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Hey Ferguson, Is Anyone Listening?
Townhall.com ^ | December 5, 2014 | Wayne Dupree

Posted on 12/05/2014 10:42:36 AM PST by Kaslin

So Charles Barkley is the latest in a line of public figures to come under fire from the Liberal media for calling the Ferguson rioters “scumbags.” Not the protestors, the rioters who looted and burned approximately 20 buildings in Ferguson crippling small businesses and causing unknown financial damages. I do not want to diminish Mr. Barkley’s characterization of the rioters because I have made a similar characterizations myself, but the interview in its entirety spoke to a thoughtful and reasoned approach to his opinion on the Ferguson verdict and strong feelings about black culture and issues within the black community. Did anyone who did not take the time to listen to the video hear those thoughtful perspectives? His comments fly directly in the face of the narrative of victimization, oppression and racial tension that is so critical to keeping the racist meme alive.

In fact in Huffington Post's live coverage of the interview, Mr. Barkley was characterized as “siding with law enforcement” in the Ferguson matter. This type of polarizing theme is critically important to the mainstream media (MSM), comprised of the major news networks. They have made victims of, glorified, and coddled these ‘scumbags’ because they fit into the far Left’s storyline. Looters, arsonists and scumbags were easily manipulated into rage on a stage for the whole world to see. The MSM kept up the narrative by minimizing or eliminating facts that did not fit into the networks political narrative. Anyone who saw the abrupt and awkward transition made by Andrea Mitchell on "Meet the Press" this past Sunday just to keep from discussing relevant physical evidence can clearly see how important this continued narrative of racial strife and division is to the media. Meanwhile Conservative activists on social media are raising funds to help the business owners rebuild. I wonder how much MSNBC and Salon have donated to the same?

I truly believe America's Black community wants change but largely fails to encourage change in the most need areas.... that is from within. As long as the media continues to polarize the black community around issues like Ferguson, meaningful dialogue is not possible. We need to talk about the number of young black men who die violently at the hands of other young black men. We need to talk about the destruction of the black nuclear family and the problems fatherless families have created in our communities. We need to talk about the black culture in our poorest cities that discourages academic achievement and good choices. Any number of successful black writers and commentators are bringing up these topics, but we only get play around media circuses like Ferguson and we are only brought on for a sound byte. Nothing gets fixed with a sound byte.

As long as a significant number of Black Americans choose to embracing the misguided attitude that openly discussing our shortcomings is somehow taboo we will continue living under an unnecessary sentence of permanent victim status. Promotion of this groupthink mentality, coupled with the Left’s ability to control the media narrative closes the door on real and productive conversation. This mindset also keeps people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and other like-minded leaders in positions of prominence while it does nothing for our community as a whole and prevents us from ever truly embracing our potential.

So, is anybody listening? For those who call me "Uncle Tom" and worse, please know it is that type of criticism that fuels my desire to continue on the path I have chosen. I do not hate being Black. I believe Black people are capable of far more than we have allowed ourselves to embrace on a large, visible scale.I am as proud of who I am as any person who takes pride in their identity and cultural heritage. As long as I remain a witness to the black community being manipulated by the media and those with political aspirations into excusing their failures and learned dependence, I will continue to try and start the discussion in vocal and provocative ways.

So are you listening? I agree with all six plus minutes of Charles Barkley’s interview. Are you brave enough to hear what to say?


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: blackcommunity; ferguson; violence

1 posted on 12/05/2014 10:42:36 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

liberals hate People not on the reservation plantation. The Ferguson people are on the reservation plantation. Break a liberal’s heart, or al’s, jessie’s, and obama’s. Leave the reservation plantation, Ferguson .... and be responsible adults.


2 posted on 12/05/2014 10:46:27 AM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Kaslin

barkley did sometyhing no one else in the public eye (at least that I have seen/heard) has done, he’s condemned the rioters. That’s what EVERYONE should have done from the start of this. If you want to protest lawfully go ahead. but you riot you are criminal piece of filth.

the second thing that should be said (but never will) is we don’t have a police problem, we have a black culture problem. Yeah sure there are cops on power trips here and there, but a much larger problem is that 12% of the population commits over half the violent crime in the country. And its not white cops.


3 posted on 12/05/2014 10:57:11 AM PST by Cubs Fan (The ferguson rioters, looters and arsonists are DOMESTIC LEFT WING TERRORISTS)
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To: Kaslin

No soldiers and Nixon cowering, more lootin’ in Fergy, Mo.


4 posted on 12/05/2014 11:13:53 AM PST by tflabo (Truth or tyranny)
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To: Kaslin

The media needs to establish exactly which organizations are behind these riots and expose them. Communists, Marxists, muslim terror organizations, etc. The light of day needs to go much deeper than just the residents of Ferguson.


5 posted on 12/05/2014 11:20:51 AM PST by Bluebeard16
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To: Kaslin
 photo authcoid32345part2_zpsaa0a71f0.jpg
6 posted on 12/05/2014 11:30:28 AM PST by SkyDancer (I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am)
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To: Bluebeard16
The media needs to establish exactly which organizations are behind these riots and expose them. Communists, Marxists, muslim terror organizations, etc. The light of day needs to go much deeper than just the residents of Ferguson.

Huh? It is the media who ARE the organizations which are behind all of this. They enable, they support, then cover, and cover up for all of the communist agitators who were in Fergadishu.

7 posted on 12/05/2014 12:06:55 PM PST by Ouderkirk (To the left, everything must evidence that this or that strand of leftist theory is true)
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To: Kaslin
Hey Ferguson, Is Anyone Listening?

Nope!

We've got another Gentle Giant in NYC to use to destroy things.

8 posted on 12/05/2014 1:07:10 PM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Kaslin; Gefn
Grumpy Cat - Ferguson - Clean photo GrumpyCat-Ferguson-clean.jpg
9 posted on 12/05/2014 2:24:00 PM PST by Slings and Arrows ("I Only Love You When I'm Drunk" - http://youtu.be/uT-tCbvfDUg)
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To: Kaslin
 photo FergusonTShirts.jpg
10 posted on 12/05/2014 3:13:02 PM PST by HotHunt
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To: Ouderkirk

I guess using the word “media” was an error on my part. What I meant was some actual journalist like Breitbart or Project Veritas. Someone who really has integrity. And guts!


11 posted on 12/05/2014 4:11:08 PM PST by Bluebeard16
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