[cmeinel@verizon.net]

To stop the protest is simple. Stop giving them media attention.

[Debi-G]

There are many households with just one parent. I came from a broken home and have NEVER not even once in my lifetime thought about stealing or rioting to loot and vandalize someone's property that they have worked hard to attain, just because I felt that life wasn't fair. Where you come from is no excuse for the choices you make in life. There are too many successful people, and many are black, to hold any water with that theory. I have a sister in-law who also came from a broken home. Her mother raised 7 children and worked two jobs to do so. NONE of them turned out to be thugs like those we have seen on tv lately. Two of those 7 children went to college on scholarships that they EARNED. She ended up being a nurse, and has been for two decades. And she chose to have twins in-vitro with no father figure and those children turned out fine. One is in college on a scholarship and the other has chosen to be a cosmetologist and has a thriving business. We need to teach all children that they need to apply themselves in school and prepare to get an education to be able to get a job when they graduate. And graduating is important. Parents need to be PARENTS and stop trying to be their children's friends. They have plenty of those already.

[rlcooper70]

If you examine the efforts to help the black community since the 1960s ... you will see a long list including changes to our laws, to our schools, preferential mortgages and school applications, medicaid, busing, pre-school and after-school programs, etc etc. And they are little better off. Your missive seems to suggest nothing has been done of substance. What are you missing?

[Slakeforest]

Another person that lumps everyone in the same category. Of course the officer that committed murder should be held accountable. The last I hear is he has been arrested and charged with several crimes, including murder. He is being held and awaiting trial. What more should be done immediately, "defund police". What a crazy suggestion. So let me understand, all police are bad and we should get rid of all of them.......hmmmm.....great idea. So when there is a case of domestic violence, or a shooting, or vandalism, who should one call? Oh yeah,.....neighborhood watch.

[Guitarman1951]

I can't disagree with you. All the bad things, deaths, looting burning, that the protesters have done has erased any credibility they may have had otherwise. Trying to change our history by erasing it doesn't change the future especially if doing so only further alienates a substantial portion of the population. The truth is that these people really have no common sense suggestions. For instance, instead of seeing signs that say "Train Police Officers", they want the totally stupid suggestion to disband or de-fund the police leaving citizens to fend for themselves. These people are a waste of humanity with questionable IQ's.

[Tomptomp]

The riots are not about race bigotry. It is about money and power. They are an attempt to create a division in the classes. They are angry because they don’t have the pleasures of the middle class. They feel entitled to health care, higher education and rent controlled housing. Looting and burning has nothing to do with law enforcement’s mistreatment of minorities.
The liberal politicians, who need there vote, won’t criticize the rioters for fear of losing their next election. Conservatives are speaking out about the destruction in our cities to no avail. The liberal mayors and governors will regret their weak response and lack of leadership.

[dewilson58]

Good thread. Thanks for starting, thanks for all the posts.

[meridian5850]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I watch very little news these days because it's all negative and much is absurd. But the local Orlando news came on tonight after the golf tournament and stayed tuned for a short while. I see there are still demonstrations going on in Orlando and I assume other cities as well. What I couldn't figure out is what these people want? There were a lot of Black Lives Matter signs and some saying No Justice, No Peace.
I agree. Black lives matter. Now what. But the ones that really confuse me are the ones calling for justice. The cop that killed the guy in Minneapolis along with several of his fellow officers are in jail awaiting trial. What else would they like to see happen in that case.
The have arrested the perpetrator, charged him with a crime and will be
bringing him the trial. That is justice.
All of these calls for defunding police departments is nonsense. Politicians that who are agreeing with it are simply pandering for votes. It will never happen.
So I'm asking, what has to happen to get these people to stop these demonstrations?

Their "justice" is a guilty verdict and nothing less.

[Bay Kid]

Teach your children that if you have respect you get respect.

[Kathi71]

Obviously you don't like what is going on. So, what are YOU going to do about it? I always think that if one is going to complain that one should be willing to do some work to fix what one thinks is wrong. Good luck with the path you choose to fix things.

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I will retract any of this if just one person can show me just one solid and useable suggestion or idea that has been brought forward from our social leaders, the churches, law enforcements, political leaders, community activists, etc.etc. What
we have seen are meaningless slogans, labels, pontifications, etc etc. Does this sound familiar, "we need reform, we need to defund police, we need to take action, we need to recognize the errors of the past, and so many etc.'s it's not worth writing them down. There is a reason for this. It is too complicated a problem and so broad, the screamers for change, actions, etc are just not smart enough to try to provide concrete plans. All they know is how to generate riots, discontent, protests etc and pretend to help control them with "LABELS". Where do you start with the complications that brought theses terrible problem(s) to our door. This is not a one
plan or solution fits all. A detailed plan has to be brought forwards that addresses
the years of neglect of the plight of the black person, the years of raising children with the psychology that they are entitled, the build up of crime in the housing projects because of the failure to have a solid 2 parent family, the schooling system
both k-12 and College and Universities who have neglected to participate in the
need to assist to correct past abuses, a long range plan that can be applied to ensure
the action plans continue to be promoted. These are just a smattering of the need
for detail plans to disrupt the on going black issues. It is a disgrace that we have not
seen a single detailed plan to go after the many issues to solve the complicated needs of this community of people. I am personally sick of the label's and want to see the details behind the meaningless labels.

Actually, Governor Cuomo has come up with a very detailed plan and requiring every mayor to have implemented it by April of next year or they will not receive state financial aid. The plan includes most of the things we have just been talking about. There is no chance, however, that our Florida governor will follow suit🙁

[meridian5850]

...

[meridian5850]

Originally Posted by mydavid

Another white person pointing out how everyone should be.

Fixed that for you.

[meridian5850]

Originally Posted by transplanted

There isn't a real plan. Personally, I believe that there will be no progress until both sides of the issue come to the table with concrete proposals of what each will give as well as take. I don't believe you can legislate this, nor force a one-sided solution down anyone's throat. I think the current over-the-top acquiescence by politicians in and out of Congress is only to save their jobs in this election year, and to ingratiate the population they are heavily courting. Celebrities busy trying to portray their superior moral authority with their nonsense yapping about what they are gonna do (nothing, but donate money that they need to write off as charity for taxes anyway) may fool some because a 'name' is attached to their cause... see if it puts food on your plate. I believe we missed out on a big opportunity to have the races more fully integrate at the childhood level in schools, 50 years ago, when you-know-who joined with the segregationists in supporting stopping busing for that purpose. Those who went through that experience have fared much better in jobs and even health, than their counterparts who didn't get that opportunity to get to know others in everyday interactions and get a more solid education. So - bottom line, I think the current method of trying to solve this is only creating even more hate and discontent where it was and creating it where it wasn't. I for one am very angry that I can't buy a copy of the Oscar winning movie Gone With the Wind on Amazon, but I can buy a DVD called All Cops are Bastards. (just a very small example that I thought I could give without getting into anything heavy). No offense intended to anyone, we all have our own opinions and though we may not agree - it's okay, I still enjoy living here and have very much enjoyed being away (for the most part) from the overwhelming political nonsense I lived in, in DC. It's much less stressful here!

Bussing was an unmitigated disaster and went away for exactly that reason.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I will retract any of this if just one person can show me just one solid and useable suggestion or idea that has been brought forward from our social leaders, the churches, law enforcements, political leaders, community activists, etc.etc. What
we have seen are meaningless slogans, labels, pontifications, etc etc. Does this sound familiar, "we need reform, we need to defund police, we need to take action, we need to recognize the errors of the past, and so many etc.'s it's not worth writing them down. There is a reason for this. It is too complicated a problem and so broad, the screamers for change, actions, etc are just not smart enough to try to provide concrete plans. All they know is how to generate riots, discontent, protests etc and pretend to help control them with "LABELS". Where do you start with the complications that brought theses terrible problem(s) to our door. This is not a one
plan or solution fits all. A detailed plan has to be brought forwards that addresses
the years of neglect of the plight of the black person, the years of raising children with the psychology that they are entitled, the build up of crime in the housing projects because of the failure to have a solid 2 parent family, the schooling system
both k-12 and College and Universities who have neglected to participate in the
need to assist to correct past abuses, a long range plan that can be applied to ensure
the action plans continue to be promoted. These are just a smattering of the need
for detail plans to disrupt the on going black issues. It is a disgrace that we have not
seen a single detailed plan to go after the many issues to solve the complicated needs of this community of people. I am personally sick of the label's and want to see the details behind the meaningless labels.

No need to retract but I think you are missing something. Remember in the 1960’s the great society society was created and the war on poverty was declared. Twenty eight trillion dollars latter what we created Is a group of
depleted people, obstructed their purpose, and extinguished any hope of them reaching their true potential. The problem is, and the ones making up all these slogans, and we all know who they are, are those that continue to support these failed policies. They have no other choice because because to admit these programs have been a colossal failure they would have to admit they have been wrong for more than half a century. Of all people even Malcom X warned against these programs saying they would create a next generation of people totally dependent and essentially owned by the government. The first step in correcting this is to admit the failures of the past 60 years. Where we go from there I have no idea.