Fire Hoses And German Shepherds Required

If you're saying that the problem is systemic argle-bargle and you're vocally against argle-bargle and when you march with your anti-argle-bargle comrades, no German shepherds are released to hound you and no fire hoses spray you onto the ground, then the only conclusion is that the system doesn't give a rat's rear end about argle-bargle.

Concrete example: If I go in to work and say, "Racism is bad!" nothing will happen. If I go in to work and say, "Marriage is between one man and one woman!" I'm going to face some serious push-back and might even be sent to HR for disciplinary action. The system will not defend racism. The system will defend "marriage equality." Ergo, the system doesn't support racism. Systemic racism is a myth.

Gasping For Air

After reading this article about a Chicago teen who was shot by his own friend, I was gasping for air at the unspoken insanity.

Short version: A black teen got shot in the forehead by his friend, another black teen, who was actually firing in the general direction of a passing car that was filled with other black teens. Dig this bit.

“He’s so concerned ... he shoots his own friend (while) trying to shoot at the other car,” the judge said. “His lawyer tells me he’s on his way to college. Had he made it, that could have changed his life. … I typically don’t get this kind of young man charged with this kind of offense in front of me. I’m just stunned.”

He's a great guy. He's going to college! Other than the shooting at passing cars and blowing his friend's head off, he was just the sort we need. Don't worry, the standard lesson has been learned.

Laqueanda Reneau, an organizer with (Voices for Youth in Chicago Education), said members were taken aback when they first learned of the charges...

As a 27-year-old mother of two sons, Renaeu said she thinks a lot about the way Chicago treats young Black men. She believes the key to stopping any future harm is to ensure Black children are given opportunities.

Everyone in the story absolves them of any responsibility. This sort of thing is normal and natural. The real problem is Chicago. The "system," if you will. Meanwhile, the judge, who you would think is part of the "system," is as sympathetic as anyone.

I'm thinking the problem might lie somewhere else. 

Here, Caleb, the dude what was shot, protests against cops in the city schools.

He was shot. On the street. By his friend. Who was shooting wildly at a passing car.

No one in the article sees a problem with removing the cops from the schools.