Remember when these "thugs" and "animals" resorted to violence and vandalism?

[nichomachus]

Remember when, instead of working through the system, violent mobs attacked and destroyed public property? They defied authority and tore down the Berlin Wall.



Remember how disgusted everyone was at the violence? Remember how all the US politicians criticized the vandals and urged non-violence and peaceful protest?

Yeah -- neither do I.

[ann---]

1. Oh, please

The buildings of innocent business and home owners
(and police cars) and NOT comparable to the oppression
represented by the Berlin Wall. They did NOTHING to the
rioters who are nothing but thieves and thugs - period.

These false equivalencies do nothing to help the cause you
are trying to support.

[nichomachus]

2. Thank you for your concern n/t

[uponit7771]

3. False on it's face, the oppression of the Berlin Wall was 1. Recognized 2. dealt with....

... that's not the case of the oppression of poor whites and people of color in some of these municipalities in America

[ann---]

9. The huge difference is

the "Berlin wall" was not owned by innocent business people
who had their lives turned upside down by the fires and looting
of the property. It is NOT the same thing.

[G_j]

4. must be the lack of fathers at home

[bvar22]

5. Wasn't it St Ronnie of Reagan who went there...

...and tore down that wall single handedly with his bare hands.... brick by brick?

[mythology]

6. Perhaps that's because the situations aren't analogous

The Berlin Wall was not just the symbol, but the literal object that was oppressing east Berliners.

The local CVS isn't the same.

Also comparing the U.S. government, even with all of its flaws, to the east German government is just silly.

[tenderfoot]

7. OMG! The property damage!

[Maedhros]

8. The bottom line: people have been very effectively trained to join the Two Minute Hate

when its important to distract them from an issue.

In this current cycle, the issue is ongoing and flagrant acts of police brutality directed at young black men. Or, more correctly, the issue is that our elected leaders continue to do absolutely nothing but utter platitudes in response.

The tried-and-true tactic is to change the subject and make mob vandalism the issue, that way "concerned" Liberals can clutch their pearls about the "thugs" running rampant in Baltimore while the real issue - politicians' refusal to take action to hold brutal policemen accountable - can be swept under the rug.

[ann---]

10. People are capable of

having two thoughts at the same time.

One - what was done to Freddie Gray was atrocious and cries out for justice.
Two - Looting and vandalism of the property of INNOCENTS is what THUGS do.

[Maedhros]

11. That's the stock answer, sure.

But it still serves the purpose of shifting discussion away from the disease and onto a symptom.

[ann---]

12. Well, when the

rioting and looting and fires are still going on, it's kind of
difficult to focus on the incident which caused the anger
and pain. Besides, Freddie Gray's family specifically asked
everyone to be peaceful. Instead, on the day of his funeral,
they rioted and caused damage to innocents. Shameful.

[Maedhros]

13. The oligarchs thank you for deflecting attention. [n/t]