4 Dead in O-HI-O

[El-Moldo]

Since I display such little understanding of history, and everything to me is a value judgement, maybe some of you guys can help me here. April 29, 1992: Four police officers are acquitted in the beating of Rodney King during his arrest. South Central L.A. erupts in a fit of violence, creating one of the worst riots in U.S. history. Burning, looting, fighting. People going berserk. I can still see the replays of Reginald Denny being pulled from his truck and getting the "you know what" beat out of him by black rioters. I particularly remember him getting hit square in the face with a brick thrown at close range by a black man, all filmed by a helicopter above. Same as Kent State? Why not? After all, aren't "large groups of agitated and inflamed people are capable of anything". Same as Kent State or different? Normal behavior or a disgrace? Both groups of demonstrators just heard bad news. Both just heard something they didn't want to hear. Were they right in their actions? Is this how you show your disappointment?

[fleaflicker]

Neither group of rioters was right in their actions, since random violence wasn't justified. However, the police officers beating the you know what out of Rodney King weren't justified either.

In both cases, they should have protested peaceably. But people wanted to use it as an excuse to break into stores and steal tvs and whatever.

The rioters should have taken out on the cops who beat the crap out of Rodney King if they were so upset by it. And the Kent State people should hve found those responsible for our country being in Vietnam and taken it out on them. But in both cases, the mobs took their anger out on those who had nothing to do with it.

[El-Moldo]

Thank you. Both Kent State and the L.A. riots were a black eye on America's past.

[Bedrock]

I have never seen someone like to argue like Moldy---not even DC.

Since we are in the protest mood, how about a little CCR, Buffalo Springfield, or Barry McGuire?

[The Ancient Enemy]

Love to kick my feet 'way down the shallow water. Shoefly, dragonfly, get back t'your mother. Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River.

[Pale Rider]

Just about a year ago, I set out on the road.
Seekin' my fame and fortune, lookin' for a pot o' gold.
Things got bad, and things got worse, guess you know the tune.
Oh Lord, stuck in LODI again!