It depends on how capable you are to justify acts of violence or destruction. I do not have to justify almost any.

I don't give a **** what lying authorities call me, I care that I can publicize when they lie.

You want to define what justifiable violence is based on your actions and circumstances...

I do not have to define any justifications for violence or destruction if I do not create any when protesting or in statement of support of protest.

We are right back to square 1. My whole point was that your situation may differ from other's. Therefore you shouldn't judge (which you do when you define other's actions based on your experiences).................

Well you are free to make that assumption, however based on what I have written It looks like fault-finding at the expense of information here.

Why not offer some similarities between protesters and rioters and that will balance out the distinctions that are offered and everyone is free to judge for themselves?

I'm not defining truth except to say that OP isn't it and I can prove it by providing a clear example that I have already smashed out on the keyboard 15 times.

The OP was going more for observable qualities of distinction ( and similarity) rather than truth. I have accepted and I understand some people riot while thinking they are protesting. The difference of opinion here doesn't have to go anywhere near arguing around truth.

The feeling is mutual

One interpretation of this song is that it is a discussion about keeping a community in a struggle for their freedom and rights together while the community has different ideas of how to achieve their freedom and rights.

This question has very easy answer.
If the person is white, even with dreadlocks, he is a protester.
If the person is black, even wearing a suit, he is a rioter.

I feel like when the governor of Maryland blanket labels all the participants as "thugs" he is really saying the N word, he knows he is saying the N word, and he thoroughly enjoys saying it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thug

Interesting how that is not even a precise term for most rioters. Destruction of property is destructive, not violent. Looting is larcenous. Throwing rocks at tanks or at people with shields and armor is pretty low level violence for such an absolute and loaded word.

Thug is the perfect word for a bad cop though.

This wouldn't be true if the protest was done in an artistic manner. For example, rappers can participate in political activities, by practicing their artistic craft, and they are not labeled thugs or rioters... oh wait. What was this thread about again?

True, rappers and other hip hop artists/fans and fashion are targeted with criminality stereotypes. Thug is a particularly demeaning stereotype.

This thread is about what certain words convey about the contrast between implicit and explicit public/state opinion with respect to the current civil unrest. So talking about the use of the word "thug" is right in line with the topic.

My general sense is that the language and focus of national conversation reveals that white America is more concerned about property damage in Baltimore than the loss of (any amount?) of black life. This isn't a new sentiment. Recall the orders given to law enforcement post Katrina. I could swear I saw a press conference where Bush said "Looters will be shot on sight". But I can't find it on google. I know that order was given at the local level but either I have a glitch in my memory or that Bush quote has been scrubbed from the internet.

Anyway I am on the extreme other end. I have a problem even the labeling of poor disenfranchised people taking a shot at getting a few things to sell as "looters". They are more like foragers. Many if not most great American fortunes are, in their entirety, founded on much greater crimes. I mean, when you trace back the Bush fortune you find opium, Nazis, and insider trading. So when Bush threatens death to those whose families worked for no compensation under slavery (receiving only inhumane trans generational degradation for their efforts) over a few consumer goods you just have to chuckle to stave off an aneurism.

What are your thoughts on the Zapruder film?

Not going to derail this thread but I think a general conspiracy theory thread is a good idea for unchained. I plan on starting one at some point.

I'd subscribe if all the usual nutters were putting in work.

I wasn't thinking of it like that, per say. There is a need for clarification as to what 'conspiracies theories' are compared to other forms of analysis. Also, the meme of "all conspiracy theories are bull****" needs to be dismantled and discarded. Some actual conspiracy theories should be looked at in the course of thinking about them generally, but I'm not trying to create a showcase for the shaneG's of the forum.

I was thinking Jiggs and maybe Anacardo would come out of retirement.

Rioter?



@2s, I was making of spanks OP, not what you said.

Riotors are violent, protestors are not... I expect better from you wook :facepalm:

Why in the world does this thread have 96 posts?

Temp ban OP as he has failed himself and readers of this forum by not living up to his potential.

I no who u r

Thanks for helping.

ROFLS