Riots May be USA Headlines
As summer approaches so does the usual unrest. Rarely do groups riot in the winter. But, this year may be more than just a few folk in the street on hot summer nights. Flash mobs and mini-riots have become the under theme, under reported, by the “politically correct” media. Is there really a story there? Or is the increasing group violence indicative of cultural or social trending? Only a real journalist would be able to ferret out the a story. Today’s headline, head shot, ‘roll tape’, adrenaline junkies do not have time for the grueling task of building a factual essay.
My role is not as a reporter. My input is more one of commentary, media may be more about slanting news to fit political agendas than about actual commentary. Am I biased,
“oh, yes.”
Do I try to present both sides of an argument?
“hardly.”
Why do I do it?
“I seem incapable of allowing the constant stream of political tripe, dressed up as news, to go by without commenting.”
Why Riots?
To which I answer,
“why not riots?”
We live in a very contentious time. The political parties in the U.S. have sought to polarize the electorate. We can no longer be just Republicans nor Democrats. Heaven forbid we attempt to hide in
the ‘Independent’ category. We must be for or against every issue. We cannot be in the middle. ‘In the middle’ creates huge problems for political parties marketing methods.
All that said, people do not fit into neat little categories. Some of us create websites to resist. Others, join political organizations, others go on marches and join small protest movements. Some find all those vehicles too passive or maybe they just have too much energy and not enough focus. Regardless of the reason, some people express themselves in a more violent way.
Do I believe flash mobs go into the streets to create a physical riot? If they are members of anarchist groups, “yes.” But, usually they happen just as the term describes, “flash mobs.” People with pent up emotions get caught up in the moment at act out physically. Does that excuse them from the consequences of their actions? (silly question)
Mobs vs Riots vs Thieves
The recent ‘flash mob’ robberies are not a byproduct of impulse. They are calculated acts of theft planned and executed by groups. The media again has little time to create in-depth stories, it’s all about headlines, and “mob” is the catch all phrase du jour. As food prices rise, more group robberies will take place. Again, the depth needed to explain the action exceeds today’s “politically correct” media.
Flash mobs may be a trendy consequence of Wastebook and Twitter. We saw the media trying to categorize events through the prism of the US mobility clique. So, the term ‘flash mob’ may have little or no real value in describing mass demonstrations, be they social or political. But, for now we are stuck with the term, ‘flash mob’ as a descriptor of group action.
Riots have been with us for generations. France’s riots led to a revolution. Lenin used demonstrations to polarize the people against the Tsarists. Recently we’ve seen groups such as ACORN create public demonstrations to intimidate opposition. The use of physical intimidation by a group may not technically be classified as a riot, but it has many of the same aspects without the collateral damage.
Arab Spring in the Inner City
Political unrest should not be showing in the inner city. But, when food cost rise, tensions mount. Gas prices continue to be an added burden for low income families in and out of the inner city. However, rural families have no access to the masses and probably find rioting outside their comfort zone. The ability to feed one’s family creates stress and when communities understand the effectiveness of violence, things happen.
Today the media wants us to focus on the drain ‘baby boomers’ place on the economy. The political class hopes we’ll focus on the rock star candidates and not our cost of living. If riots once again require the national guard in the inner cities, a real honest debate will not be held by the “politically correct” media. Violence is violence. Rewarding violence has been our history when it comes to inner cities. Why else would the inner city residents create violence?
In conclusion, I ask,
“are conditions much different in the inner cities of the US than Egypt, Syria, Yemen?
Poverty is poverty and in all cases the government is the only lifeline to survival.”
