Of course you are correct. Does not apply on this forum, where you are not even here if you do not post.

Best question is how much is posted for reasons other than what is in the heart.

ColdNoMore Im proud to be a old white person and refuse to be placed in a category that paints me as racist or anti black just because Im an old white man. Just quit that self righteous BS forum that tries to imply that your above all others. We all have empathy for what happened but I refuse to take personal blame for any of it. And no Im not the problem...at all

Agreed
Steve

No, sorry for not being clear. I'm saying protesters are protesting and a bad element are taking advantage of the situation. Hence the looters. All I'm saying is it's seems their are considered one and the same.

Unacceptable and shameful
 

I can understand peaceful protesting. My question is what could possibly be the benefit of destroying your own community?? How does this possibly honor or get justice for Mr. Floyd??? This is ridiculous unacceptable behavior and in my opinion, authorities need to take much more severe action towards these rioters. Otherwise, it's only going to get worse.

OK fair enough.

And let me state for the record, that I DO NOT condone violence from anyone, toward anyone, nor the destruction of property in protesting.

I believe that the "root cause" is because of the feeling of those quietly sitting on the sidelines that think "as long as I haven't been treated/discriminated against all of my life and it doesn't happen to me, I'm OK with that."

I'm saying that the silence by decent whites and their non-action and unwillingness to be attacked by other whites, like I am in this thread and every time I point out the disparities/discrimination...IS the root cause.

What are YOU trying to say is the root cause?



The reason "we" do this is because we haven't lived a life where we are viewed as suspect, in almost every situation, simply because of the color of our skin.

Since we will never know what that might feel like, it's impossible to say...what % would eventually reach their limit and act like 'some' of the protestors are doing.

Keeping in mind that the vast majority of protestors, are NOT the ones looting and fomenting violence.

MLK was a strong proponent of peaceful demonstrations and yet even that was too much for all too many white people...who felt blacks didn't deserve equality.

So one killed him for it.

The great irony is that this nation was birthed from a feeling of being discriminated against, the Colonialists felt like their backs were against the wall, were never getting a break from the British and basically felt that they were cornered rats...with nothing to lose.

Then once we gained our freedom, THROUGH VIOLENCE, we built this country's foundation on the backs of free labor...re: black slaves.

And yet we celebrate that. :ohdear:






LOL, I'm actually far from "extreme liberal."

The fact that someone willing to try and point out racism and racists, is automatically called an "extreme liberal"...says a lot.

Does that make everyone who totes around their assault rifles, waving the confederate flag and trying to intimidate others...is an "extreme conservative?"

You've mentioned "root cause" a few times, but have failed to say what YOU think that is.

What do you think the root cause is...and how would you approach fixing it?

I believe the majority of posts in this thread, of which there has been no recognition/understanding of how a person might feel if they had simply been born with dark skin...IS a root cause.

..we were so sad and angered by the death of Mr. Floyd allegedly killed by the MN policeman.

<now>

..we are so sad and angered by the rage and destruction by these mobs nationwide TAKING ADVANTAGE of this crisis. As many of you had noted what does these actions solve? What is gained? Is it truly in honor of Mr. Floyd? Will it absolutely eliminate something as this -by rogues cop(s) that may occur again in the next decade. Probably not - the mobs will find reason for more destruction and looting. Where are the Afr Am leaders? Can't they attempt to defuse this before it expands to more American cities.

Now> we are appalled about TWO matters. sad for OUR country.

Carrying the burden of the world surely is not an easy task , yet they persist, and do it purely for self servance.
Some talk, some act. Some see who talk, some see who act. The quiet are the ones who purely act. No colored words needed.

Steve

A lot of people had a lot to say about "taking a knee"
 

I never condone violence and destruction of property, but when peaceful protest like the NFL players taking knees and white Americans just being horrified at such behavior, what is the next step? Rioting is a last ditch effort to be HEARD> who, here in The Villages, is listening?

Couldn't agree more. Well said!

The NFL "taking a knee" protests was misconstrued by many as a disrespect to the flag and the anthem when it was intended to draw attention to the differences in the treatment of the various segments of American society. Is the ignorance willful or just plain blind?

Pretty easy with a video tape . and a non violent crime to begin with.

No social distancing last night as protest that turned into riots across our country. An excuse to burn, loot and destroy.
The media is loving this.

Totally agree that cop is a real pos and deserves jail time!! On the other hand they are savages for destroying there own homes and towns!! This is a good excuse for rioting and absolutely disgusting!!!

Your post caught my attention. When we travel by car to and from New England we usually spend the first night in a hotel that’s less than 2 miles from that Panera. In the past we have bought our evening meal there, I would have never guessed that was the site of a shooting.

I agree ColdNoMore. I think people would stand up IF we knew where to stand and what to do!
This government is incapable of taking a lead. What do we do?

The officer whose knee was on the person who died’s neck was charged with “Third degree murder”. What IS third degree murder? Did the officer just fall asleep for the 8 minutes he was kneeling on him and just forgot to Listen to him say he couldn’t breathe? I thought I also hear him say, “He’s trying to kill me.” As well as, “I can’t breathe.”

China is smiling

It seems to me that we have two choices in this country when we think that there has been an injustice. We can work within the system to try to get justice served. We can wait to see if people will eventually come to trial and be found guilty or not guilty.

Or we can burn down and loot businesses that had nothing to do with the original crime.

I wonder if any of those businesses that have been attacked were owned by African Americans or other minorities.

Thank you. This is spot on. I'd be willing to bet that all the white people who thought that Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in peaceful protest was just unthinkable and unpatriotic, are suddenly silent when a police officer takes a knee on a suspect to the point of killing him. Hypocrites.

Many of these protesters are NOT locals....they come in for the sole purpose of creating destruction and mayhem. What a tragic state of affairs, either way.

Cops aren’t suppose to murder anybody. A forged check or fake $20 is not worthy of capital punishment.

To Winston OBogey and others too on this thread, there were businesses that were owned by black people. One for sure...a retired firefighter in fact, whose business he was just opening was destroyed. He was shown crying and asking "why!" It has been alluded to that the rioters (that's what they are) were brought in from other places to destroy. Isn't it strange that ALL ACROSS this country almost in syncrony the same thing is happening in other cities? It's not about the man that was killed. We don't yet know the particulars behind that death---it might have been a personal vendetta (it's been alluded to). I believe it's being used as an excuse for other deeds, which is exceedly sad and wrong. I don't rely on the "news"...as it's opinion now and not the "where, what, when, who and why" that it used to be. It saddens me that human beings feel they can take advantage and destroy things in this manner as well as steal. They're being driven by nefarious means. What if it were your friends or family that were affected? Many places (in the 100's) and no longer in "the hood" (so to speak) were burned and destroyed. It's our country that we all profess to love that's being destroyed. Let's pull together.

Me wife and I visited South America in February and saw first handed what happened when the criminals got involved in a peaceful protest about wages, retirement pay and increases in cost of living. The thugs destroyed the downtown areas of Valparaiso and Santiago. Stores and subways were burned and looted, all the beautiful monuments and buildings were spray painted. More than 35 were killed after the police finally got involved, The looters now set up blankets outside the closed stores and sell the merchandise they looted, Most of the stores are still closed 3 months later and all those people are without jobs. Just goes to show that the real reasons for the peaceful demonstrates were lost on a few thousand thugs who thrive on these opportunities to steal, loot and destroy property. A week or so after the original violent demonstrations in October or November, there was another demonstration in downtown Santiago with an estimated one million people. The thugs were not there and not one incident of violence was reported. Because of a few bad cops in the US, the rest of the force will have their hands tied, and the thugs will get away with the crimes. We are in deep dodo, but this is not new. Sorry for the people who are genuinely concerned about what happened in MN.

Who is silent? I hear a lot of white people condemning this act.

I just heard a commentator on television say that we need peace, but we also need justice. I hope that we can get justice for all of these business owners that had nothing to do with the actions of this police officer as well.

Protesting, destruction, and looting is occurring in many places around the country. What difference does it make whether they are local or not?

Our generation can't be holier than thou. Look at all the riots and looting in the 60s, they were almost common place. Unfortunately this is nothing new.

They were talking about the Rev. Al Sharpton.

I believe it starts with nationally recognized, good-hearted & decent white leaders/public figures (including those on the right)...speaking up instead of staying silent.

Such as people like Carson Wentz, Steve Kerr and others.

Wentz speaks out against institutionalized racism. (click here)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carson Wentz “Been thinking about the George Floyd situation and thinking of the words to say [and] coming up empty,” Wentz said. “All I know is that the institutional racism in this country breaks my heart and needs to stop. Can’t even fathom what the black community has to endure on a daily basis. “Being from North Dakota, I’ve spent a large part of my life surrounded by people of similar color, so I’m never gonna act like I know what the black community goes through or even has gone through already. I’ll never know the feeling of having to worry about my kids going outside because of their skin color. However, I do know that we are all equal at the foot of the cross and Jesus taught us to value others’ lives like they were our own — regardless of skin tone.

The reason I have my doubts this will happen in any numbers (especially by those on the right), is because they realize a significant percentage of those who vote/support them are just fine with the current institutional/systemic deck stacked against those who aren't white...and their support would suffer if they spoke up.

It will take good people having the courage to step forward, in a non-violent way...to even start any changes.

I would also suggest looking nearby and you will find a desperate need for volunteers in predominately black churches/communities, that are grateful for any help...but especially by those of us who are white and live in TV.

Not only have I been openly accepted and appreciated, but this has been some of the most rewarding and satisfying actions of my life and I recommend everyone do at least something...even if it's just a clothes or monetary donation.

Sadly however, one only has to look at the usual suspects right here on TOTV...to see those who are fine with the status quo. :ohdear:

You are absolutely correct. :ohdear:

It would be interesting to arrest the looters and see where they came from and how they came to be in the city they are looting.

Keep hearing that many are paid to come and protest and while they are there lets get some free stuff.

It is a horrible tragedy that the man was apparently murdered by the cop but too destroy property including businesses owned by blacks is just plain wrong and wish police would do their jobs and put a stop to the destruction.

The problem in Minneapolis seems to be with the training and monitoring of their police forces.

Many police leaders interviewed on CNN and on the Orlando news channels have also made this observation.

I did investigate an alleged beating of one of my clients when I was a Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoner's student back around 1987-1988 but the person I represented could not give a correct date and, of course, the police were quite uncooperative about handing over any records. They wanted a date and time and my client could not recall when he was allegedly beaten.

He dropped the whole matter. I did get the feeling he had been attacked by a guard.

One bad actor can cause a lot of damage and if you have a culture in which bad actions are encouraged then that could lead to even wider problems.

Checks-and-balances are critical.

The first thing we need to do is stop calling the people involved in this protesters. Start calling them what they are, looters and rioters. Setting fire to innocent business owners, setting police cars on fire, burning the American Flag, etc is not a protest. Martin Luther King must be rolling in his grave. He accomplished more with peace these these morons ever will. The news said this morning that the new planned riots will take place in “upscale white neighborhoods”. Can you imagine what would happen if all this energy was used to do good. What I don’t understand is why isn’t Mr Floyd’s family coming out and asking for peace and for this to stop. I wouldn’t want one of my loved ones memory attached to such destruction. The whole situation is awful. A few bad police put a bad mark on all the police who risk their lives everyday. On the other hand, no one should die after being arrested and in handcuffs. All I know is, what’s going on is not the answer. Innocent business owners (black and white) had nothing to do with this. When this is over and your neighborhood doesn’t have any stores to shop in, blame yourselves.

No it's not.

I just watched a video of a CNN reporter reporting on the "protests" in Minneapolis. He said on live TV that the riots in MN were "entirely peaceful" and a "merry caravan" and then someone threw a bottle directly at him. I guess his idea of "peaceful"and "merry" are a lot different from mine. That's why I mostly avoid watching CNN. You can't make this stuff up.

The riots are what the media have you thinking that what they present is a general condition. When it is not.

Their view of any situation is looking through a straw. When looking at the side of an elephant through their straw they would report the world has turned completely gray!!!

If the cameras focused on the guy with a torch in his hand looked one block away.....people would be going about their business.

If the reporting organization has alphabet letters in it's name it has an agenda....to maintain.

Why do these instances of police brutality and subsequent riots, looting, arson etc always seem to happen in places controlled by a particular party?

‪In my opinion, a root cause of the problems in this Country is that everyone seems to separate Americans into "Communities" according to their skin color, morals or religious and political beliefs. Everyone who does is and promotes the real racism, bigotry and strife in this Country. As long as there is a "Black Community" racism will exist, which will be as far into the future as I can imagine. As long as there is a Gay Community, Jewish Community, Muslim Community or any divided group identifying as a “Community” setting themselves apart, there will be a natural and continuous bias from within and outside their Community. ‬

‪Unconditional love and acceptance is Devine but we are all human. As long as there are humans, as long as there is a we, there will be Communities and there will be racism, bigotry and strife. The fewer “Communities” the less problems of these types we’ll have. The way to that end is to expand our smaller communities into a larger one, giving up the identities that separate us. ‬

‪We live in a very large Community . . . . America. When our main identity is being an American the lesser attributes of skin color, religious beliefs or personal preference will matter less and not separate us as Americans.