Clarice Feldman: Ferguson, Missouri, to Gaza, Damascus and Sinjar

American Thinker ^ | August 17, 2014 | Clarice Feldman

[jazusamo]

An online friend “Miss Marple” notes the similarities between the thuggery in Ferguson, Missouri and the depredations of the Middle East’s jihadi wild packs:

I read a book by the historian Barbara Tuchman [A Distant Mirror. The Calmitous 14th Century] which theorized that the Hundred Years War was caused by a culture that was adolescent, because so many older people had died during the Black Plague.

All of the nobles and rulers at that time were in their late teens and had not much guidance from older, calmer heads.

That idea has remained with me ever since I read the book, and when I see crowds of angry young men, whether in the Middle East of urban America, I think about it. Adolescent cultures react emotionally, are disproportionately concerned with machismo and being respected, act on impulse, and have no long-term goals.

I think there’s something to that. It is not, however, the only connection between the two places and events.

Obama and his policies -- on foreign affairs hopelessly naive and on domestic matters fashioned only for personal political advantage -- are also intimately connected with this havoc.

Let me explain. Most of us are by now wise to a few things about American race riots.

In the first place, the media has a template that shapes the initial reports -- a template as false as it is incendiary. The slain young black man is always initially described as an honor student and a saint and is pictured as a very young, presumably fragile, boy. When the truth that he was something of a thug comes out and that he was quite a bit older and larger than pictured, the damage has already largely been done...

[no-to-illegals]

Their communities should make them cry and sing. Shop avoiding your duty communities!

[TEXOKIE]

I loved that book referenced in the article. Thanks for posting this!

[Shery]

Thanks. I’ll have to read that book.

[no-to-illegals]

and shop to stop .... LOL ... most of the communities am talking to are shopping at the wrong left turn ... yep al and jessie, tell ‘em to go to work and STOP the five finger pulls. That will scare them into straight or you two (al and jessie) lose your jobs. Isn’t it a shame tax-payers help fund al and jessie?

[jazusamo]

Feldman is a favorite of mine and it sure seems that Tuchman’s book applies to the situation of black turmoil and riots over the last half century or so.

[jazusamo]

Bump :-)

[no-to-illegals]

May I offer up you a BUMP, Jazusamo, and lead us to a video and song?

[no-to-illegals]

am going to another thread Jazusamo. Will post vid and song there.

[upchuck]

Excellent article by Ms. Feldman. Go give it a read. She even ties the Middle East into this.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above to donate or become a monthly donor!

[okie01]

Thanks. I’ll have to read that book.

All of Tuchman's books are worth reading. Serious history, well-written.

[Political Junkie Too]

...when I see crowds of angry young men, whether in the Middle East of urban America...

I think she meant "or" here.

An online friend “Miss Marple” notes...

Is this you?

-PJ

[Slings and Arrows]

This is the money quote:

How much better we’d all be if those funds went to place cameras in every police car so we’d not have these divisive incidents spin out of control over and again.

Bingo! As Mark Steyn put it:

In 2014, when a police cruiser doesn't have a camera, it's a conscious choice. And it should be regarded as such.

[SunkenCiv]

> notes the similarities between the thuggery in Ferguson, Missouri and the depredations of the Middle East’s jihadi wild packs

Jesse Jackson and Himeytown statement flashback ping.

[Political Junkie Too]

...we’d be remiss if we didn’t observe the foolishness of arming and training local police forces to act as if domestic disturbances were military operations.

On Friday, I posted this comment:

---

We always said that the problem with Democrats was that they treat terrorism as criminal acts.

Why are we trying to treat criminal acts as terrorist attacks?

---

-PJ

[jazusamo]

Agreed, a typo that should have been or.

[gattaca]

bmp

[jwalsh07]

Ah. Sweet. Sweet Clarice. A national treasure.

[jazusamo]

I couldn’t agree more. :-)