Posted on 09/21/2014 1:05:11 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Rather than waiting until specifics about the Michael Brown case are known — such as autopsy results, detailed officer reports, toxicology or other details regarding his death — some Ferguson residents, Brown supporters and various hangers-on decided to act.
Learning nothing from the Trayvon Martin case, people took to the street with demands for “justice” and homemade protest signs. They were aided by a media seemingly excited about exploiting the narrative that Brown’s death was at the hands of a brutal and possibly racist cop in a militarized police force that cares little about black residents.
Ensuing nights after the shooting brought out the worst in people — including looting and burning businesses, vandalizing property and the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson seeking to “organize” the masses.
Regardless of one’s feelings about the Brown case, there’s a need for honest reflection about the behavior of people assembling in Ferguson, Missouri.
The self-destructive and self-defeating behavior on display in Ferguson was inexcusable. It’s a disservice to residents because it takes a sympathetic, accommodating view of the anti-social, regressive behaviors present during the riots, most of which were, unfortunately, committed by blacks.
Sympathizing with looting, vandalizing, personal violence and confrontation with law enforcement essentially excuses it, which emboldens perpetrators. Furthermore, this bad behavior is at the expense of law-abiding local residents whose lives were disrupted by this turmoil — the majority of whom are black.
Aside from being disgraceful, this dysfunction has severe economic consequences for the residents of Ferguson. While vandals reveled in self-created chaos, they made the case that opening businesses there may not be worth the risk.
All this stems from moral decay. There is a noticeable absence of moral values and ethical virtues in the nation as a whole these days, but it seems more concentrated in the inner cities, which are disproportionately populated by blacks. Churches have flunked their mission. The optics are devastating as the stigma associated with these incidents of violence and unrest are projected onto blacks as a whole, unfairly defining an entire race by the misdeeds of a relative few.
Whether the disruptive behaviors witnessed in Ferguson are from locals or self-seeking opportunists from other areas is really of no consequence. Regardless of race, class or residency, people shouldn’t hesitate to condemn bad behavior. But it seems too many whites won’t publicly condemn this condemnable behavior, even though they may earnestly desire to do so. Whites appear culturally conditioned these days to withhold honest commentary and astute observations on race, particularly about blacks. Common sense has been labeled “racist” by the racial grievance industry.
Compounding the problem is that the stigmas of these disgraceful activities and inverted morality behind them are projected onto blacks as a whole and are extremely difficult to overcome. To use a sports metaphor, blacks swallowed their whistle. We’ve forfeited our obligation of self-policing and society seems far too hesitant to publicly confront the conduct undermining the reputation of a race. This stunts our socio-economic progress.
A “soft bigotry of low expectations” is created when we refuse to denounce disruptive behaviors within our own community.
We too often excuse and remove the stigma of detrimental behavior, minimizing the shame that once accompanied dysfunctional, destructive activity. Counterproductive behavior is justified as the legacy of slavery and discrimination. We act as if we are a standard unto ourselves, separate and unaccountable from what society should expect — and actually demands — from other races.
Excusing inexcusable behavior has sullied our reputation and proved to many that we’ve spent our currency as a moral, cultural and political force. The bar is set so low that many aren’t shocked by what happened in Ferguson (or in Chicago, Detroit or other places).
And on the occasions bad behavior is called out, the predictable and reflexive reaction is that such critique is racist. Once again, the behaviors of a disproportionate few define blacks as a whole. The radicals perpetuate the very stereotypes that make them cringe.
Blacks aren’t done any favors when behaviors we’ve seen in Ferguson are excused by white enablers or black defenders. Racial solidarity and racial empathy unfortunately seem less important to these people than dealing with the tribulation of overcoming the stigma associated with undistinguished behavior.
Blacks have a moral obligation to reclaim values and dignity worthy of respect and admiration. It is likewise incumbent upon blacks, particularly the black middle class, to forthrightly and aggressively condemn attitudes and behaviors that thwart our progress and impugn our collective character.
This begins with condemnation of these stigma-creating behaviors.
Excellent.
Those weirdo names aren't African, and if the parents who give them think they are, then they are very, very stupid.
It's worse than that. The kneejerk reaction of the black community is to rush to the defense of whoever committed the crime, particularly if the crime is black on white or black vs. law enforcement.
Impressive...
Then nothing will change because they’re not going to accept blame. We shanghaied their great-great-great-great grandfather and we owe them, in perpetuity.
Frankly, I wish they would have used that one more time, as in the Brown case. But no such luck.
I know where you are coming from.
GuvCo does evil as easily as it does anything else.
I think there’s some truth to that. I also think blacks have been enabled to the point they think they can do no wrong, because they are owed. That plays into your premise too.
Thanks for the comments.
Those weirdo names aren’t African...
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Where DO they get those names from? Is there a book they use to pick baby names?
I agree. It does. The black leaders have not only failed their people, but they have given them absolution for anything they want to do.
And we wonder why kids are growing up with terrible values.
I really wish black leaders would take on rap. It’s so denigrating to the culture and women in particular.
Thank you.
Wouldn’t that be something if James O’Keefe was able to bust that operation wide open, ala ACORN.
Carry_Okie, I believe that is a decent question. I’m sure that plays into it. I don’t see people coming on line and making their views known in the name of blacks though.
Look at major crimes. Whites are out there trashing other whites en mass when they screw up.
It’s just a fact that blacks are not seen by blacks as screwing up in a major way. The community rallied behind O. J. all the way.
I just mentioned the O. J. Simpson case in the same manner. Exactly!
Your report on the jury pool doesn’t surprise me either. I don’t know how they get juries any longer. I served on one about two years ago and it was such a frustrating experience I hope I never get called again.
I agree. And the anti-law enforcement crew may also join in with some awful comments before the truth is known.
I was curious so I searched and found that they WEREN’T African names but derived from the Muslim (Islam) faith.
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In the 1970s and 1980s, names beginning with La- such as Lashonda and Lashay were most popular. In the 1990s, Sha- names such as Shameka, Shanae, and Shaniqua were fashionable. In 2004, names starting with Ja- or ending in -iyah such as Jakayla, Jamya, Janiyah, and Taniyah were in vogue. But the point of this custom for most parents is to create a unique name for their child, and many are successful. Even in states as large as Pennsylvania, each year the average African-American girl receives a name that no other African-American girl born in that state is given. It was not possible to include many of these unique names, such as Azanae, Kyaire, and Zaterria, but they are now the most typical kind of names for African-American girls. Names for boys that have been created similarly include DeJuan, Deonte, Jamarion, Ladarius, and Quantavious.
Obama had a unique opportunity to advocate to change these self destructive behaviors
Yes. He did. He has, if anything, done the opposite by his results.
His degrade and destroy strategy apparently applies to ISIS and to the US.
You won't get any argument from me about that. I think it a matter of degree.
It’s just a fact that blacks are not seen by blacks as screwing up in a major way.
It is seen instead as justified. I happen to know parents of mixed race kids living in areas that would otherwise be seen as "white." They report harassment by police fearing infiltration of the neighborhood as a regular experience. When seeking exculpation, such examples (however few) are all they need. In that one respect I think it better to have black cops in a majority black city simply to remove the excuse. It should not be necessary, but it probably is.
The first mistake made by many Conservatives is to "try to judge a group of people" who probably differ profoundly among themselves. According to Black activist, ex-con and current Cleveland radio talk show host Mansfield Frazier, "two thirds of Black people are doing just fine," their kids are achieving in school and succeeding in business, and staying out of trouble.
They may or may not wish to expose themselves to public attention by speaking out about Ferguson, or anything else. And why should they have to? They don't owe anything to the dysfunctional black welfare underclass. They worked hard and risked a lot to get away from the Michael Browns of the world.
Most of them likely just want to enjoy what Justice Benjamin Cardozo called the fundamental American right: The right to be let alone.
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