Rioting: Explain It To Me

I'm relatively intelligent, or so I'd like to think.  I also know that I can be, perhaps am, extremely naive.  So I'm asking anyone/everyone to explain rioting to me because I quite clearly do not get it.

I get community anger.  I'm not part of the community that was part of the riot, but I understand the anger.  I don't understand racism.  I understand what it is and what it means, but I don't "get it."  It was my scientific understanding that while we may all look and act different; we're basically made up of the same stuff.   I'm not getting technical here because while I may be smart, I'm not THAT smart.  But my nutshell view is I'm human; you're human and that's that.

Again, I get the anger.  Things are happening in our country that shouldn't be.  I AM naive.  I thought for the most part we'd gotten over all of this.  That we acknowledged that while we may look and act different, we are ALL human beings and we should ALL value/respect each other.  (I know I'm oversimplifying here.)  I get the anger.  Sometimes we all want to smash something; just to get that anger and frustration out.  We want to scream and yell.  We want to pound something.  When it comes to anger, we never really outgrow that temper tantrum phase.

I'm not saying doing get angry.  And I'm not saying that you shouldn't let that anger out.  I am saying you should let it out in a way that is NOT detrimental to the rest of the community.  One of the last times I was angry and frustrated, I took it all out on my front bushes that were overgrown and needed to be trimmed.  I hacked and I sawed.  I overdid it.  I KNEW I was overdoing it, but I was mad and I just wanted to act on that.  For the most part I did it in a semi-productive way.  (Maybe the bushes in front of the house would have something else to say on that front.  With the winter we had they are not looking that good either, but that's a whole other story.)

So get angry.  Let out that frustration, but do it in a way that doesn't harm anyone.  And when that anger and frustration has subsided somewhat, then go out and make your point in a way that is peaceful.  You want to attract attention?  There are plenty of ways to get your point across (even to the media) without destruction.  You will not only get your voice heard, but you will gain the respect of the community.  Again, you may call me naive, but it CAN be done.  It can be done lawfully and peacefully.  It can be done without causing others pain.  It can be done without causing pain to others who are already facing tremendous pain and loss.


Riots?  I just don't get it.  But maybe I'm missing something.  So if I have, let me know.  I'm willing to listen.  But I'm not willing to join the riot.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more