Bad-Assed Kids

Those damned ghetto-ass kids just keep forming flash mobs and robbing law abiding store owners. But after reading posts on mob mentality and group coercion - maybe these were just kids blowing off some steam.

Maybe they were just having a little fun.

Back when I was a kid we'd do some pretty dumb stuff ourselves.

Were the police called? Umm.. sometimes.

But we were smart enough to plan an escape route.

(Except for one time when we lit a field on fire while flicking matches at each other only to put the fire out by running to a nearby irrigation canal to retrieve buckets of water just as the police arrived. We were not arrested but we did receive a stern warning.)

We'd; burn messages into lawns using detergent, pour dish washing liquid into each others pools, egg unsuspecting pedestrians, collect and place dog poop on the mean neighbors car - but we were always just dismissed as kids having fun. 

 If these kids lived in a more bucolic area, maybe they would just tip cows instead.

 In my area, we would purchase large blocks of ice and ruin the practice driving range at a neighborhood golf course.
I'm sure we ruined hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of quality Bahia, Rye and/or Bermuda grasses.

 And those pristine trains don't stand a chance in some areas.
Some call graffiti a crime while others see it as art.

And what kid hasn't thrown a roll or two of toilet paper at a house or tree?
Sure, these flash mobs may be participating in illegal activity and they all need their asses whipped - but is there any difference (besides class) when it comes to kids having fun?

(One difference is that we knew that we might get our asses whipped - we even expected it. Some say that spanking children is barbaric and ignorant but then they sit an wonder why they have no control over their own bad-assed kids. These same adults place the blame on society instead of taking responsibility for their own progeny.)

But The 'Solution' Is The Problem

The recent riots in the UK are said to have been started over the mistreatment of citizens by those in authority.
Now, magistrate courts are being told to refer cases involving looters/rioters to the crown courts in order that those involved can be sentenced to ever more severe punishments than usual.

In Which City...

Will riots first break out in America?

They Haven't Got A Prayer

Whether the NEETs in England or bored kids at your area shopping mall, one thing remains the same - today's kids have no music.
Sure, pop tunes can give one the often fleeting feeling of everything being alright - that life is just one big party and that one should not lose his invitation.
But Pop Music is not real music.

If  I believe my assertion that "Music=Prayer" then today's kids are praying to powerless worldly gods who can do little more than produce the illusion of well-being.
To gods which only serve to placate the masses.
But what happens when worldly desires are not enough?
What happens when these worldly desires are unattainable for many?
What happens when being concerned with only "Me" offers little-to-no solace in tough times?

In times past, society often turned to music as a tool with which to focus the needs and desires of the masses.
Both Punk and Rap are the illegitimate offspring of the establishment's Rock&Roll .
Each were created by those who needed a voice but had none.
Can't play the guitar? No problem, just improvise and play a Punk tune.
Can't play the drums either? That's still not a problem, just sample the music of others to create your own Hip Hop.
The outcomes from these times may have still resulted in riots but at least I could understand why these riots occurred.

I'm Black. I'm supposed to know about Hip Hop.
I could use the Public Enemy albums as an example.
But let's use Punk instead to illustrate the belief that music can convey a point to anyone with the ears to hear.
Taking a cue from SeeNew... The Clash is one of my favorite bands.
Their first album was a simple attempt at being heard by those who were experiencing similar problems.
Their classic double-LP London Calling  sought to call attention to bigger issues, to bigger problems than oneself.
Almost thirty years on and many of the songs on the album still apply to many of today's situations and conditions.
But how does a group follow up a double-LP?
With an even more ambitious triple-LP.
Sandinista could now apply to our current wars in the Middle East.
The Apocalypse Now- inspired Charlie Don't Surf  could now be  re-titled "Muhammad Don't Surf".
The Call Up could be used as a call to all to forgo joining the military in a time of unjust wars.

Sure, people will riot when they feel they have no voice.
But with the right music, these riots will be more focused and will likely bring about a more desirable outcome.
With the right music - ones prayers will be answered.

Why Riot?

 When citizens serve a corrupt government instead of the government serving the people...

 When financial institutions prey on the working man's 401k...

 When the government thinks that it's easier to imprison some of it's citizens instead of treating them fairly...

 When educational institutions would rather cheat than teach...

 When religious institutions prey on their members...

When we are involved in business which is not our own...

When parents fail to protect their own children...
People lose faith in the institutions which hold society together.
When people lose all hope - people riot.

OWN Something.

 And then you can tell me how the riots and looting in England are justified.
It's not as though people are burning and looting government buildings and threatening the lives of those sworn to serve them.
These riots effect regular working people who actually pay the taxes which fund the services many looters probably rely upon for their living.

 Are these people fighting for freedom?
Maybe... I don't know the living conditions of those in the effected areas .

In an effort to better serve it's citizens, London has installed cameras everywhere.

The Guardian ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/ ) is even assisting in the effort to catch these hooligans.

"London Calling"? I'll one-up you with "Guns of Brixton".

(Who knew The Clash would be so prescient?)



Did Africans "Discover" Europe?

Of course they did!
Check out afroeurope's point of view
http://afroeurope.blogspot.com/

Family?

Okay brohammas, let me get this straight.
 So... Satan is allowed limited access into heaven because he is 'family'?

Are you saying that...
Satan is the heavenly family's version of 'Gator'?
("I smoked the TV, mama.")

Let's Just Make Him a 'Her'... No, Let Him Convert To Islam... No Wait... Let's Make Him Half-Black/Half-Hispanic... and Gay

IDK... He kind-of looks like Tiger Woods...