From: wbrown@access.digex.com (William Brown)
Subject: Re: Spike Lee
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 09:37:31 GMT

In article <DJgqTB1w163w@peewee> peewee@infoserv.com (Philip Stromer) writes:
>	>So why ask scaa to condemn them [the rioters], especially?  
>				       
>Because if the rioters aren't condemned, they'll be encouraged to        
>do it again.  This will just give enterprising business persons
>one more reason NOT to open shops there.
>	

   If conditions aren't improved, the rioters will be encouraged to do it
again.  In his last days in office, Bush has vetoed the enterprise zone
act.  While the politicans politik, nothing changes in South Central.


>way to condemn ALL the rioters.  I also condemn the way the cops ran  
>away with their tails tucked between their legs.  The National Guard
>should have been on call as soon as the King verdict was reached.
>

Just an aside.  We (the National Guard) are NOT trained in riot control. 
The weapons we use do not contain riots - they destroy well foritfied men
and machines.  I've always found it a little ironic that the experts in
riot control - the civilian police, call in the Guard for really big
riots.  I have a secret for you - we usually carry unloaded weapons.  A
loaded M16 in a civilian population is a BIG no-no.  The shotguns carried
by the police wouln't dent our vehicles.  As a branch of the military, we
simply aren't trained to keep any "enemy" alive in a fight.  (Remember the
scenes from the retreating Iraqi army?)  The real deterrent is the SITE of
all that gear, despite the fact that it's usually unloaded.  I think the
civilian police must show a tremendous degree of restraint - if a wartime
enemy acted that way, the military would throw in so many bullets so
quickly the cockroaches would run for cover.  I'm very glad we're NOT
armed in those situations - we REALLY aren't trained for it.

>day, the acquittal was a foregone conclusion.  However, this in no
>way absolves the rioters/looters/arsonists from ONE IOTA of their
>actions.
>
>--Philip Stromer (peewee@infoserv.com)

Stromer,
   It's amazing and sadly predictable how you always have something
negative to say about Black leaders and the perennially disenfranchised. 
You have criticized every Black leader mentioned on this net.  In fact,
you have more than criticized their positions, you have attacked their
personalities. Yet you never have one word of criticism for the social
forces that keep depressing the American Black population.  Tell me
something, Stromer,

   Are your writings on this service a way of getting back at the Black
community for not accepting your marriage to a Black woman?  Did you go
into your marriage expecting a welcome response from the Black community
(as, in my opinion and personal experience Whites tend to do in
interracial marriages) and have a rude awakening to the extreme bias
against White mates in the Black community?  And if you did, are your
writings here an attempt at payback? Do you feel unjustly condemned by the
Black community for the wrongs heaped upon the Black community? And does
this hurt all the more because you are married to a member of the Black
community?

   This is not a flame, Stromer.  It's an honest question.  If I'm way off
base here, tell me.  (As if someone needed to prompt you for your
opinion.)  It just seems to me that you are having a very hard time
dealing with the community reaction to your marriage.  You know - "well I
did so MUCH (sic) for the Black community by marrying one of them..." 
Black community response: "Don't do US any favors!"  Your response -
"F___k you!"

   This is a QUESTION, not a forgone conclusion.  I have no IDEA how your
marriage was received and how it shapes your response to the Black
community, if at all.  I mean no insult, I'm just trying to figure out why
your responses are so one-sided, and why you never play (or even
understand) both sides of the field.

   And for the record, his aren't the ONLY one-sided opinions...

   Now I think I'll climb into MY flame-proof suit (by the way, where'd
you pick yours up?) and await your reply.  (smile)  It's just a question -
no insult meant.

Peace.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american