virgin-burner 1 #26 December 11, 2008 i love you! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #27 December 11, 2008 I agree that there was a perception of injustice. And I would go further - there was an injustice! People were angry. And the police weren't there (had they been there would have been more police brutality but Gates wanted no part of that). My point is that these riots were started and largely conducted by people looking for a reason. If you were a few miles north you can probably remember groups of people going in to participate in the riots and looting. People going IN. You brought up the Denny beating. After Football threw the brick through Denny's head, he was pretty excited. He cheered. Not really a protest. Riots are thuggery. Shooting firefighters? My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerdgirl 0 #28 December 11, 2008 “Are insurgents thugs?” You seem to be creating a question that’s not a question or is almost tautological – riots implicitly are acts against a perceived power and outside a government system, e.g., Haymarket Massacre of Chicago. Frequently against representatives of the state, whether police or firefighters. There were lots of different players. Yes, folks came from outside/north of the 10. I actually didn’t observe any directly (I was there; I wasn’t running around on the streets… there’s sometimes a fine line between intestinal fortitude & stupid, that one I recognized ) but suspect we saw the same footage of white folks in areas white folks didn’t usually go. Hispanics in areas that typically one didn’t see Hispanics, etc. Asians in areas that one didn’t typically see Asians, etc. All carrying tv’s, etc out of vandalized businesses. Those folks were opportunistic criminals. The violence erupted from rage at perceived long-standing injustice. Whether correctly perceived or not. Some (minority) took advantage of that for personal gain. More folks were harmed in the long run due to closing of business and damages. I suspect you remember also that once the rioting started moving northwest to Wilshire Blvd, it was squelched - quickly. What sort of breakdown has to occur in order to get to the point at which riots erupt, whether in LA or Athens? With the Greek riots, the component that piqued my attention was the possibility of Greek domestic politics impacting international affairs and US defense policy. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #29 December 11, 2008 Quote Quote Quote Quote Quote Overkill certainly if that is indeed what happened. Of course, that story line came out after the riots started, no? Revisionist history, perhaps to place blame and try to quell the masses? hmmm... why would you throw stones at people that have guns? there is a chance they might shoot you, ya know... I guess VB thinks they were supposed to shoot the stone out of his hand. the riots started the same day. and strike AFTER, or during the riots. i was taught to shoot an attacker into his extremeties, i.e. arms, but preferably the legs. your comment is very ignorant. and usually a gun is the last line of defense, there are peppersprays, clubs and i dont know what not before you pull your gun.. Nice - insult aside, the cops are supposed to be able to reliably hit extremities now? Do they have special, non-overpenetrating ammunition for that, too? Have you actually DONE that in the heat of the moment? Sorry, dude, I am NOT going to employ less-lethal means against someone employing lethal force against me. I am going to shoot at the largest target (their torso) and keep shooting until they STOP what they're doing. What if the individual was armed with a wallet? Is that worth 42 shots? Are you familiar with the concept of a 'furtive move'? To wit - if the police have you at gunpoint and you suddenly reach toward the back of your pants (favorite locations of both wallets AND handguns), you just MIGHT find yourself with a few extra holes that aren't OEM. Besides - we ARE talking about the NYPD - they probably thought it was one of those extra-lethal assault wallets.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #30 December 11, 2008 Quote Besides - we ARE talking about the NYPD - they probably thought it was one of those extra-lethal assault wallets. I've been looking for one of those in case I need to go shopping at Wal-Mart on Black Friday.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #31 December 11, 2008 Quote Quote Besides - we ARE talking about the NYPD - they probably thought it was one of those extra-lethal assault wallets. I've been looking for one of those in case I need to go shopping at Wal-Mart on Black Friday. You're a glutton for punishment, aren't you?? I don't need ANYTHING bad enough to go into that sort of madhouse on that day.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerdgirl 0 #32 December 19, 2008 Thirteen days on and the riots are still continuing. VOA Greek Protesters, Police Clash for 13th Day Times of India More protests likely in Greece today CNN Greek protests after shooting of second teen UK’s The Times New wave of riots expected as 100,000 face sack in Greece UK’s International Herald Tribune Violent protests flare again in central Athens A couple interesting analyses, altho’ much too short but provocative: The Athens Riots: Fallout from the Financial Crisis? “Indeed, in the weeks before the violence began, many Greeks had expressed outrage at the government's $35 billion in aid to the nation's lenders at a time when one out of five citizens lives below the poverty line. And so, nearly a week after they began, the Greek riots offer the first tangible sign since the West's financial meltdown of the potential social unrest percolating just below the surface.” Why Greece Is Wracked By Riots “The most aggressive rioters are believed to be anarchists, who trace their roots back to the resistance movement which took on Greece's military Junta between 1967 and 1974. Though democracy was restored to Greece in 1974, that earlier generation has continued to hold a fascination amongst the far-left fringe. Exarchia [the community/area where the first 15-yo was shot almost 2 weeks ago-nerdgirl] is close to the Polytechnic School of Athens, whose gates were crushed by the military to break up a student uprising in Nov. 1973. “The riots come as Greece's center-right government is struggling to cope with a plague of scandals and an economic slowdown that threaten its slim one-seat majority in Parliament. ‘For the past five years, Greek citizens have realized that they live in an insecure environment, both socially and financially,’ said center-left opposition leader George Papandreou. ‘We must address responsibly the deeper causes of these phenomena.’ “Greece has experienced steady economic growth over the past seven years, but is now bracing for the fallout from the worldwide financial crisis. Many are angry that the government is giving $35 billion in aid to Greek banks at a time when one out of five citizens lives below the poverty line.” VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
