When was the last time we had some good 'ol fashioned rioting against the government in the USA? America has seen countless scandals, especially in the last 5 years, that would probably have caused civil unrest in most other countries in the world. Even the French, who many Americans like to call pussies, rioted over the death of two teenagers and what they claimed to be an oppresive and excessively brutal police force. The two teenagers killed weren't even killed by the police, they accidentally killed themselves hiding from the police. Yet here in America, we have seen Amadou Diallo, and more recently Sean Bell (both unarmed men) shot to death by the police. What happened with that? "Fierce criticism". Even in the last 50 years, the most civil unrest America has seen is hippies putting flowers in the barrels of the guns of the national guard. In China, people have rioted over pollution, a young boy being denied treatment at a hospital, and even just for the fares of a bus line being doubled. Has the American population become content with newspaper articles and satire shows criticizing their government, without any actual change? Why have we become so "brainwashed" as a whole?
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Is America one of the most complacent countries today?
| Yes | 77% | 77% - 27 | ||||
| No | 22% | 22% - 8 | ||||
| Total: 35 | ||||||
Probably because many of us Americans live with a comfortable standard of living and can't be arsed to rebel, so long as we maintain that standard. Aren't people innately afraid of change?
The French riots seem to have began in a "poor commune." I don't exactly know the situation of most Chinese in China, but from the looks of it, they aren't too well off are they? In riots and rebellions, the poor have the most to gain and the least to lose, so it seems like that's the correlation between these incidents in China and France. But in America, standards are somewhat high, so as long as that doesn't change, we probably won't see much rioting. If by some chance, someone in a poor neighborhood seems to die from an unjust cause, you never know, a riot may spark there. Not to say all poor people are potential rioters; all people are. It just seems to me that it just boils over enough for the poor, seeing as they are probably the ones that feel the most oppressed.
The only riot that I can remember (not from experience, just from hearing about it) is the 1990 (?) LA riot.
The French riots seem to have began in a "poor commune." I don't exactly know the situation of most Chinese in China, but from the looks of it, they aren't too well off are they? In riots and rebellions, the poor have the most to gain and the least to lose, so it seems like that's the correlation between these incidents in China and France. But in America, standards are somewhat high, so as long as that doesn't change, we probably won't see much rioting. If by some chance, someone in a poor neighborhood seems to die from an unjust cause, you never know, a riot may spark there. Not to say all poor people are potential rioters; all people are. It just seems to me that it just boils over enough for the poor, seeing as they are probably the ones that feel the most oppressed.
The only riot that I can remember (not from experience, just from hearing about it) is the 1990 (?) LA riot.
I think rioting happens only when significant numbers of people feel they are being treated unfairly. Although vast numbers of Americans think the Bush Administration has done some incredibly dumb and destructive things that harmed the country, I'm not sure many people feel like they have been treated unfairly.
I don't think the deaths of Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo were seen as examples of a widespread phenomenon. It is quite rare for NYC police to shoot innocent people.
There has been some rioting at WTO (or G-8?) meetings (I think one riot was in Seattle) and eco-terrorism could also be considered in the same category.
Riots seem more likely in China, where the government has much more power and people have very little say in what it does.
I don't know enough about the French riots, except that they mostly involved North African immigrants, who are probably routinely treated like shit there.
I don't think the deaths of Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo were seen as examples of a widespread phenomenon. It is quite rare for NYC police to shoot innocent people.
There has been some rioting at WTO (or G-8?) meetings (I think one riot was in Seattle) and eco-terrorism could also be considered in the same category.
Riots seem more likely in China, where the government has much more power and people have very little say in what it does.
I don't know enough about the French riots, except that they mostly involved North African immigrants, who are probably routinely treated like shit there.
America? Complacent? Hardly.
It seems to me that we tend to have more protests than full-out riots. However, watching World's Wildest Police Videos and the like, you may see some situations that you could call a riot. A riot just seems to be an excuse for stupid drunkards to damage property and assault others. It does appear quite odd though that with the large amount of disapproval for the president and congress that we haven't had any massive uprising of violence. Perhaps the obesity and sedentary lifestyles contributed to the lack of rioting
I, however, place blame for few riots on the fact that soccer is not THE sport here
I, however, place blame for few riots on the fact that soccer is not THE sport here
Its been 15 years since Rodney King.
I lived with an Italian guy for a while and he couldn't believe how much shit we took from our Government here in Ireland without marching or protesting ...but then again he was Italian! I don't know about America being the most complacent developed nation but it would be up there in the top 5 imo.
I'd say yes, but on the other hand, the people of China are even more complacent. Look at the shit they put up with....
Yeah, I think that we have grown more complacent as a nation. We are under the false impression that we as a people are in control of our government. Yes, we do elect representatives to the government......but who are they actually there for, us..or themselves? We let our gov't get away with a lot of crap that needs to be stopped, but we live in our own little happy world and don't wanna rock the boat. Our mentality is that someone else will do it eventually.
We're not complacent. We're narcissistic. We dont care about injustice. We only care about problems that affect us as individuals, and for the most part; its not that bad. I mean, when was the last time you said to yourself "im being opressed right now this very instant."? There may be a few "hot" topics that piss us off, but as long as we can keep going the way we are without any accountability then we just dont care.
Key words for the day kids: Narcissism , Apathy
Admit it. You dont give a fuck!
Key words for the day kids: Narcissism , Apathy
Admit it. You dont give a fuck!
You know.....your right, narcissism. That's what it boils down too is that we only care if it happens to us. I do think that theres more to it then someone being oppressed, its the fact that our government can get away with whatever they want and no one holds them accountableXBurnerX wrote:
We're not complacent. We're narcissistic. We dont care about injustice. We only care about problems that affect us as individuals, and for the most part; its not that bad. I mean, when was the last time you said to yourself "im being opressed right now this very instant."? There may be a few "hot" topics that piss us off, but as long as we can keep going the way we are without any accountability then we just dont care.
Key words for the day kids: Narcissism , Apathy
Admit it. You dont give a fuck!
With a mere 50 million people and about 11,000 public protests a year South Korea is surely winning in the most pollitical demonatrations crown.
http://www.who-sucks.com/people/the-exc … n-protests
Oh and to all people who want to ban flag burning, here's what happens if you do:
It gets replaced by flag eating.
http://www.who-sucks.com/people/the-exc … n-protests
Oh and to all people who want to ban flag burning, here's what happens if you do:
It gets replaced by flag eating.
Yep, exactly.san4 wrote:
I don't know enough about the French riots, except that they mostly involved North African immigrants, who are probably routinely treated like shit there.
And French cops tend to be quite racist too.
TBH i see a potential civil war and at least mass rioting over here in america sometime in the next 20 years or so, maybe 30
either that or a massive political overhaul
either that or a massive political overhaul
The american public, in general, is ignorant to the working of the 'outside world'.Home wrote:
Why have we become so "brainwashed" as a whole?
They occured in Le Bourget, a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. A majority of the population are (often poor) african immigrants.Smithereener wrote:
The French riots seem to have began in a "poor commune."
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