SciFi Chick wrote:I read about it in The Guardian, and yes, I conflated it in my mind with the fact that Antifa has been classified that way.
I consider Antifa a different kettle of fish, and I know even less about them, so I wasn't including them in my post.
To answer your other question, I think groups that encourage as well as commit violence should be classified as terrorists. As an example, their habit of chanting "Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon." That doesn't seem like peaceful protest to me.
I almost universally oppose groups that either commit or encourage violence, though I'm not sure I would just broadly classify all such groups as terrorists. I think there is a difference, but maybe I'm picking nits.
I had no belief that the group Black Lives Matter either committed or encouraged violence. There may have been events, for example protests in some city, where they were protesting and people committed violence, but I think that is different than saying that they encouraged violence. If I am holding a peaceful protest, and others come in and commit violence, is that my fault?
Shouting offensive slogans might not be my cup of tea, but just shouting them doesn't make a protest non-peaceful, and I certainly don't think it makes you a terrorist.
They're acting like Black people are no better off than they were in the 60's. I heartily disagree.
I'm sorry, but that seems like a poor argument. "We passed the 'Voting Rights Act' and we don't lynch you folks as often as we used to, isn't that good enough?"
Sure, African Americans are better off than they were in the 60s. So are lots of minority groups. Does that mean any continuing discrimination is OK? "Hey, we gave women the right to vote... now you want equal pay?"
I think the evidence is overwhelming that African Americans, particularly African American men (most particularly young men) are disproportionately targeted by police, even if all that happens is a uneventful traffic stop. I've never been stopped for "driving while white". Everything I've read or heard says it is the norm for most Black men.
And some of these police shootings (and the lack of consequences to the shooters) have just been appalling.
Do I think most cops are bad? Absolutely not; the overwhelming majority are good, decent, and hard working. But to say there is no problem, or that departments don't need to clean out the bad apples, is just wrong.
I actually think a lot of the problems are not outright discrimination by police, but very poor police training and skills with regard to high-stress situations.
The main people I've been following that are against the BLM movement are, in fact, Black people. But all of these commentators are on the dreaded YouTube, and my understanding is that no one around here is interested in YouTube videos. If I'm mistaken and you are interested, I'd be happy to dig some up and share them.
Then I think those Black people are wrong. That happens too.
And thank you for the offer, but I'll pass. It isn't anything specifically against YouTube, but I think I've had my fill of this topic and don't want to watch a couple of hours of video (particularly from dubious sources) or read huge websites of a similar kind. I think I've said my piece.