In ‘What We Should Have Learned’, an article in the April 27 City Journal, Heather Mac Donald commenting on the 20th Anniversary of the Rodney King riots writes that the ‘Police must put down violence immediately and without apology.’ Mac Donald pointed out that the media fueled the rioting by distorting the facts in the Rodney King beating just as it has fueled racial animosities and nationwide demonstrations by distorting the facts in the Trayvon Martin shooting.
Jeff ‘Paco’ Doyle covered Heather Mac Donald’s article on PACOVILLA Corrections blog and his comments generated some good responses. Here are Paco’s remarks and some of the responses:
It is, indeed, a taboo question–It is one many of us have been discussing nonetheless.
Whether it’s an unsatisfying verdict in the Zimmerman prosecution or a potential election loss for the incumbent President, the notion riots may result is palpable. Either scenario could be the catalyst to racially motivated unrest–Only a not guilty verdict announced on Wednesday morning following an Obama defeat could increase the potentiality of race riots.
Frankly, Paco is very pessimistic: Rioting is a virtual sport of its own these days–Whether it’s a sports championship celebration, disagreement with a jury’s verdict or an impromptu event triggered by a “flash mob” tweet, mob behavior has been gaining legitimacy. The perceived inevitability blacks will take to the streets when dissatisfied is also tempered with the liberal notion such rioting is somehow justified–Social inequity, it seems, makes it OK to vandalize, loot and attack one’s neighbors.
Heather McDonald is spot on in her assessment: “Police must put down violence immediately and without apology.” That is the bottom line.
Beyond that lies the question: is it bigotry to assume elements within the black population will act uncivilly under these circumstances? Or, is it simply an application of scientific methodology to infer decades of such behavior may be predictive of future rioting? Paco says the latter rings true.
Having said all that, I do believe a Zimmerman acquittal or an Obama defeat will manifest national unrest. In other words, all we need to avoid problems is a guaranteed guilty verdict and the re-election of a divisive and incompetent president to maintain the peace. Personally, I want Mr. Zimmerman to receive a fair trial as ostensibly guaranteed in the Constitution. I also want to oust Obama as I deem his presidency an unmitigated disaster.
In that context, here’s hoping my prediction is wrong.
Greg ‘The Gadfly’ Doyle:
There is something inherently wrong with the relationship between the conventional media and the black community in my humble estimation. There in lies the match to the kindling that erupts in rioting. The media decides what is newsworthy and swarms an area or incident with lopsided and jaded coverage or in hopes of catching the police in misconduct. I rarely see the press questioning those interviewed on the streets as to the blatant and often vitriolic statements uttered about alleged injustice. The media often seems hell bent on portraying our institutions and law enforcement organizations as overbearing and racist, so what would one expect in response from such a rearing of disenfranchised instigators in a riot?
There used to be such a thing as editorial restraint before the advent of the new viral media and bloggers, albeit limited. Rush to judgment is not a catchy phrase anymore, it is an ugly reality. If anyone is to blame for stirring up the ugly spectre of racial unrest it is our beloved media. It seems the only visible black community (targeted by the media) is the unwholesome, militant faction that claims leadership and spokesmanship for all blacks and rails against peaceful outcomes through the demands for street justice. Those regurgitated skeptical claims are rarely examined by the press and are presented as gospel truth instead. Such seemingly unexamined and persistent claims breed paranoia and contempt; that somehow the majority of White people are to blame for the dysfunctional social and problems of the black community.
Perception is reality where our press stirs the public pot of opinion, making a spectacle of breaking news, tainting our potential jury pools, and trying criminal suspects and public figures, often before arraignment. This is free speech at its worse, but it is far preferable than the government black out of reporting controlled by the communist Chinese or the tyrannical regimes in Syria and Iran. Is it too much to ask of our media to police its own conduct before forcing our police to do the clean-up work in the streets, spawned by its jaded press reporting?
Paco:
The fact “a significant element of the community WANTS any sort of half-assed excuse to justify violence” is precisely why I posit an Obama defeat would have said result. Moreover, recall prior to his election the notion blacks might riot was being floated from both sides of the political spectrum. Andy and Opie even did a spot implying failure to vote for Obama was indicative of prejudice.
As I said, I hope I am wrong. Beyond that, I am not convinced Obama will be defeated at this point. Time will tell.
king Wills:
Paco, I agree that there should be a very firm approach to dealing with civil disturbances, however, I would’nt hold my breath waiting to see it in this state. Political reality will prevent anything like that from happening. I’m no Obama fan either, I did’nt vote for him in 2008 and I won’t be voting for him in 2012, but he’ll win….we won’t be seeing any riots in the streets over that prospect.
Bob Walsh:
I believe it is a virtual certainty that a Zimmerman verdict that does not please the black community will result in violence. After all, members of congress have called Zimmerman a murderer on the floor of congress (where there statements are immune from legal action). The reason is simple, a significant element of the community WANTS any sort of half-assed excuse to justify violence. Some people just like it. Others like the political power violence, and the threat of further violence, brings.
I am unconvinced that an Obama defeat will have the same result, though I do not discount the possibility.
PC820Point5:
I find it very telling that both Walsh and Pacovilla go on and on about being respectful and professional, yet both refer to the President of our United States by his only last name. That is very telling, perhaps even a bit Freudian, about yourselves. The proper way is to ALWAYS refer to our President is by his proper title. Even former Presidents are referred to this way.
I will vote for President Obama in the next election, twice.
BarkGrowlBite:
Vote for him twice? You must be from Chicago or South Texas.
Bulldogger:
hey 830.5 when the left referred to Bush by only his last name were you just as outraged? Probably not because you are a hypocrite and now that your guy is in the white house the rules have changed.
kl2008a:
I will say it once, and try to make my point clear as I am certain of which I speak – regarding the Zimmerman case and the upcoming Presidential election, no matter what the verdict or election outcome is, there will be major rioting in the streets of this nation’s major cities. Not because of any justice or injustice, but because the events themselves are already being seen as a lead-in for any reason to justify that kind of behavior, individually and among groups. Take Zimerman’s case where you have leaders of the black community already condemning a man before he is given his day in court, some even going so far as to put a bounty on his head. Those same individuals, and those who think along those lines, have already poured, and are continuing to pour the gasoline knowing that there are people just waiting to throw out the lit match.
I also agree that quick action to quell any major riot is necessary to save lives. Take the LA riot. My only wish is that I was a door gunner, locked and loaded, hovering in the chopper over Florence and Normandie when the scumbag caved in Reginald Denny’s skull with a cinder block. That scumbag only did 2 years for that crime. 2 years! I hate to say it, but it’s going to happen again. 2 years for that crime was just an incentive to others to commit it again, and again.
Now for you who think calling the President only by his last name is a form of disrespect, then maybe you should take up your fight with the mainstream media which do so also. You are probably the same ones that refer to our Governor as Moonbeam or the ex-President as “Dubya”. I know, I know, I’ll probably end up like Paco and Bob, and get put on the “No Fly” list for our comments, and maybe we’ll have to buy a few different SIMS cards to try and avoid having our phones tapped. And we know that we now definitely need to be sure to have ALL our tax papers in order. While to some it is our right and civic duty to speak against the perceived messiah (notice I didn’t capitalize the “M”), others will quickly jump at it as being a blatant form of disrespect to the President (and I only capitalize the “P” out of respect for the office). For doing so, I know we will surely get labeled as obstructionists, instigators, tea baggers, birthers, racists, and maybe even, God forbid, Republicans, but that is the nature of the beast.
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