Looking at the news this morning and I see another in the long line of daily stories on violent protests, destruction of property and what amounts to complete anarchy in certain cities around the country. This morning it was on the police having to use tear gas to break up a "riot" in Portland. Now granted, Portland and Seattle seem to be the usual suspects when it comes to that sort of thing, but since the George Floyd incident, it has spread all around the nation and it's become obvious that there's no real message or purpose behind any of it other than a bunch of young assholes F'ing shit up just because they feel empowered to do just that.
It was about inequality and social injustice. Then it was about attacking and doing away with the police. Now, it has become about destroying anything that bears any resemblance to this country's history. Not just Confederate flags and monuments, but virtually anything that has to do with our past. And the things being attacked point out the unbelievable ignorance of those carrying it out. You're destroying the very things that represent what you claim to stand for. But again, it's not about any message. It's about....well, see the above.
I honestly don't understand that mindset. I've lived here for 37 years and I just don't see people talking or thinking that way. I don't think it's because I'm older and white and live in my own little, secluded world, surrounded by other older, white people who talk and act the same. We're not Atlanta or even Birmingham down here, but I imagine this area resembles most cities with regard to a good cross section of ethnicities and classes. There are plenty of "rich" neighborhoods, middle class, lower income areas, trailer parks, housing projects etc. I have no clue on the percentages, but there are no shortages of whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Muslims...you name it. I say that to tell you that if there were truly all these reasons to be legitimately angry about issues in society, there's more than enough people of all colors here to make some noise, for lack of a better term.
After George Floyd was killed, there were a couple of days where a group of protesters, maybe 100, if that, who gathered at the Court House here, holding up signs, singing songs and yelling chants for justice. I drove by to check it out and basically thought, "Good for them", because I believe I felt the exact same way the overwhelming majority of the country felt after seeing the video of the cop kneeling on the man's head until he died. People were pissed, and rightfully so. But other than the protests and having their voices heard and delivering their message to people passing by, and through news coverage and social media etc. there were no businesses burned, no bricks through windows, no bricks or rocks thrown at passing cars, no marches on the police station or calls for abolishing the force, no mobs stomping on vehicles or dragging people out of cars and beating them within an inch of their lives.
There have been no statues toppled or monuments destroyed that I know of. There may be calls for removal of certain names or monuments that I'm not aware of. I'm sure there are. This is still the deep south. But if so, it's being done through proper channels. Again, I simply don't get the mindset of destroying property and in many instances, innocent lives, to effect change. Especially when there really is no unified cause behind it. Yes, we have plenty of real world problems down here, but I'm very thankful for where I live.
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