Chaos & Mayhem in American Malls

[deacon blues]

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nbcne...?client=safari

In all of the videos I saw, I noticed those fighting were African American. Just curious as to the thoughts from those here that are oftentimes crying racism on AFF---why? Why does this seem to be a cultural phenomenon? How can America stop this trend? When I moved to Memphis there was a mall called the Mall of Memphis. It was full of shops and had an ice skating rink in the middle. Today it's a leveled off field. There was another mall on my end of town. Today it's an empty piece of real estate. My fear is after yesterday, what used to be the best mall in town is going to devolve into another empty shell. Crime violence and fear for personal safety will keep people away and will kill the businesses in the mall. I know I'm thinking of moving away within a few years. I talk to other folks who feel the same way. You can't blame people fleeing the consistent crime and violence that comes from the AA community.

[aegsm76]

I do not have the answer for your question.
It seems a long time ago when I was in high school and my best friend was AA.
I spent many late nights at his house playing video games and would leave at 2-3 am to drive home.
Or the nights I would play BB and would be the only non-AA on the court with 40-50 other guys.
We are now more divided than ever, in many regards.
BHO had a rare opportunity to bridge this divide and unite us.
However, his actions have done the exact opposite and further divided us.

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

We are now more divided than ever, in many regards.

Really?? More divided than the 50's, 60's? really?

I know we're not in an utopia, but I think it's a lot better than it used to be.

Originally Posted by aegsm76

BHO had a rare opportunity to bridge this divide and unite us.However, his actions have done the exact opposite and further divided us.

Give just two examples of how BHO could have united us?

When from the very beginning, the republican leadership set out to limit him to "one term"??
When a lot conservatives and their news outlet consistently labelled him the "antichrist", "lucifer", "not american", etc??

How in the world could he even remotely unite us??

Honestly, it will be easier for a white dude to unite us than a black guy.

Especially as the first black president, he had to walk a very thin line -
Black people will criticize him for "selling out" if they perceive him as criticizing black folks (after all the injustice historically meted out on black folks)

White people will criticize him for NOT putting black folks in check and for their perceived loss of being the ruling class (case in point, Bill O'Reilly's recent rant about the white establishment's loss of power).

So tell me how the first black president had any chance of uniting us again?

Will be waiting...

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Really?? More divided than the 50's, 60's? really?

I know we're not in an utopia, but I think it's a lot better than it used to be.


Give just two examples of how BHO could have united us?

When from the very beginning, the republican leadership set out to limit him to "one term"??
When a lot conservatives and their news outlet consistently labelled him the "antichrist", "lucifer", "not american", etc??

How in the world could he even remotely unite us??

Honestly, it will be easier for a white dude to unite us than a black guy.

Especially as the first black president, he had to walk a very thin line -
Black people will criticize him for "selling out" if they perceive him as criticizing black folks (after all the injustice historically meted out on black folks)

White people will criticize him for NOT putting black folks in check and for their perceived loss of being the ruling class (case in point, Bill O'Reilly's recent rant about the white establishment's loss of power).

So tell me how the first black president had any chance of uniting us again?

Will be waiting...

Every chance Obama got, he sided with the black thugs and against the police. Every chance Obama got, he sided with terrorists and opposed conservatives. Every chance Obama got, he was divisive.

When Obama took office, he pledged to meet with any foreign head of state, with no stipulations, even the ones sponsoring terrorism. He would not provide the same courtesy to members of Congress.

When the "hands up, don't shoot" lie was being propagated, Obama sided with the lie and threw the police under the bus.

Every time there was a mass shooting, Obama was quick to deny that it had anything to do with terrorism, but he called Tea Party members, conservatives - anyone that believes in God, pretty much - racist, bigoted, homophobic and "clinging to their guns and religion".

The list could go on and on. I'd probably run out of space before I could finish typing up all the divisive garbage this "pResident" has spewed over the last 8 years.

Don't come at me telling me conservatives are to blame. Obama never even attempted to meet us halfway. Remember "conservatives can come along, but they have to ride in the back". Or how about (again, referring to conservatives/Republicans) "they bring a knife, we'll bring a gun".

Shall I keep going?

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

When from the very beginning, the republican leadership set out to limit him to "one term"??

Yeah, they fought to limit him to one term, because they knew his policies would be horrible for America. All you have to do, is look at his upbringing. He was raised by a communist loving mother. His mentor was Bill Ayers, a known and unrepented terrorist. His pastor for 20 years, taught "Black Liberation Theology", which is inherently racist. His college thesis was on Karl Marx. The man is a Commie.

Originally Posted by TGBTG

When a lot conservatives and their news outlet consistently labelled him the "antichrist", "lucifer", "not american", etc??

Bull. What news outlet? Antichrist and lucifer? Maybe from Beck, but not from any reputable source. Not American? Well, I'd argue that his actions are UN-American; but if you're talking about the birther nonsense, that was all started by Hillary Clinton, not conservatives.

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by Jito463

Yeah, they fought to limit him to one term, because they knew his policies would be horrible for America. All you have to do, is look at his upbringing. He was raised by a communist loving mother. His mentor was Bill Ayers, a known and unrepented terrorist. His pastor for 20 years, taught "Black Liberation Theology", which is inherently racist. His college thesis was on Karl Marx. The man is a Commie.

Yeah, if your upbringing is not approved by conservatives, you're not fit to be president..lol

How is black liberation theology inherently racist?? Ok, so you might not agree with the pastor's speeches, but jeez, considering the period in which Obama attended that church, I think every black person in America at that time needed liberation

Originally Posted by Jito463

Bull. What news outlet? Antichrist and lucifer? Maybe from Beck, but not from any reputable source. Not American? Well, I'd argue that his actions are UN-American; but if you're talking about the birther nonsense, that was all started by Hillary Clinton, not conservatives.

Hmmm...there are tons of FOX news videos to that effect.

Oh, btw, why does Obama have the "unique opportunity" to unite us and all the previous presidents did not?
Again, this shows the implicit bias people have towards him.

Basically, conservatives want Obama to have been the black guy who said "Let's just forget slavery, racism, etc ever existed in the USA and move on."

A white guy saying something similar to that would not look nice, so let's have the black guy do it in the name of "unity"...puhleezzz

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Yeah, if your upbringing is not approved by conservatives, you're not fit to be president..lol

If that upbringing involves anti-American values, then no, you're not fit to be President. The office of the President is supposed to represent American values, both at home and abroad. One can't do that, if their values are inherently in opposition to the rest of America.

Originally Posted by TGBTG

How is black liberation theology inherently racist?? Ok, so you might not agree with the pastor's speeches, but jeez, considering the period in which Obama attended that church, I think every black person in America at that time needed liberation

I suggest you do some research into BLT. It's not about "liberation", I'll tell you that.

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Hmmm...there are tons of FOX news videos to that effect.

Prove it. Post one here.

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Oh, btw, why does Obama have the "unique opportunity" to unite us and all the previous presidents did not?
Again, this shows the implicit bias people have towards him.

I never claimed he did. In my opinion, the only unity we need, is to unite behind conservative Christian values. Everything else is just pandering.

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Basically, conservatives want Obama to have been the black guy who said "Let's just forget slavery, racism, etc ever existed in the USA and move on."

Guess what, slavery DOESN'T EXIST! There hasn't been any slavery in the US for 150+ years (at least, not legal, I do recognize there's human trafickers that need stopped). And the US didn't create slavery, it put an end to it, with a war that cost over 600,000 American lives. As for racism, most people aren't racist. The majority of us don't even give it any thought, until the left tries to shout us down by throwing out the accusation; which no longer works, as they've cried wolf (racist) too many times.

Originally Posted by TGBTG

A white guy saying something similar to that would not look nice, so let's have the black guy do it in the name of "unity"...puhleezzz

See above.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nbcne...?client=safari

In all of the videos I saw, I noticed those fighting were African American. Just curious as to the thoughts from those here that are oftentimes crying racism on AFF---why? Why does this seem to be a cultural phenomenon? How can America stop this trend? When I moved to Memphis there was a mall called the Mall of Memphis. It was full of shops and had an ice skating rink in the middle. Today it's a leveled off field. There was another mall on my end of town. Today it's an empty piece of real estate. My fear is after yesterday, what used to be the best mall in town is going to devolve into another empty shell. Crime violence and fear for personal safety will keep people away and will kill the businesses in the mall. I know I'm thinking of moving away within a few years. I talk to other folks who feel the same way. You can't blame people fleeing the consistent crime and violence that comes from the AA community.

I don't have the answer for your questions.

Once I can be looked at as an individual and not lumped with and not be held a little bit responsible for the actions of violent young bastards who happen to also be black, then I will feel a lot better about race relations in this country.

Alas, I wear my skin like a mark, a constant accusation and reminder that I am one of them.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Really?? More divided than the 50's, 60's? really?

I know we're not in an utopia, but I think it's a lot better than it used to be.


Give just two examples of how BHO could have united us?

When from the very beginning, the republican leadership set out to limit him to "one term"??
When a lot conservatives and their news outlet consistently labelled him the "antichrist", "lucifer", "not american", etc??

How in the world could he even remotely unite us??

Honestly, it will be easier for a white dude to unite us than a black guy.

Especially as the first black president, he had to walk a very thin line -
Black people will criticize him for "selling out" if they perceive him as criticizing black folks (after all the injustice historically meted out on black folks)

White people will criticize him for NOT putting black folks in check and for their perceived loss of being the ruling class (case in point, Bill O'Reilly's recent rant about the white establishment's loss of power).

So tell me how the first black president had any chance of uniting us again?

Will be waiting...

I appreciate reading this post.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Jito463

Every chance Obama got, he sided with the black thugs and against the police. Every chance Obama got, he sided with terrorists and opposed conservatives. Every chance Obama got, he was divisive.

When Obama took office, he pledged to meet with any foreign head of state, with no stipulations, even the ones sponsoring terrorism. He would not provide the same courtesy to members of Congress.

When the "hands up, don't shoot" lie was being propagated, Obama sided with the lie and threw the police under the bus.

Every time there was a mass shooting, Obama was quick to deny that it had anything to do with terrorism, but he called Tea Party members, conservatives - anyone that believes in God, pretty much - racist, bigoted, homophobic and "clinging to their guns and religion".

The list could go on and on. I'd probably run out of space before I could finish typing up all the divisive garbage this "pResident" has spewed over the last 8 years.

Don't come at me telling me conservatives are to blame. Obama never even attempted to meet us halfway. Remember "conservatives can come along, but they have to ride in the back". Or how about (again, referring to conservatives/Republicans) "they bring a knife, we'll bring a gun".

Shall I keep going?

Yes you should, but don't exaggerate or regurgitate falsehoods.