Recently here in my area a High School allowed a group of up 1500 students gather to "celebrate" the Independence Day of the Dominican Republic. Regardless of what you think of that it actually was an opportunity for many of these kids to learn about things somewhat unique to their nation of origin. Many of these youngsters were too young to remember living there so a group of adults who hail from the Caribbean country decided to use this day to give them a taste of their roots.
I am not one that puts to much stock into nationalism but learning about the place in which you were born is totally reasonable. I know of friends of mine who were born in the USA and as very young children were brought abroad and their parents and American friends in that country did the same thing for the 4Th of July. But whether this is a good or bad idea isn't why I am writing this article. Please continue.
After the festive day the 1500 students dispersed out of the school and the police were there for crowd control. Or so it was reported. Others claim that people in the neighborhood reported disturbances. Which I find a little odd seeing that the police were there as the kids were leaving. Ironically others from that neighborhood say that some residents were in fear of the "Spanish" factor. You know that factor. All crimes are committed by "Latino" and "black" persons. I wish those despicable assertions surprised me. Of course there is no way of confirming that either but I would not put it past some belligerent "white" citizens at the same time.
So that is the first "you have got to be kidding me" of this story. The second is just as strange and incomprehensible to me. As the students were wondering off in different directions some thing triggered minor "riot" like actions. A undisclosed amount of the students began vandalizing cars and causing other disruptions. Some of them accusing the police of unprovoked brutal treatment.
Where to begin? Let us assume that a band of racist police officers were on location. Now call me crazy but I don't care what injustice you experience, rioting is never an option in my opinion. Personally I see that as an excuse to retaliate in a violent fashion. Yes I believe 2 wrongs do not make a right. I also believe that just because some one else did wrong first is irrelevant and a moot point. That is what they call a rationalization.
In a similar line of discussion I question that these violent reactions were spontaneous. Why? Well some cars were hit with baseball bats. Now I haven't been to school for a few years but I don't recall bringing a bat with me to school or just having a spare on at all times in my car. If you need a baseball for defense you are hanging out in Loser-ville.
Secondly I ask if you are angry at the treatment or brutality by police, how does destroying a neighborhood solve your problem? At point does some one say to themselves "that policeman hates me so I am going to hit this car with a bat?"
If any one thinks I am defending injustice then you are just looking for contention and divisive thought. My question and point is that none of these events make any iota of sense. It is barbaric and cannibalistic as far as I am concerned. It is a blight on the human race.
For those of you who think "oh there goes mister self - righteous" I totally disagree. I am just sick of witnessing human beings act like petulant children. And their children responding in aberrant fashion is even more sickening because that means it will continue.
So again I say "you have got to be kidding me" and not being surprised anymore.
