That’s an extremely difficult question, as obviously there’s lots of factors. Personally I would say urbanization and the insanity of urban planning is the biggest one. Rural US states are some of the safest places to live in the world. Drugs and the war on drugs would be a close second imo.
Imagine if the woke ones were around for the Paris riots in the 1960s, their heads would explode (literally).
I think Michael Moore did as good a job at explaining it as anyone in Bowling for Columbine. In that people on edge will react, and over react if they believe their safety is threatened. Shock sells, theres hysteria about crime disease etc aggravated by the media which leads to the tension and a huge factor i think is lack of universal healthcare, if an injury or illness will leave you bankrupt, or dead, that thought is always with you, how truly safe can you feel?
Then add in firearms, macho culture, very hot weather. There’s a multitude of factors.
Imagine the psychotic right wing nutjobs were around in the 30s.
I hold that view - I think most reasonable people would.
I’d go a lot further than saying training && weeding out the bad apples as being the solution though
Whats your solution? And what would you have done differently re the protests over the past week?
It’s also a country that grew very quickly. The population in 1840 was only 17 million, only about 2X Ireland at the time.
The mentallers are beginning to back track. Always enjoyable to see them digging up. They’ve had a bad few weeks.
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They were all left wing mate, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and Mao were all socialists.
Learn your history.
Is it fair to say that due to the gun culture in the US that the police attracts a lot of lads who are big into “law and order” which is an issue.
Richard Jewell type fellas.
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Spot on for me it all goes back to the gun laws. When there’s every chance a citizen can draw on you then the cops are always gonna be armed to the teeth and err on the side of heavy handed
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The police basically let a number of cities burn and looting go unchallenged for the first couple of days. If there’s a curfew or you’re asked to move and you don’t you deserve a smack of a baton. The police brutality I’ve seen highlighted here during the protests has been what? One old lad been pushed over, a journalist getting a smack of a shield and tear gas/non tear gas to disperse crowds. You’d see worse at some European football matches. @tallback you’re going to push this police brutality with the protests no matter what. Protest, turned to rioting as day turned into night and the police had to eventually do their job. You’re line of arguing isn’t genuine if the policing of these protests and riots is what you consider police brutality. Police brutality is kneeling on a mans neck not firing tear gas to disperse crowds.
If theres a curfew and protesters are still out or are told to move from area they should. What do you suggest they do when they’re told to get fucked? Ask politely again?
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What kind of lads do you think would be attracted into a profession where there’s a good chance of someone taking a pot shot at you when you respond to a 911 call?
I asked this a week ago, if you have to approach a car when you could be shot dead half a second later, how do you do that in a way that’s not going to be very tense, your manner, tone of voice etc. Which will of course put the person in the car on edge. But what other way is there? The woke brigade don’t like the tough questions though.
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It’s been a very chastening experience for them
The police initially looked over-aggressive, out of control and spoiling for a fight. It would seem they largely perceived protesters and looters/rioters to be one and the same. As a result they ended up in a series of violent situations with peaceful protesters that go viral up on social media and add oxygen to the protests.
I think the political fire and brimstone rhetoric created the mood music for that.
So, you look take the sting out of the protests rather than trying to crush them. Stand off rather than rush in. Where individual police officers/depts have done that I think it has been celebrated and helped ease tensions.
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Knock out in Laois, kill or be killed. Inter county hurling in winter, where we do our best work. Eddies leading us to the promised land.
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Your last two paragraphs are nonsense. The riots began on 26th May and continued relatively unchallenged for a couple of days after.
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I posted a twitter link with over 200 various police violent incidents. I think it’s fair to say there has been a lot.
I think a curfew itself is a very provocative move as it creates a flash point each day.
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All of the police?
Theres been protests in all 50 states, a huge amount of the protestors are trying to provoke a response and every single interaction has been recorded on camera.
Theres been hundreds of thousands of interactions between the protestors, most protestors genuine, many not (but they don’t wear a uniform to distinguish that) and there’s been a handful of bad incidents like that man getting pushed over. None are acceptable but as a percentage of the overall interactions any violence has been miniscule, most have stood off and watched like you hoped for.
It suits the protestors for incidents to go viral, by right, the police should release footage from body cams showing the other side of it.
Rioters have shot dead at least five black people this week by the way. Now imagine if blame for that was laid at the feet of all protestors? You are doing the same thing for the other side
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