Thinking about taking a vacation....what about Baltimore?

[Baz]

MLK is rolling over in his grave right now......

[onewhippedpuppy]

MLK is rolling over in his grave right now......

It's a damn shame the black community does not have leadership like him right now.

[Crowbob]

But it does have leadership. Sort of. But not in the right direction (intentional pun, there).

[Baz]

You hit the nail on the head, Matt.

Leadership is what is missing.

You'd think with a black president that wouldn't be a problem. Unbelievable and very sad.

[onewhippedpuppy]

MLK did what he believed was right, and ultimately paid the ultimate price. Current leadership, black community and otherwise, does what is best for them. Big difference.

[tadd]

I think the police have showed remarkable restraint.

I mean, what kind of PR nightmare would ensue from taking forceful action against a bunch of high school kids throwing large rocks at the line of police. Only real option I could see they have is to 'retreat'. Hurting or killing a bunch of 15--17 year olds would NOT go down well regardless of their behavior (short of them hurting another person).

[Rick Lee]

And all I heard on the news last night, both on tv and radio, was that these rioters are teenagers and don't represent what B'more is. Yeah, this guy is clearly old enough to know better and he's proudly displaying his worthless loot for the cameras. I hope he ends up in jail.

Originally Posted by HardDrive

[Crowbob]

What I thought interesting was the video of the thuggies scattering like las cookarachas to their cars in the parking lot of the vandalized and looted mall.

Their cars! Poverty is such a burden.

[GWN7]

They were teenagers till they became felons.

Let them throw rocks at the National Guard and see how well that works out for them.

[dennis in se pa]

The inner city will actually be better off for this. Everything will be rebuilt brand new. The issue is - what is the real cause. Are the people rightfully extremely frustrated by their treatment by police? Or are they just violent people just looking for a reason to destroy anything?

[onewhippedpuppy]

My 11 year old is smart enough to know that damaging other people's property and attacking police is wrong. "Just teenagers" is a BS EXCUSE. Why does the media persist in making excuses for this behavior? You can't excuse it, you can't rationalize it, wrong is wrong.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

The inner city will actually be better off for this. Everything will be rebuilt brand new. The issue is - what is the real cause. Are the people rightfully extremely frustrated by their treatment by police? Or are they just violent people just looking for a reason to destroy anything?

Yeah. It worked well for Detroit.

It's a little of both. These people are frustrated and looking for some action. They are bored, isolated and pretty much adrift in the land of opportunity.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by GWN7

They were teenagers till they became felons.

Let them throw rocks at the National Guard and see how well that works out for them.

Kent State 4, how many more? I'm thinking the Nat'l Guard would not open fire as they did back then.

It is my humble opinion that B'more has been a sheethole for a long time. When I was playing rugby my team traveled to B'more for a tournament every spring. We always had problems when out in the evening. We stopped bringing WAGs with us and I stopped going to the tourney all together.

[chocolatelab]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

The inner city will actually be better off for this. Everything will be rebuilt brand new. The issue is - what is the real cause. Are the people rightfully extremely frustrated by their treatment by police? Or are they just violent people just looking for a reason to destroy anything?

I respectfully disagree with the rebuilt brand new part.

I suspect a lot of the business won't return.

There are still areas in LA that complain about not having stores etc return from after the LA Riots.

Its just bad business to return.

[Baz]

The National Guard will be there to hold the ground not taken by the rioters.

The police will continue their duties on the front line.

The mayor should be fired for letting this get so out of hand. Terrible incompetence.

[Baz]

FREDDY GRAY’S ARREST RECORD: Here’s The Rap Sheet Of The Dude They’re Destroying Baltimore Over

[Joe Ricard]

I would be interested in seeing this kind of behavior come to my town. Here in the south "Judge he needed a killin" is a perfectly good explaination.

[scottmandue]

I bet you could pick up a flat screen really cheap!

I'm guessing the police "stood down" because they were out numbered (budget cut dontchno) and things would have gone south pretty fast if they engaged.

Kinda like how if your house is on fire and is obviously a lost cause the firemen will concentrate on saving the houses around you.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

The inner city will actually be better off for this. Everything will be rebuilt brand new.

Who is going to invest in that schithole?

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

The issue is - what is the real cause. Are the people rightfully extremely frustrated by their treatment by police?

SOME of the people are. They weren't at the riot.

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Or are they just violent people just looking for a reason to destroy anything?

THESE are the people rioting. They just saw an excuse to get free stuff, play gotcha with the cops, and let off steam.

[Baz]