My problem with the anti-riot side is that they seem to be more concerned for keeping the status quo without a concern for how this entire thing is affecting the whole communities psyche. Every time this happens, people ask why people are rioting; the answer should be obvious as to why. If you quell a people's voice, they will react through violence. This is a basic law of nature and historical social unrest, and I'm shocked at the naďveté that is displayed any time this happens.
Alternatively, I don't agree with the looters methods, and they are certainly doing harm to their community, but it's hard for me to completely throw them under the bus when the system has already done the same in kind to them.
I think that peaceful protest is the way to go, but in no way do I think that it's the only way for justice to be served. Even MLK needed a foil - and that being Malcolm X - and for someone to show the powers that be the alternative to MLK. If MLK was the carrot, Malcolm X was the stick. We need a stick; a good one, if we are going to get anything done.
Honestly, I worry about everyone in Baltimore - protester, rioter, regular citizen, even cops - because the entire situation is awful and sad.
My only pet peeve in situations like this is when a black person appeals to white emotions and does the "I'm one of the good ones" routine you see all over the media and Facebook. It disgusts me.
"You're either with the system and status quo, or the people and side with justice. There is no middle ground "I just want to go home and curl up under a blanket" anymore, because that was never an option for me or any other black folks."
- someone who's sole contribution to The Cause is posting about it on a videogame messageboard
People say that a lot but you don't know a thing about this guy. I been to protests ever since I was a teenager, I volunteer at the library handing out food to the homeless at least once or twice a week, I have helped kids learn to read and write better. Are you going to say the same thing about me? I never talk about this or brag about it openly, but you know nothing about this guy, his story, or his conviction. Usually someone who writes something like that has their heart on their sleeve, and people like that act on their emotions. I think it is highly likely be has protested before, but that doesn't mean you even have a point. Being that he's black, he may find the situation without any resolution, which makes his post even more sad. Yet you're lamenting him somehow being a keyboard warrior when 1. You're not black, 2. You do not have to raise your children in this environment, and 3. What has The Cause done beyond inflate egos? Probably nothing, maybe a little, but not much, considering nothing has changed in 50 years. You can make fun of him and charge him for being a keyboard warrior when you wake up tomorrow and have fifty shades of melanin.
