Why aren't there more protests against violence?

[WarDamJagFan]

No matter what side you're on regarding the recent Ferguson fiasco, the crime statistics out of Chicago since Michael Brown was shot (and for the whole year) are simply depressing. Yet, there are no mass protests to be found anywhere. What exactly will it take for people to shift their anger from a single police officer to an entire community?

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-11-25/forget-ferguson-244-teenagers-have-been-shot-chicago-michael-brown-died

[TheCat]

One police officer? Is that what you think, that the protests, marches and riots are about one police officer?

Do you think that systemic government violence is the same as, I assume, gang violence?

The difference is one comes with approval, systemic (and public) approval, and the other comes with "well, this is obviously wrong".

How many people are going to argue that the violence in Chicago is justified or necessary? Or, that the people who were shot deserved it?

It's like making excuses for our failing child foster systems by pointing to dysfunctional families, and wondering why more people aren't outraged about the screwed-up family than the foster care system.

The foster care system is supposed to alleviate dysfunction, not add to it. The police are supposed to quell violence, not exemplify it.

It is heartbreaking and shocking what is happening in Chicago but I don't think you can draw the comparison you are attempting to draw.

Interesting article:

Utah police are the #2 cause of homicides in the state.

Over a five-year period, data show that fatal shootings by police officers in Utah ranked second only to homicides of intimate partners.

In the past five years, more Utahns have been killed by police than by gang members.Or drug dealers. Or from child abuse.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/1842489-155/killings-by-utah-police-outpacing-gang

[I-10east]

Two words: Selective outrage.

[WarDamJagFan]

Why thank you Stephen for once again spinning off into the deep end. One day, you'll figure out how to actually have a conversation without creating straw men (but.. Bush and Reagan!), baseless assumptions (as if I somehow believe crime stats in Chicago are tied to Obama like you hinted, get a freaking life dude), and overall empty arguments (arr let's talk about healthcare!). You are more of a child when it comes to debating than Shawn Hannity.

One teen was shot by an officer - and as the evidence showed, he basically got what he asked for - and people across the country lose their collective sh$t.

If people want to protest police brutality, fine. That's another conversation for another day because in the case of Ferguson that didn't happen. But if people are going to protest about teens getting murdered in the street and true justice not being served, then they should direct their anger where it's happening on a daily basis.

[TheCat]

No, it's a conversation for today. Even if Brown's killing was justified, why is their such distrust that the officer did the right thing? Are people stupid and illogical?

This isn't just a black american issue. This is a general population issue. From my over 60 year old mom to the teenager around the corner, there is a general feeling that you avoid the police because they cause greater problems.

People lose their collective shit because these events keep happening.

I asked a few questions and made a few points in my first post in this thread that you neglected to answer because of your other position, "stephen fights like hannity".

So, is this a conversation about Stephen's debate tactics or about your original post? That will let me know whether or not I need to be invested in this thread.

[WarDamJagFan]

So the general feeling with the people you know is that you are to avoid police because they - the police - cause greater problems? Ok well with that quote right there, I'll ask myself your same question in whether or not I need to be invested in your response. But I'll entertain myself briefly.

In my opinion, cops have one of the hardest jobs in the States currently - most especially in the inner cities. You don't have to be a statistics major to figure that out. Even locally here in Jacksonville, what do you see almost every day when you turn on the news? Shooting here, robbery there, assault over yonder. They have to be surrounded by that crap almost every day. Every day they have to be on their toes and make a split second decision to either act or not act. If you act too quickly - you instantly become a national news story. If you act too slowly - you may be in the obituary section in the news paper.

It almost seems that any time there is a police involved incident, it's instantly blasted all over the news from ABC, to CNN, to Fox. Bad news sells today. In a country of 350 Million people, I'm sure you can find instances of police brutality from time to time. So currently, I don't blame some people's distrust in the police on cops themselves.

But when it comes down to brass tax, the police aren't the ones constantly killing people. It's citizens killing or shooting citizens day in, and day out. So people can protest, loot, burn down buildings all they want to show their anger towards aggressive cops. They are ignoring the underlying reason why the cops are even there to begin with. So if you don't want cops to be on your bad side - then don't give them a reason. I know a lot of people all around the country. Oddly enough, they never seem to have issues with the police because they keep their hands clean.

[WarDamJagFan]

harder than garbage men?


The 10 Deadliest Jobs:

1. Logging workers
2. Fishers and related fishing workers
3. Aircraft pilot and flight engineers
4. Roofers
5. Structural iron and steel workers
6. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
8. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers
9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
10. Construction laborers

This is why I said hardest, not deadliest. I don't think anyone could rationally say laying shingles on a roof is harder than having to respond to a gang related shooting.

[WarDamJagFan]

This is why I said hardest, not deadliest.

[finehoe]

Last year was an all-time low for killings of police and a 20-year high for killings by police:

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2013-statistics-on-law-enforcement-officers-killed-and-assaulted

[pierre]

Last year was an all-time low for killings of police and a 20-year high for killings by police:

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2013-statistics-on-law-enforcement-officers-killed-and-assaulted

Not surprising. It's the militarization of the police in this country.