Police Power and Racial Tensions in Ferguson, Missouri

[Stoked]

How dare anyone point out that white people's opinions on a matter are not completely trustworthy and clear.

He was pissed of that a bunch of white guys were voicing their opinions on it at all. All opinions are not completely trustowrthy or clear. Regardless of the race of the opinion holder. This was more than that and for you to attempt to say otherwise is rather sad. A white mans opinion on it is no less valuable than a man of any other races opinion.

Also you mention regularly the systematic oppression suffered by minorities, particularly blacks, at the hands of police (we all know there are studies that show this, agreed). Wouldn't Michael Brown know this and wouldn't it affect his opinion and reactions to this police officer? Regardless of the value of the item he allegedly stole? Your comment about the cigaretts implies that he would ignore all of that and that it wouldn't affect his attitude. Maybe I am reading it wrong.

 

[cowhide]

I agree with you there, but that is just a piece of the oppression pie. That alone will not stop blacks from being oppressed. And many of the programs intended to help poor blacks (welfare, affirmative action, etc.) actually have the opposite effect.

Edit: no matter what is changed, poorer urban areas will always have more crime
So I think the arrest stats stay the same.

Welfare was setup up originally to help poor white people, blacks were not allowed to participate in welfare originally. Affirmative action was a direct result from Jim Crow laws and was an attempt to actually help minorities have opportunities that were still being derailed by whites even after the civil right laws.

 

[One Brow]

If a black cop ever shoots and kills a white person, I'd say that white person's entire life is being oppressed right to his death.

You have missed his point by so very, very much.

Also, if this was a black cop shooting a black person, again no story.

Rioting is always a story.

 

[candrew]

Well the Ferguson PD bought dashboard cameras but had not installed them yet at the time of the shooting.

LOL - no matter which side of the fence you fall on this issue that's a bit of a head scratcher.

Riot Gear - check
Smoke Grenade Launcher - check
KA-Bar Fighting Knives - check
Acoustic Riot Control Device - check
Armored Tactical Vehicles - check
12-Gauge Shot Guns - check
M4 Carbine - check
AR15 Rifles - check


Dashboard Cameras........wellll, we haven't quite gotten to that yet.

 

[One Brow]

How about when a woman gets shot and cops make up 95% of the police force. Gender oppression! OMG!

Women aren't regarded as being additionally threatening because they are female.

 

[Stoked]

LOL - no matter which side of the fence you fall on this issue that's a bit of a head scratcher.

Riot Gear - check
Smoke Grenade Launcher - check
KA-Bar Fighting Knives - check
Acoustic Riot Control Device - check
Armored Tactical Vehicles - check
12-Gauge Shot Guns - check
M4 Carbine - check
AR15 Rifles - check


.....Dashboard Cameras........wellll, we have quite gotten to that yet.

Right? I was wondering what the hell as well.

 

[JAZZGASM]

It wasn't national news when the white cop shot the black guy in Ferguson, either; nor was it news when there was a protest. What made it news was rioting.

The NY Times had articles up before the looting.

Contrast that with Dillon Taylor, a white kid shot in Utah in similar circumstances. There have been multiple protests, but no national coverage. I understand the riots gave it more attention, but it clearly had national news coverage prior to looting/violence.

 

[One Brow]

Some questions:

Are all cases involving a death where the people involved are different races a race issue or just this one?

Should white people be given an equal platform for opinions on race as any other race?

What is the goal, in your mind, for race relations and how should that goal be achieved?

Race, gender, orientation, identity, religion, etc., all play an intricate role in our personal identity, and thus play a role in every interaction we have with other people, whether we realize it or not. Every issue plays out differently for different races, genders, orientations, and identities.

White people already have the biggest platform. As to whether they should, it's liking asking whether non-Mormons (who already have the biggest platform) should be given an equal platform to Mormons when talking about the Mormon religion. Such a question would be insulting to the Mormons already denied an equal platform, as in indication that you think their platform should be further shrunk.

The current goal is getting people to listen without responding/defending/opposing.

 

[JAZZGASM]

Welfare was setup up originally to help poor white people, blacks were not allowed to participate in welfare originally. Affirmative action was a direct result from Jim Crow laws and was an attempt to actually help minorities have opportunities that were still being derailed by whites even after the civil right laws.

Yes, I understand that. I was speaking in current terms, programs intended to help the oppressed have the opposite effect.

 

[One Brow]

Yeah, I think my "give a damn" about these thing was busted for good when the media had to invent the term "White Hispanic" in order to make the narrative for George Zimmerman work.

I agree. Zimmerman was white, period.

Any time Sharpton or Jackson show up and are welcomed, I just don't care anymore, because nobody is interested in the truth.

How nice for you that you can decide for large groups of people who does and does not speak to their interests.

It pisses me off that the first Black president is an effete Alinskyite and not a true disciple of MLK.

Well, the white man has come down to tell us who the true disciples of MLK are! Thank goodness, it was so confusing before you showed up.[/sarcasm]

 

[One Brow]

I'm sure the black community, who, judging by my white-bread upbringing, notoriously have worn the slogan "**** the police" around their culture like some sort of Medal of Honor, are lining up to fill out job applications with the police department.

But what the **** would I know about it, I'm just a dumb white guy after all.

Exactly, you don't know much about it at all.

 

[Stoked]

Race, gender, orientation, identity, religion, etc., all play an intricate role in our personal identity, and thus play a role in every interaction we have with other people, whether we realize it or not. Every issue plays out differently for different races, genders, orientations, and identities.

White people already have the biggest platform. As to whether they should, it's liking asking whether non-Mormons (who already have the biggest platform) should be given an equal platform to Mormons when talking about the Mormon religion. Such a question would be insulting to the Mormons already denied an equal platform, as in indication that you think their platform should be further shrunk.

The current goal is getting people to listen without responding/defending/opposing.

If it is asked in good faith, with an honest attempt at good dialouge, then any offense they take is on them and not the one asking the question. They'd be better served calmly explaining why it is offensive then attacking. Use it to teach not destroy.

I absolutely agree that "Race, gender, orientation, identity, religion" plays a role in the opinions held by any individual.

I didn't ask if whites should have the biggest platform and you know it. Intellectually dishonest.

If your goal is "... getting people to listen without responding/defending/opposing" then you showed a poor display here.

Should whites have the same size platform as other races? Yes or no? If the answer is no then I feel sorry for you. If the answer is yes then wouldn't it mae more sense to build up any platforms (I'd say they are the minority platforms) that are smaller instead of tearing down the largest platform? That is what I see being done. That doesn't solve anything. All it does is further the tension imo.