Charlottesville protest

I can't imagine feeling strongly enough, on either side, to waste a weekend fighting over it, much less dying over it.  I suppose it could get there for me, but for now it just looks like a bunch of goofs with nothing better to do.

Fishing was good this morning.

Just watched the video of the car plowing into a group of protesters, or I guess counter-protesters in this case.  Honestly, having been on some of these protest details firsthand, it was only a matter of time before some azzhole plowed into a group protesting in the street. (there are cars on roadways folks, and some real lunatics driving some of them, you can't win that battle.....find a park to protest in)  I'm surprised it took this long considering the population of nut jobs we live with these days and how high the emotions have reached.  I hope whoever did that spends the rest of his days in prison away from the rest of us.

I get your point Rogillio.  I follow the twitter accounts of some national level protesters (BLM, etc) and, when the pictures and videos of the white nationalists marching through the campus came out Friday night, there was a call for people to head to Charlottesville to "put a stop to the white supremacist march".  Of course, once that happens you have the right mixture for violence.  The same way you have white supremacist groups head to BLM protests to "stop them".  It's the same mixture, and it usually ends poorly.  Neither side is without blame if you want to use the 1st amendment as a measure....and of course we should. Go have your own protest, but leave others alone in their protests.  How hard is that?

Still, to be clear......the criminal act of driving a car into a crowd is another matter altogether.  Hang that guy, or throw him in a hog pen to be eaten.....I don't care.

rogillio, you're a massive hypocrite

I'm proud of a lot of things.  I'm a proud father, husband, friend, police officer, homeowner, dog owner.....hell, the list is endless.  But I don't feel a sense of pride just because I'm white.....that's silliness.  I didn't have anything to do with that.  I don't know what kind of "privilege" being white affords me because I have never lived in the skin color of another person.  When people of color say they have to work harder in order to achieve the same things I've been able to achieve in life I tend to take them at their word.  I didn't have anything to do with that either, but I believe them.  I have no idea what the answer is for this latest round of race problems......but I believe it starts with education, on every side. 

If I were King I'd rebuild schools in poor neighborhoods, and not in some half-assed way......I'd make them gems.......we have let them turn to chit, or in many cases, become non-existent....the neighborhoods are a reflection of that.  If you want to talk about pride, let's talk about what happens when there is a complete lack of anything to be proud of, and care for, and nourish......that's what you're seeing IMO. 

Hope that applies to all and not just Whites...  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism

Thought I'd share this picture on this thread.  My respect for black Police Officers is massive the last 3 years.  I have had to send them to BlackLivesMatter protests where they are subjected to the most vile hatred any of us could imagine from black protesters.  And then on the other end, they stand and protect these azzholes.  I don't know how they do it, getting it from both sides, but I'm proud to stand with them. The overwhelming majority of us could not put up with the crap they deal with......and they're out there every day, coming back for more, just doing the job with strength and dignity.  I am humbled by them.  Black, white, brown, whatever.....they are the best of us, truly. 

(policeofficer.jpg)

Hasn't worked, and won't work until the residents of the neighborhood take ownership of what they have.  Until then, that "gem" just becomes a target of destruction.  Holds for both the physical assets as well as the time/emotional investment of education.  

It's not been tried.....at least not here in St. Louis, but I did get to witness the utter destruction of black neighborhoods when busing was forced upon them and their schools were allowed to deteriorate.  Those schools were part of the Public High League here, the most feared HS league in the state.  Those teams, and schools, were an absolute source of pride for those neighborhoods and was the glue that held them together.  When the students of those schools, and the athletes, were bused out to the suburban (and wealthier) schools, it spelled the end.

I don't know how it is where you are (I can't imagine it's different anywhere), but here, property values track right along with the best school districts.  And again, that's only one benefit........these neighborhoods and the residents (read children) that live there need a reset.....and chance to build pride in their community.  Certainly there are other components......grocery stores, jobs, etc....but it starts with good schools and good education.

NO....it has NOT been tried here, and I doubt it's been tried, to much degree, anywhere.  The cost is prohibitive and would require that money currently used to fund many "entitlement" programs be moved toward this endeavor. 

I worked these neighborhoods.....the people there WILL take ownership of something they can be proud of.....because they don't have anything else.

Yep, and it's time to do it better.  I agree that it may take a couple of generations.....but we are headed down a rat hole without it.  There are PLENTY of role models, but right now there is no reason to return to a neighborhood that is a war zone.  I won't  be told that hundreds of people have not lifted themselves from these impoverished neighborhoods....because I can name dozens just from the area I have worked.  You have to make a reason for them to come back and invest in their community.....because it's a forking scary damn place and they worked their arses off against all odds just to get the hell out.!  A great school.....a center for education and pride is a good reason.