a great deal -- and I make it a point read up on issues that affect everyone.

The guilt or innocence of Michael Brown is not at all clear and perhaps will never be, but sadly that has taken a back seat to other issues.

Much of the violence and mayhem have been caused by a small minority, many of whom are not even part of the community but anarchists coming from as far away as New York and California. Much of the community has been held hostage by the agendas of others. I fully support peaceful protest, but anarchists are infringing upon the rights of citizens who want their voices heard. This is a growing problem all throughout the nation.

I have always supported law enforcement and I want to believe them, but in this case supposed professionals shot an unarmed teenager six times? I'm also uncomfortable with local police driving tanks and armed with military gear -- they certainly give credence to the gun advocates who cite the necessity of protecting themselves from their own government.

 

[vickie gee]

The current situation is Ferguson is typical of what happens when people form an opinion based on emotion rather than reason and fact. The same thing happened with Zimmerman. The facts are starting to come out. I have listened to the audio of a youtube video that was taken immediately after the incident. The video mainly just shows the body in the street. It is the audio that is crucial. The poster took it off youtube, not that I blame him because he never shut up and everything he said only showed that his IQ was too low to matter. What is relevant is that it was copied by other outlets before it was taken down and the conversation between two other people could be heard, one of whom was an eye witness conversing with another person. The facial injuries the cop sustained (if true) will speak volumes. Of course, not all news agencies are even addressing that. Go figure.

Although the looting and property damage is surely despicable, it is a product of what happens when the government enslaves people with entitlements to the point that there is no incentive to work, get an education, help your neighbor, give back to the community, etcetera, etcetera. I feel sorry for the residents there that know right from wrong and just want to stay safe instead of having to deal with life disrupted. I feel in my heart that there are people who have homes there and they live their lives by the Bible and the Constitution.

What is cause for alarm (although I am not at all surprised) is the tear gassing of reporters and journalists and shooting them with rubber bullets by police.

Naturally, Al Sharpton fulfilled his duty of "head race baiter." That is how he makes his money. Although I don't know who was calling out to him asking if he is really a CIA operative I thank them. Sharpton just had to show up and begin circling like a buzzard. Frankly, he looks like something the buzzards already have dibs on. His health is obviously not good.

Enter Eric Holder to pour gasoline on the fire. Way to go Eric.

 

[Ryan Johnson]

In Darkness We are all the same - Don't let your eyes deceive you...........................

 

[Performancemini]

Good point Ryan.

 

[lucky seven]

I feel sorry for the family, and the officer who shot him. We probably won't know what really happened because of the people who maintain that this teenager was a perfect young man who wouldn't do anything wrong. Facts prove otherwise and the looters who don't even live there are taking advantage of a bad situation to steal. They know that the police won't try to stop them or they will be depicted as trigger happy. This happens everytime a young black man is shot by a police officer or citizen. They act like they are the only ones that lose loved ones this way. Too bad they don't learn by example how other races deal with adversity. I'm not lumping all African americans in the same basket, most are law abiding, educated citizens of this country. I agree with Vickie Gee, they have too much free time on their hands, everything handed to them and they feel they are entitled to more. This is a problem our government created by accident or design. I think the President who was trying to help a segment of the society that needed a helping hand during the depression didn't realize how future leaders would use his platform to weaken and enslave the poorer citizens.

 

[Riverrose28]

I too do really care, thank you Suzanne and Ryan your thoughts were wonderful.

I'm probly one of the very few on this forum that has African Americans/ black folk in the family. My son-in-law is black and two of my grandchildren are black. This man is hard working, loving, caring, a gentleman had an excellent father and husband and checks on us even when my own children don't.I love this family with all my heart, and many on here know of them because we show with them. These children are polite beyond polite, and I fear for them because of profiling and police brutality. On the other hand I feel that those using this instance as an excuse to loot, hurt, riot, etc. should be brought to justice and swiftly. I lived through this in DC during the riots of the 60's so I can sympathize with the residents of Ferguson. Seems like the squeeking wheel gets the grease, during this time several lawenforcment officers have lost their lives in the line of duty and no riots over them. Some people are just looking for an excuse to be heard and it is the wrong way to be heard. Yes we are all the same but some fear the differences in culture because they don't take the time to educate themselves. We all bleed red.

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

I don't really have anything to add to this discussion but I really can't judge the situation fairly imo. All I have to go on is what the media feels they want me to know, what makes the 'best' news story. I'm sure there is much more to this story and if we could see into the minds of those involved we could know the truth. Is it possible that the police officer was motivated, even in part, by the colour of the person he was pointing his weapon at? Absolutely, we all as humans must struggle to accept that 'different' doesn't mean dangerous. On the other hand is the fact that the young man was coloured reason enough to assume the shooting wouldn't have happened if he had not been? I don't believe that we can be sure of that. It does seem strange to me that the officer emptied his weapon (6 shots is what was reported here)at the young man. Are there extenuating circumstances? With out the answers to all the questions how am I to judge. What I do know for sure is the riots will not bring him back and are very likely making 'race relations' (what a hideous phrase, it divides us into black, white, red....so many ways we can find to make it us against them in this world) worse and is not helping anyone at all.

 

[AngC]

[SIZE=medium]I like to read here, because it’s relatively flame-free. Also, sometimes I gain insight that changes my thinking. But on this one, I still really, really do not care. I don't. Some people out there hate whitey, well, then bye. Peace. Give me back our tax dollars. I don't like being hated, when I don't feel like I did anything to deserve it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium][ Speaking of black folks in the family… I wasn’t raised to be a racist; my parents didn’t put up with that kind of crap. I don’t usually talk about personal life on the internet, but… although, I have no current black friends, I married a black man when I was younger for ten years or so. He came out of the ghetto; by the time I met him he was a naval officer. He cheated 3 times, and I ditched him. End of story. Smart, competent guy; just couldn’t keep his whooz-it in his pants. Does that mean I’m o.k. to comment on black people? ][/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Anyway, I’m just tired of it all. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The evil police shot this poor gentle giant. (Never mind that the deceased “gianted” himself on some shop keeper to get some cigars to wrap up his weed (shop keeper took 2 days to put out the word that he didn’t call the evil cops, but did so because shop keeper’s afraid of getting killed.) [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Oh, and according to some media sources, the gentle giant just graduated from high school and was getting ready to attend UNIVERSITY. o.k. sure. But according to some sources, he was in a [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]special class to help him finish high school. Not sure if that’s true, but his graduation came from a high school that lost its accreditation (verifiable from multiple sources.) And I guess you could call trade school to repair air conditioners or refrigerators or whatever a university(?), but it sure ain’t Harvard or MIT. And I bet taxes were going to pay for that, if he ever got there. (oh, did I mention, I’m tired of forking over taxes for government programs.)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]But the real kicker on the story, are the evil police. They look scary. They wear riot gear and have scary vehicles. You can’t have the police looking too scary. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]What person in their right mind would forgo wearing a helmet (which might keep your brains intact) or a bullet-proof vest (which might or might not protect some parts of your torso) and enter into potentially armed combat? Would you? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Let’s just pretend you were going to play policeman for the day. We could lay out two piles of stuff. On the right, we’d place some pepper spray, maybe a taser (if that’s too evil, you could have a squirt gun) and on the left we’d lay a pile consisting of an actual firearm, maybe a bullet-proof vest and something to top off the old noggin? Really, which would you choose?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Let’s make the police look safe and pretty. Maybe we could make them wear pink hats or something. And, after you disarm the police, what are you going to do? …hope that everybody makes nice-nice? [/SIZE]

 

[AngC]

By the way, I didn't mean to be snide about black family, friends, etc. One thing you read on the internet is people spouting racist rhetoric and then saying their best friend is black. So I figured I'd mention that I've been there, done that, and it didn't work out. Not because of race, but because of differing views on fidelity.

I don't know if I'm racist; perhaps I am. I don't want to be, but I sure am tired of it all.

 

[Sonya]

Regardless if Brown was black/white/purple it doesn't matter. Was he a thug/theif? Probably, but It doesn't matter, what does matter is if the officer felt for his life, if he did, he had a right to use lethal force to protect himself and those around him. With an orbital fracture it is not odd that he shot 6 times, he may have been seeing double. As far as the looting, it makes no sense what so ever. If you ask half the people involved in the looting and rioting they probably can't even tell you why they are rioting. It is an excuse to break the law. The Sharptons, Jackson's of this world are not making the situation any better either.

Do I think there is police brutality going on in this country? Sure, it happens, and it's not ok, is this a case of it? We will never know for sure...with so many hands in the pot and so much publicity, there may never be a clear answer. I will tell you this, the officer encountered blacks on a daily basis, if it was a racial motivated shooting don't you think he would of shot some random black person sooner?

 

[bevann]

Would there have been this much media attention or riots if the officer was black and the victim white?Would Sharpton and Eric Holder have gone to MO and would the President and the media have got into this mess?Would the white people have done riots and looting?I think not.It would have just all been in the days work.Lack of proper upbringing is often just an excuse for bad behavior .So many in our country have a sense of entitlement due to our government programs.Many generations have never had a job or have had to work for anything they have(all races)Our country is in a SAD state.I am sorry for the young man who lost his life and for his family and for the officer who did the shooting.Hopefully the truth will come out and all will be able to accept it whatever it is.In my area a dead person who was shot or killed violently is ALWAYS portrayed as an angel by family or friends regardless of the race even though they may had a had a rap sheet a mile long..I guess to the family they were an angel.I saw something on facebook a while back that Bill Cosby said about being black.Can't remember all that he said.He basically said that people need to take accountability for their own behavior and stop blaming others

 

[vickie gee]

I agree with Sonya's and Bevann's views. Also it would not hurt my feelings at all if the black man Ben Carson became our next President.

 

[vickie gee]

Right on AngC. I don't think you were being snide at all. Like you I do not feel the need to defend my level of tolerance/intolerance and I don't like to get too personal about my family and friends on here thus I normally refrain from putting their pictures and names on any form of social media. I don't use my facebook account for anything but checking up on a niece and nephew and for the entertainment one of my daughters-in-law provides and seeing day to day pictures of the kids. I don't answer friend requests. Don't have time for it and pretty sure if I latched onto hundreds of friends that really don't know me well they would see my life as very boring. I pick up the phone and call my close friends. That being said, I will say my former step daughter dated a black guy in college. They married and I am very happy for her because he does not beat her like her dad did to me and her own mother. Her dad disowned her and took her car away because he came from a nearby community that blacks did not live in. Her husband got an education and a very nice job at the university. They have two precious and smart boys and I think her dad is more accepting now. I try to avoid knowing what's up with him. Her husband has now moved on to an even better job in administration in the school system of his home town. Her mom went through a second marriage to a bum and drug addict that almost ruined her credit. She is now married to a black man. She seems very happy and I am happy for both my former step daughter and her mom. Their families distanced them for years but now things seem to be ok with them. My boss is black. My boss's boss is black. My boss's boss's boss's boss is black. And it even goes way higher than that. My co-workers know that with me what you see is what you get. I speak my mind about black people that are causing problems no differently than white people that do not earn my respect for one reason or another.

This whole Ferguson thing has been one huge distraction as well as a preview into when (not if) martial law is all over us. Meanwhile the police departments have filled out their 1033's. More than 93,000 M16s have gone to them and lots of those lovely black coffins are in storage. Coming to a police state near you. Not knocking the police just yet. They did not create the police state and they have a job to do....over on the next screen we must get ready to go to our been-in-the-makings for some time war with Syria.

Oh dear. God bless America. We need mercy actually. Blessings are God giving you what you don't deserve. Mercy is God not giving you what you do deserve.

 

[susanne]

.
I have no problem with police officers wearing riot gear. I do have a BIG problem with tanks and military gear.

On a different note, I'll share a personal story about police attitudes that is perhaps unnecessary, but shows that they do often respond inappropriately, even in bucolic Portlandia.

My late sister shared her big, old house in one of Portland's nicest neighborhood with her partner and his sons. His older son, a not-so-nice guy, and his wife stayed there briefly. The younger boys were polite, easy-going boys, but the not-so-nice brother was rather violent. One night not-so-nice guy beat his wife and my sister called the police, describing not-so-nice guy clearly (tall, blond, athletic) and gave them his name.

When they arrived the youngest of the boys, who is short, biracial, and quite obviously not the brother who was reported, answered the door. They asked his name and he identified himself, but they proceeded to slam him into a wall in an arm lock. Everybody in the house told them that they had the wrong guy (including not-so-nice guy's wife), but they ordered them to keep out of it. They then knocked him to the floor, cuffed him, and literally drug him out the door and down the front steps. Not-so-nice guy was never even questioned.

I've always supported the police -- my cousin is a retired sheriff's deputy (who, by the way, was enraged by the PPD's actions) -- but this incident was a huge reality check. Not all police deserve our respect, so yes, I am always skeptical.

Thugs exist on both sides of the thin blue line.
.

 

[Minimor]

What strikes me as bizarre in all these cases--the police...no matter which police force it is...only ever shoot the most wonderful members of society. Whenever this kind of thing happens, there is nothing but praise for the slain person's character. Why does it not happen that the police shoot a few of the most reprehensible, dangerous thugs out there on our streets???

I'm afraid that I cannot blame the police for all the trouble. Whatever the reasons behind the shooting, the riots, vandalism and destruction is not right. That is not justified, not even by a wrongful death.

 

[lucky seven]

Not all black people are lazy and uneducated. My son is not the most trustworthy person I've ever met. His girlfriend who is also white is an alcoholic and drug addict. If she doesn't have the money, she earns it by the oldest profession. We have tried to make our son realize what she is, but he "loves" her and takes her back everytime. He will work but then quits and takes his time finding another job. He wasn't raised to live this way, is educated but his choices in life are his. He is almost 40 years old, has been in jail for theft, drinks and gambles. If I made it sound like I think that all black people are ignorant and live on gov. assistance then I didn't voice my views correctly. There are two sides to every story, maybe the truth will come out.

 

[bevann]

I agree that not all black people are lazy or uneducated.There are many fine black people who have stated their disgust with members of their own race who act so badly.I have a problem with using race and the slavery problem as an excuse for extremely bad behavior and laziness.Acting like a ******* is of someone's own choosing.There are many fine black people who have accomplished great things and just realize that those who work get ahead.I see the lack of a strong male figure in any household as a detriment to our society.Lack of respect for others especially authority figures also has greatly undermined our country.No respect for the law or elders.

 

[Ryan Johnson]

AngC- Thanks for sharing the other 2 posts after your original post. Ill be really honest with you, after reading your opening post I thought what a racist thing to say and what a racist person this person must be.......

I am glad you posted again as its clear that your issue is not with black people in general, just one, maybe two that has hurt you along the way.

I judged you by your original post without knowing more to the story ( not that it was any of my business , apart from what you wanted the forum to know) and I am sorry for judging you like that.

What I will say is that while we are fighting amongst ourselves , there are other Countries that are probably in the midst of planning terrible things against your Country and Mine .............

We have already seen it, in the terrible life changing moments of 911 and the Bali bombings.

How will we ever overcome these terrible People in the countries that are planning to destroy yours and mine, when we cant unite as one within our own Country to protect our own ??

 

[vickie gee]

Ferguson, as well as any story, usually has three sides: this person's, that person's, and the truth.