Thugs - that is Fox News (and friends) wording for young black people who they don't trust and who cannot be rehabilitated. Thugs has all the connotations of the N-word, without getting the sayer fired. But, have no doubt, it means the say thing."Thugs" are rioting in Baltimore. Fox News asks where the thugs parents are? Commentators on the web site say - well awful things like anonymous commentators everywhere.
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The premise, you don't even have to state it, is that "thugs" cannot be reasoned with. "Thugs" don't care about anything but themselves. "Thugs" can only be answered with a stick, or a gun, or tear gas. "thugs" only listen to threats.
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"Why weren't they non-violent?"
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I would like to answer that. Because, non-violence didn't get them shit.
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It has been 16 days since Freddie Gray died. 16 days since the Baltimore Police chased down, beat, locked up, threw in a back of a Police Van a young man - accused of nothing. Where he emerged 2 hours later in a coma and then died.
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Requests of information haven't been answered. Non-violent protests were ignored (our news casters very busy with the Washington DC Correspondents dinner). I am not saying it should b broadcast 24/7. I am not saying the Correspondents dinner wasn't funny as hell. But non-violent protests achieved nothing.
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For non-violence to work, it has to A) bring a situation to light that people don't know and B) prompt people to agitate for change. It didn't work because "people" (in this case America elected-officials with power) DO already now that inner city black life is not considered important. They aren't going to change it.
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Two weeks of non-violent protest couldn't even get an answer as to "what" happened, much less "why"?
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How long can you simple stone-wall ANY and ALL information when killing black young men, before a city explodes? Answer, 15 days in Baltimore.
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Yes, these people should not have rioted. But don't forget. Had a healthy young man not been killed in police custody with no explanation this wouldn't be happening.