Baltimorei

[iris lilies]

Tyranny would seem to require an affirmative act. The case of the Sheriff not investigating some crimes seems more aptly described as negligence, or abandonment of duty.

also, I didn't know what to think of that in Rob- think. It might be better to just not chase and arrest rapists because police harrassment could occur. Someone might get scared with police attention focused on them. blood pressure might go up. Really better to avoid the chances of all of that.

[Lainey]

. .. If the sheriff's department went after anyone or any group that campaigned against it that would be one thing, but since there is no real threat aimed at the would-be opposition (every non-voting democrat in Maricopa County) I don't see how you can fly the tyranny flag.

Sheriff Joe is famous for going after his critics - http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/...empt/70993872/

and we taxpayers continue to pay and pay and pay

[Lainey]

Sad to think that the victims of rapists and molesters, who never saw justice from those paid to serve and protect, are today's fodder for comedic posts.

But, once again, I'd like to reiterate the understanding that this forum does not tolerate personal attacks. Or does it? Because the cyber bullying against Rob continues despite his personal request that it stop. And also despite his personal refusal to respond in kind. So I'll add: just stop it, it's become abusive. Or have the forum rules changed?

So let's start fresh and get back to the recreational arguing.

[JaneV2.0]

Sad to think that the victims of rapists and molesters, who never saw justice from those paid to serve and protect, are today's fodder for comedic posts.

But, once again, I'd like to reiterate the understanding that this forum does not tolerate personal attacks. Or does it? Because the cyber bullying against Rob continues despite his personal request that it stop. And also despite his personal refusal to respond in kind. So I'll add: just stop it, it's become abusive. Or have the forum rules changed?

So let's start fresh and get back to the recreational arguing.

Bolding mine. Yes, Rob certainly has taken the high road, as he always does.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Bolding mine. Yes, Rob certainly has taken the high road, as he always does.

Jane, Thank You. Other than some kind words from my future husband, this is the kindest thing anyone has said about me in quite some time. I appreciate your understanding that I have been taking the high road. I'm not going to lie, sometimes it's very hard to zip my digital lip and not cross the line - I'm human just like anyone else. At the end of the day, though, I'm the one who has to face himself in the mirror and on most days I'm proud or at least neutral about the choices I've made in the past 24 hours or so. I like being able to face myself in the mirror - this is the big reason I rarely cross the line. Thanks again, Jane, BTW. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Sheriff Joe is famous for going after his critics - http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/...empt/70993872/

and we taxpayers continue to pay and pay and pay

and pay and pay and pay and pay. Frustrating as the money that is used to pay out settlements due to Mr. Arpaio - could it not be used better in some other way for the general betterment of society? Yet he does keep getting elected and the settlements continue to be paid out. Beyond my understanding is the only nice way I can put it. Rob

[kib]

This has been one amazing thread, I've just spent almost an hour reading it. Thanks to everyone for the most thought-provoking commentary in a long while!

My own two cents ... a while back, I watched a documentary called The Century Of The Self. It's about the vast sea change in personality that the age of consumerism effected. We shifted from beings who were accepted into a clan by the act of being born, to beings who feel inadequate unless they purchase things which make them part of a group of their own choosing, and define their identity.

However, the "white experience" is statistically still about being born into clan, one is a Miller or a Smith or an Astor in addition to being a Patek Philippe wearer and a basset hound owner and a Nascar collector. For socially healthy children, there is a place to go where one is an accepted member of a group which includes mature adults of both sexes, simply by virtue of birth.

Now ... I think about the black community, generally speaking. In so many places, this community is still in recovery from the violent rending of families during and directly after the period of slavery. The original slaves were tribal, their entire societal wisdom stretching back, perhaps, to the beginning of people, was based on that sense of innate belonging to a group. Suddenly over a generation or two, no group, no family, no sense of roots other than guessing what it might have been like. Male role models, fathers, elders are in short supply, still. Mothers in the poor communities tend to be young, inexperienced and often alone. I think this makes black children terribly vulnerable to the sense that they have to earn a place in a group; it's a birthright they do not receive. Add to this the ubiquitous western pressure to be part of a group of Owners of Something, and then add in the poverty that makes that ownership nearly impossible.

And I think, if you don't wind up with gangs, you wind up with people who are desperately empty. They don't have a sense of clan, and they can't buy a sense of commercial acceptability. This emptiness is where they begin, the "foundation" on which they attempt to create a sense of worth and belonging.

I think about my own emptiness, my own lack of connection and clan, and my (intentional, not always successful) rejection of materialism. I'm rich and white and that's still hard and lonely and ... and sometimes I grieve for my lack of a family bigger than two people caught up in their own drama. Sometimes the empty ache of not belonging is terrible, and I'm one of the lucky ones. I try to imagine what it would be like to be not only clan-less but poor and with skin that's a badge that screams I don't belong, at least to some people ...

... and I think it's a miracle the entire country's not in flames at this point.

[gimmethesimplelife]

This has been one amazing thread, I've just spent almost an hour reading it. Thanks to everyone for the most thought-provoking commentary in a long while!

My own two cents ... a while back, I watched a documentary called The Century Of The Self. It's about the vast sea change in personality that the age of consumerism effected. We shifted from beings who were accepted into a clan by the act of being born, to beings who feel inadequate unless they purchase things which make them part of a group.

However, the "white experience" is statistically still about being born into clan, one is a Miller or a Smith or an Astor in addition to being a Patek Philippe wearer and a basset hound lover and a Nascar fan. For socially healthy children, there is a place to go where one is an accepted member of a group which includes mature adults, simply by virtue of birth.

Now ... I think about the black community, generally speaking. In so many places, this community is still in recovery from the violent rending of families during and directly after the period of slavery. Male role models, fathers, elders are in short supply, still. I think this makes black children terribly vulnerable to the sense that they have to earn a place in a group; it's a birthright they do not receive. Add to this the ubiquitous pressure to be part of a group of Owners of Something, and then add in the poverty that makes that ownership nearly impossible.

And I think, if you don't wind up with gangs, you wind up with people who are desperately empty. They don't have a sense of clan, and they can't buy a sense of commercial acceptability. This emptiness is where they begin, the "foundation" on which they attempt to create a sense of worth and belonging.

I think about my own emptiness, my own lack of connection and clan, and my (intentional, not always successful) rejection of materialism. I'm rich and white and that's still hard and lonely and ... and sometimes I grieve for my lack of a family bigger than two people caught up in their own drama. Sometimes the empty ache of not belonging is terrible, and I'm one of the lucky ones. I try to imagine what it would be like to be not only clan-less but poor ...

... and I think it's a miracle the entire country's not in flames at this point.

Interesting post, kib. And I couldn't agree more with your last line. I've often wondered how we have avoided this to date, too. Rob

[catherine]

Wow, kib, great post. You so very well, and poignantly, captured how I feel (and tried weakly to post) with regard to the African American still carrying the weight of being shorn from their roots, and how the impact of that lasts for generations.

We need to rebuild our society with tribe as building block and foundation in America. Tribe is how we've started and where we lived for millions of years before we fell apart worshipping the totem poles.

[LDAHL]

We need to rebuild our society with tribe as building block and foundation in America.

Like Rwanda? Like Sudan?