posted by Jack
Maybe it’s just me who feels this way, but until Obama arrived on the screen there was no BLM, there was no race based protesting in sports and racial division was almost gone. The thought that police departments were racist, black male killing animals and that the police were the problem in America….all that didn’t exist. The trend that cities defund their police agencies didn’t exist either. Police statistics haven’t changed, but it seems our culture sure has. Radicals are finding fault and rioting before the truth has a chance to come out. The extreme media bias was not nearly as severe before Obama.
While 21-year-old Colorado resident Oghaleoghene Atunu was driving down a suburban street, he spotted a trio of 11- and 12-year-old boys walking home from school. Oddly, the Aurora man began circling the area before slowly pulling up behind the children as if he were following them. Without warning or provocation, Atunu suddenly did the unthinkable.
After slowing tailing the young boys, Atunu hit the gas, jumped the sidewalk, and mowed down two of the three children before speeding off, according to KDVR. One of the victims, Josh Piazza, was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Fortunately, the second victim walked away with only minor injuries.
Disturbingly, surveillance video showed Atunu noticing his victims and circling the area as if to find the best way to create the most damage. However, despite both the investigators and the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office confirming that the crash was intentional, many were stunned to find that Atunu would not face a hate crime charge. Thanks to a tip from a local citizen, Atunu was quickly identified by his 2004 Buick Rendezvous and arrested.
Although he doesn’t face a hate crime charge, he was subsequently charged with 15 counts, including 3 counts of attempted first-degree murder; 2 counts of attempted first-degree assault; 2 counts of child abuse; 1 count of first-degree assault; 1 count of failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injuries; 1 count of vehicular assault; 1 count of failure to notify police of an accident; 1 count of hit-and-run; 1 count of reckless driving; 1 count of driving a vehicle with an expired driver’s license; and 1 count of failure to observe/disregard a traffic control device.
Despite the footage of his behavior leading up to the incident, Atunu maintains that he lost control of his vehicle and hit the children, according to 9 News. He claims that he then became scared and fled the scene.
Can you imagine the coverage the MSM would have given this story if the kids were black and the driver was white? And that’s the reason I am putting up this story. There are bad white people and bad black people. It’s not about white people need sensitivity training, white people need cultural awareness, white people need to…. NO! Any conversation about racism needs to involve people of all color. We’ve got to stop this war that is pushing racial division and that means honest reporting. We don’t have honest reporting and haven’t for several decades.
“Maybe it’s just me who feels this way…”
No, most white people feel this way.
Most people of color do not.
Why do you think that is?
Honestly Chris, I think that too many black people are just way to invested in hating white people. In part its a cultural thing evolved from past racial injustices, injustices that happened long before most of them were even born and from centuries past.
Look, we know that white racism exists, not in any truly organized form like the Klan or similar group or even in numbers that are significant. In general, I think most white people today would just rather move on from the old days of racism and have a united society. They do not think about or want to think about, the past grievances and what makes black people angry today because they are not done letting go. They just want to work and live life and they couldn’t care less about one’s race. Racism has been kept simmering through criminal gangs doing horrible things, mostly to each other. Racism sells papers, and so it has been blamed for many ills, some real some not.
BLM is feeling their sudden rise to power. Because power is a corrupting influence, abusing that power is too common. I think in many ways they are trying to relive the 1960’s civil rights movement, but not necessarily dealing appropriately with the here and now issues. In fact, they are conflating old news to amplify new passions. This has caused a lot of overreaction within the black community (championing George Floyd, Ferguson, Trayvon Martin, etc…ridiculous) and predictably that has backfired. It’s been a PR disaster for their legit issues.
The rioting, defunding police, vilifying police, all the protest marches, the vandalism, arson, anarchy, extortion tactics are not helping anyone, especially racial equality. Race relations today are terrible and I really think it began with Obama and morphed into this black militant movement. One thing stands out now more than anything else, that is, black leaders have repeatedly and historically failed to take responsibility for the surge in black on black crime, over representation in prisons, education failures, community policing failures and using of the race card as a purely political ploy.
Support for Black Lives Matter has skyrocketed in the past five years. 63% of Americans now support BLM, and a similar number say Trump has made race relations worse. Not exactly a “PR disaster.”
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/06/12/amid-protests-majorities-across-racial-and-ethnic-groups-express-support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement/
I agree that some extremists within BLM make the movement look bad (and, more importantly, their actions are unethical and immoral). I have always spoken out against extremism and radicalization in all forms. But I have also always said that a few extremists don’t discredit the message of an entire movement.
I also agree with you that many white people don’t want to think about racism, but that doesn’t make it go away. There is still a problem of systemic racism in America and it often flies under the radar. I also think too many on the right are willing to look the other way. For instance, for weeks two of your conservative commenters have been linking to a white nationalist website despite the creator’s vocal and virulent hatred of Jews. This is not the first time conservatives here have shared white nationalist content. And, of course, you continue to support a president who has said “Jeb Bush has to like Mexican illegals because of his wife,” claimed a judge couldn’t rule fairly in a fraud case against him because he was Mexican-American, told women of color who were born here to go back to where they came from, and is currently pushing to end anti-segregation policies in housing. I wouldn’t want to think about racism either if I supported such a person!
You call for unity but you disparage those who speak out against unlawful killings of unarmed black people, even though the majority of the country backs this message. You make excuses to not care about what happened to George Floyd based on his history, but in the end it shouldn’t matter what kind of person he was; the police’s actions were not justified in that moment and an individual’s life was ended by an agent of the state. Anyone who opposes Big Government should oppose that.
Ammon Bundy, the conservative celebrity who had a standoff with the feds a few years ago over occupation of federal property, came out in support of Black Lives Matter recently:
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/ammon-bundy-comes-out-in-support-of-blm-calls-to-defund-the-police/
I didn’t agree with Bundy’s actions a few years ago and I wouldn’t go as far as he has in calling for defunding the police, but I do have a new respect for him due to his ideological consistency.
BLM is calling attention to a very real problem. Even if you deny the racial aspect, you should have a problem with police brutality against anyone. I am glad to see the majority of Americans united behind addressing this problem. It may be time to start wondering if it is you who are on the side of the dividers.
Chris, 40% of the US population is classified as being non-white. The Gallup poll says that about 40% of the democratic party is made up of non-whites. Now that being said, if you claim 63% of America tend to support the Black Lives Matters Group I would not be too thrilled about it. Such a poll number is likely more of a reflection of the racial and political demographics in the US than a validation of BLM. It certainly can’t be a validation of their criminal conduct including organized crime tactics like extortion. But, I dispute your poll number Chris, that would mean that 63% of America are a composite of misinformed, racist, ignorant liberals and low information people. I have more faith in our people. So I checked your poll numbers and it turns out the latest polling shows 57 percent of Americans actually have a negative view of the movement, and this is according to the latest Harvard-Harris survey. Perhaps this reflects the growing awareness of what BLM actually is?
Chris, 40% of the US population is classified as being non-white. The Gallup poll says that about 40% of the democratic party is made up of non-whites. Now that being said, if you claim 63% of America tend to support the Black Lives Matters Group I would not be too thrilled about it. Such a poll number is likely more of a reflection of the racial and political demographics in the US than a validation of BLM.
I am not sure how to interpret this other than as an assertion that the opinions of non-white Americans don’t matter, or that non-whites are somehow less American than whites.
If that’s not what you meant, why did you put it this way?
t certainly can’t be a validation of their criminal conduct
I already said I do not agree with any kind of criminal conduct by BLM members. Most supporters of BLM feel the same way. We can distinguish between the legitimate protesters and the violent extremists.
ncluding organized crime tactics like extortion
I already debunked the false extortion claim.
But, I dispute your poll number Chris, that would mean that 63% of America are a composite of misinformed, racist, ignorant liberals and low information people.
No, it would not mean that. It would mean that they think black lives matter.
So I checked your poll numbers and it turns out the latest polling shows 57 percent of Americans actually have a negative view of the movement, and this is according to the latest Harvard-Harris survey. Perhaps this reflects the growing awareness of what BLM actually is?
Had you checked any further, you would have found that Harvard-Harris is one of the most notoriously unreliable and biased push polls out there, which is why they typically get such different results from most respected pollsters.
https://medium.com/@msells/the-harvard-harris-poll-scam-de5120fb0759
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/2/21/1636308/-WTF-is-the-Harvard-Harris-Poll-anyway
No Chris, it doesn’t mean that at all. What I am saying is if 63% of the people are black and/or liberal democrat’s in support of BLM, then their opinion is likely biased and not derived from statistical evidence. Therefore what they believe is not necessarily what is right. Their opinions matter to them and they are welcome to them! But, if 63% of the people think that 5+2=8 I do not have to think they are right because they have the majority opinion. That’s all I am saying….does that clear things up?
I doubt mathematics is one of Chris’ strong suits.
No Chris, it doesn’t mean that at all. What I am saying is if 63% of the people are black and/or liberal democrat’s in support of BLM, then their opinion is likely biased and not derived from statistical evidence.
!!!
You are saying that black people are biased when it comes to the issue of Black Lives Matter and white people are not.
That is a racist thing to say.
White people do not somehow have a more “objective” view of race and racial issues than black people. We benefit from white privilege and that influences our opinions as much as experiences of racism influence people of color. But since racism affects people of color much more directly than it affects white people, I would tend to put more stock in the opinions of people of color as a whole on this subject than the opinions of white people, because it’s a subject that people of color simply have more experience dealing with.
If they are black and they are a democrat, I will lay you 3 to 1 odds they would poll at least 63% in favor of BLM, maybe as much as 93%. So, don’t call that racist, that’s just reality and you are being silly.
PS One of the reasons I said they are likely to be biased is because of the ridiculous protesting we have now over the unsupported allegations of police somehow being biased against black people. Statistically that is just not provable. You’ve never once resorted to citing statististics, but you enjoy painting all of law enforcement with a broad brush – that’s bigotry. Chris, nothing has change for the last 30 years on the part of improper police shootings, but the reaction to that tiny number has changed. I can only conclude that bad public image we have now is due to people being misled, misinformed and turning anti-police because of people like Obama, BLM, other black militants, liberal radicals, fake news (CNN) and self serving socialist rhetoric.
I’m thinking misguided people like you are a big problem because you do not pay attention to the statistical data, you are too quick to play the race card and worse, you have strong opinions about police work yet you have absolutely no clue what that job is all about. I think you and those other liberals have unreasonable expectations, you are failing to hold the bad guys accountable – you only hold the police accountable. You seem to only care about anecdotal commentary against the police and that is not fair, it’s not evidence and it gets us nowhere.
If they are black and they are a democrat, I will lay you 3 to 1 odds they would poll at least 63% in favor of BLM, maybe as much as 93%.
Who is “they” in this sentence? Black Democrats? Of course black Democrats are more likely to support BLM. That wasn’t the group that was polled; the poll refers to 63% of Americans as a whole who support BLM.
So, don’t call that racist, that’s just reality and you are being silly.
I didn’t call your observation that black Democrats tend to support BLM racist. You are not following. What was racist was your implication that the poll showing 63% of Americans supporting BLM somehow doesn’t matter because 40% of Americans are non-white and therefore “biased” in a way white people are not. That is a racist suggestion. It implies that the opinions of non-white Americans somehow don’t matter as much as that of white Americans, or that they are somehow less American than white Americans.
According to Pew, even 61% of whites support Black Lives Matter:
pewsocialtrends.org/2020/06/12/amid-protests-majorities-across-racial-and-ethnic-groups-express-support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement/
It is true that whites are less likely than other demographic groups to support BLM. That isn’t because we are any less biased on the subject than non-whites; it’s because we have our own cultural and historical biases. But even with those biases, most white people now support BLM.
There are dozens of studies demonstrating racial bias in policing. Radley Balko, a libertarian focusing on civil liberties and police abuse, has documented several here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/opinions/systemic-racism-police-evidence-criminal-justice-system/#Policing
I have mostly focused on the issue of police brutality separate from the race angle because I had hoped that would be more appealing to a white conservative crowd. I have appealed to the principles of small government and individual liberty to get you to see why you should object to individual instances of police abuse even if you do not believe it is a systemic problem. You never show an inkling that you care, and I fear you never will.
You call for unity but you disparage those who speak out against unlawful killings of unarmed black people, even though the majority of the country backs this message. Chris
I do not disparage every person who speaks out against unlawful killings of black people. I am totally against the unlawful killing of black people or anyone.
Chris that was a ridiculous thing for you to say. Who on earth (in their right mind) is in favor of the murder of innocent people?
Perhaps you are conflating my position on the shooting in Ferguson, Mo., and my criticism of the rioters and looters that followed in that one and other police shooting incidents, as somehow meaning I am in favor of unlawful killing?
I am stunned Chris, absolutely stunned that you would go there? I would expect that of a rabid far left liberal, but not of an educated person such as yourself.
Yes, I called for people to wait until the evidence is in before reaching a verdict. Was that bad? Is that what you call disparaging? I called for and end to mob violence. Is that disparaging? I called for a full vetting of the truth before jumping to any conclusion. Is that disparaging? I did denounce those who behave like criminals and then call it protesting. I did oppose people who propagated the big lie, “Hands up don’t shoot.” I am guilty of those things. However, in my humble thinking, these are just normal things that any informed, fair minded person who still believes in the rule of law would do. Yet, here I am, once again defending myself against an attack that has about as much merit as the case against the officers in Baltimore or the officer in Ferguson.
Jack, a good way to show that you oppose unlawful killings of black people by the police is…to condemn unlawful killings of black people by the police.
I cannot remember a single time when you have done so.
Re: “I agree that some extremists within BLM make the movement look bad (and, more importantly, their actions are unethical and immoral).”
LMAO! WOW! “Some”!
Pardon me, but all of BLM is an extremist socialist (aka communist) movement. The last thing they are about is black lives. They are all about disruption, agitation and street mob action. Of course, so are you Mr. Souza, ergo your eye-roll inducing equivocation.
This needs repeating:
“Honestly Chris, I think that too many black people are just way to invested in hating white people. In part its a cultural thing evolved from past racial injustices, injustices that happened long before most of them were even born and from centuries past.”
And if the irrational hating doesn’t settle down and FAST, then RHT’s comment will have more than the warning it is intended to convey.
You can not push,trample that hard on others rights and not expect backlash, is just a matter of time before the politically sponsored vandal’s using the BLM movement to further their anarchy thinking just push the wrong persons button, and this whole movement goes off like a bomb.
Whoever lit the fuse, needs to be exposed, and this criminal activity and the protests that mask it, isn’t just about one rouge cop and one scum bag criminal. This appears more political during each and every new flare up.
Clearly there is a purpose in the left’s silence. Liberal’s wanting something, using anything to swing the election in their favor, that would be on top of the list.
And if it means ignoring the safety of citizens, or even fanning the flames on the fuse, well then, that just appears to be a price the left is willing to pay.
How do you know “most people of color do not” want racial tensions to stop?
It seems to me that many people of color have been told that white people hate them and live “privileged“ lives as if all any of us are is a group. The agenda to destroy all of the progress we’ve made and to discredit and malign white people has been successful but much of it is based on lies.
There’s a new trend however, a healthy trend that’s gaining support as we speak. All lives matter…each and every individual matters. Our nation was founded on that principle …on individual rights. It was not founded on group rights or mob rule and thank God for it.
You either love and support the principle of individual rights and the rule of law or you’re with the mob. Which is it Chris? You either love this nationS charter or you’re bent on replacing it with tyranny…choose!
This isn’t fun and games. The power behind this mob is dead serious. They don’t care about the rights of individuals… they care about power. Absolute power. Wake the hell up!
How do you know “most people of color do not” want racial tensions to stop?
I did not say that. Please do not misrepresent my positions.
This was the full sentence I was responding to:
Maybe it’s just me who feels this way, but until Obama arrived on the screen there was no BLM, there was no race based protesting in sports and racial division was almost gone.
Most people of color do not think racial division was almost gone before Obama, and they certainly do not believe that Obama is responsible for worsening racial division.
Re: “Most people of color do not think racial division…etc…”
The liberal lily white boy speaks for “people of color.” Very amusing.
I’m not speaking for them. Are you disputing what I said? Do you think most people of color think that racial division was almost over until Obama was elected and that he then made racial division worse? Because that would be a much harder position to prove.
It would be nice to hear from a person of color on this blog, Pie, but there aren’t any. Why do you think that is? Could it have anything to do with the general line here that people of color are to blame for racism?
Chris, your comment was [almost] removed because it was designed to be inciting and condescending. I said [almost]…but once again my love for free speech fell victim to your rhetoric, so I suppose you win. That’s the way these hit and run attacks work. In order for us to properly respond to you would require volumes of detailed examples. I don’t know about the others here, but I simply don’t have the time or energy to play that game; replying to your bait could be a full time job here.
The breaking news stories are already overwhelming my ability to keep up. However, suffice it to say, I’m angry and offended by your false accusation. But, I also understand it is totally in step with the narrative the radical left has been pushing. I’m incredibly disappointed you have become another mouth for them, because I always hope better would come from you. You are a teacher of children and you have the opportunity to shape minds and inspire ideas, that requires you to be well rounded, fair and objective… your attitude towards police, your lack of understanding about their job and your own racial bias gives me serious concerns.
Which comment, Jack? The one where I asked why Pie thinks there are no people of color who comment here? I did not intend for that to be an offensive question. It’s one I remember asking here before, several times, years before. It wasn’t meant to “incite,” it was meant to inspire reflection. If I ran a blog where every single commenter was white, I’d want to know why. More importantly, the conservative movement as a whole needs to reckon with why the only racial demographic where they have majority support is among whites. I realize that questioning our assumptions and our culpability can be hard, but there has to be some non-racist explanation for this; it can’t just be that whites are the only racial group that are right and everyone else is wrong, can it?
Yes, Chris, that’s the comment… there are no people of color who comment here.
“it can’t just be that whites are the only racial group that are right and everyone else is wrong, can it?”
No Chris, …c’mon, don’t be absurd, why would you even say that? You must know by now that not one person here feels that way.
Don’t even bother Jack, Chris is a belligerent, polemic, partisan, propagandist idiot/fool who asks baited questions. When not baited his questions are simply stupid. In any case he does not merit a response.
Yes, Chris, that’s the comment… there are no people of color who comment here.
OK.
Why do you think that is?
You aren’t born with hatred. That’s a subject that is TAUGHT!
We’ve come so far from the separation of races years ago – and then Obumble became prez and with his ‘selective enforcement’ of laws, the racial hatred raised its ugly head again.
How ironic that Black Lies Matter would like to return us to the days of separate schools and cities by race.
Well said J!!