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The Nation's Pulse
Youth or Consequences
Today’s parents always blame the authorities first.
Probably not what Dr. Martin Luther King meant when he spoke of being “free at last.”
Last week, a judge in St. Louis released seven middle school students after the key witness failed to show up for a hearing. The juveniles were accused of beating a local man almost to death. What had the poor man done to deserve such a thrashing? Not a thing. He was simply walking home from the grocery store. The attack, it turned out, was part of a popular craze our local youth call the knockout game, though it is anything but a game. One elderly man has already died from a similar assault.
After the dismissal, the teens celebrated outside the courtroom, high-fiving one another.
Police had arrested the young thugs after they bragged about the beatings on a Facebook page. Evidently, the teens believed society could do nothing to them, even if they crowed publicly about their exploits. It turns out they were right.
One of the teens agreed to testify. However, the witness, a 13-year old girl, soon had second thoughts, no doubt after her life was threatened. The news seemed to re-enforce the notion (already prevalent among county residents) that St. Louis city is little more than a petri dish from hell, a holding pen for the region’s most violent, a real-life “Escape from New York,” the sci-fi movie in which the city has been turned into a giant maximum security prison without guards. (Ironically, director John Carpenter’s film was shot, not in New York, but in St. Louis.)
ADOLESCENTS, OF COURSE, are notorious for their aggressive behavior, their lack of empathy, and their inability to visualize long-term consequences. Such has always been the case. This is why parental discipline is so essential. The fact that the delinquents were allowed to celebrate in the courthouse after successfully intimidating a witness (normally a class C felony), and getting away with assault and battery, and that no one stepped in to quell their gaiety, clearly illustrates that they are without responsible adults in their lives.
Most readers, I suspect, are unable to imagine living in a world in which actions do not have consequences. Had I, in my youth, committed such an act of barbarism — which in itself was unlikely, least of all for fear of my father’s reaction — my dad would have made me apologize to the victim, then dragged me home by the ear where I would have been ordered to “pick my switch.” Had I even contemplated threatening a witness, I would have been packed off to military school immediately.
Back then, of course, adults were more accustomed to trust the so-called authorities. If a student received poor grades at school, parents seldom blamed the teachers. If a child was picked up by the police for shoplifting, his or her parents were genuinely ashamed of themselves and their child, they didn’t take their anger out on the authorities. (This blind trust in authority is how the various clergy abuse scandals were able to go on for so long.)
Today society has gone to the other extreme. It is the authorities who are perceived to be untrustworthy. In the suburbs, parents are likely to blame teachers for their little darlings’ poor academic performance. In the inner city, the parent is likely to accuse police of racial profiling. Said the mother of one of the teenage suspects: “They took my daughter out of school in handcuffs. They had my kid locked up.… She missed Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday and New Year. I had to watch my baby every time I went down there cry… you can’t make an example out of an innocent kid.”
MISSOURIANS, MEANWHILE, have responded to these incidents by arming themselves. The state legislature passed a conceal-and-carry amendment back in 2003. Now when out-of-towners visit the city for a boat show or a sporting event, they often arrive with a loaded weapon stashed under the front seat. How is that working? It has proved a boon for the criminal element, who swarm down on parking lots during sporting events, smashing vehicle windows, and making off with a small arsenal. St. Louis’ mayor has responded with a larger police presence during major concerts and sporting events. The next step, one assumes, is a declaration of martial law.
The 52-year-old victim told a local newspaper that a few days after the suspects’ release, he encountered two of the teens (he recognized them from court) outside the same supermarket. One walked up to him and acted as though he were going to punch him in the face. Then they strode off laughing.
Their mothers would have been proud.
About the Author
Christopher Orlet writes from St. Louis.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (100) | Leave a comment
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Kitty| 1.19.12 @ 6:15AM
my dad would have made me apologize to the victim, then dragged me home by the ear where I would have been ordered to "pick my switch."
Just dragging your kid by an ear will get you arrested these days for abusing your kid. And taking a switch to him? Forget it!
Moe Blotz| 1.19.12 @ 7:07AM
How many juveniles or young adults do not know what the switch youse refer to really is? To them a switch turns electricity on or off.
Alan Brooks| 1.19.12 @ 4:00PM
I always thought drafting a million boys to be sent off to the bungled war in 'Nam was a shitty thing to do.
Someday Selective Service will be shuttered, and its databases destroyed, and OWS may be just the people to do it. We'll see, later this decade.
Mile High| 1.20.12 @ 12:08PM
What's your point here, Alan? Is the Selective Service a really big deal to you? What does it have to do with this article about unsupervised, undisciplined, self centered malcontents? Those adjectives can also apply to the parents of these punks. Although the military would not really want individuls of this caliber, I think the rigors of militay life would do them a world of good.
RJ| 1.19.12 @ 6:53AM
America has certainly changed for the worse over the last several decades. I don't think today's kids could even relate to "Sky King." There as so many indications of a society in decline. I pray that we can turn it around.
Appleby| 1.19.12 @ 7:23AM
It's surprising that this report makes no secret of the fact that the "children" involved were Black. It's a commonplace now to write the Black kids off as uncontrolled savages whom nobody can tame, much as they view the "First Nations" sewers popularly called the "reserves." These are people who have been written off as unreclaimable, and the only thing you can do with them is what you'd do with any savage animal; you can shoot them. If you don't want to shoot them, you can stay out of the jungles where they roam. What a world.
Mac Jehoff| 1.19.12 @ 8:13AM
Where have you gone, Margaret Sanger?
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.19.12 @ 9:24AM
They don't seem to mind. They keep pulling the Lever for the same old Democrats, same as they have, since the 1960's.
Look at this guy.
Under Obama, Black Unemployment is at 17%, and Black Youth Unemployment is at 50%. And these stats are with the BOGUS Numbers, we get from his Labour Department. God only knows what the REAL NUMBERS are.
But, they don't care. They don't care that he took away their children's School Vouchers, because he decided that the Teachers Union's Green Money, was more important to him, than their Black Kids.
Nope. He's got 98% of the Black Vote. NOT because of the Colour of his Skin. (That would be Racist, and go against what MLK preached, right before he was killed.) It's because of the Content of his Character, and all the wonderful things he's done, as President.
They DESERVE everything they get.
Fredx| 1.19.12 @ 10:06AM
"It's surprising that this report makes no secret of the fact that the "children" involved were Black." I'm stumped. I read the article twice and did not see the word "black." I even did a search. In fact, I was wondering what race the hoodlums were. My gripe is that not only is race not uttered in the print media, it's not even mentioned on TV, where you can actually SEE dozens of black kids flash-mobbing a store. If we're too afraid to even NOTICE the fact that they're black, we're in far worse trouble than we think.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 11:56AM
That's the problem with Christopher Orlet. He never uses the word "black" when discussing feral pathological behavior. To him, the problem is inevitably "youths," "teens," or "the culture." Like all mainstream conservatives, he is seemingly terrified of the loss of public face by mentioning the inconvenient fact that race isn't just an issue here; it is THE issue. The "knockout game" is entirely a black sport in St. Louis, in particular targeting whites. As a St. Louis native with plenty of bad experiences with these people, I know first-hand.
WRTolkas| 1.19.12 @ 11:25AM
Think it is fun now, wait until the nation is utterly bankrupt and the message is issued: "Sorry, no more "reparation money."" These lowlifes are payed to stay in their jungle. When the payments stop, I know most of the nation will have to be ready to reply.
mike| 1.19.12 @ 7:44AM
(This blind trust in authority is how the various clergy abuse scandals were able to go on for so long.)
Great article, except for this smear. There are many problems we can attribute to this problem, isolating this one seems below the intent of the piece.
tsd| 1.19.12 @ 7:55AM
Liberal media, Liberal Judges, Liberal School Systems and teachers, Liberal Parents, all promoting fairness, paying unwed mothers for having more kids, more excuses for bad behavior, rights for the criminal and few for the victim. Our society is proof positive liberal is a sickness that is killing a once great country.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 11:58AM
You could sit there all year and you couldn't nameme a single white liberal who plays the knockout game. It can't be done. The issue is blacks, pure and simple.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 11:58AM
You could sit there all year and you couldn't name a single white liberal who plays the knockout game. It can't be done. The issue is blacks, pure and simple.
tsd| 1.19.12 @ 12:28PM
This comment is so simple minded, the issue has nothing to do with skin color, it has to do with thought process.... same as the lack of thought process by Mr. Seek. White, Black, Pink or Blue, bad is bad, good is good, color has nothing to do with it!!
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 3:52PM
Keep saying that, mate, and you actually might believe it one day. Never mind that race is a far more complicated concept than "skin color." What matters is this: It is blacks, and only blacks, who engage in this pattern of random assault and battery. Whites who innocently stray into black neighborhoods do so at their own peril.
"A Clockwork Orange" was a product of the rich imagination of Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrick. It made for great fiction. By contrast, the mass beatdowns of innocents in our cities is a fact -- a black fact.
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 6:32PM
Seek: I worked with British derived white youth in New Zealand who were thugs.
Our problem here is one of culture. Blacks produced the Tuskugee Airemen in WWII. Their grandkids are these thugs. Why? Because of the Liberal welfare programs which destroyed the Black family.
In short, the case is not hopeless. Change the culture back to one of self-respect and self reliance, keep the Civil Rights.
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:58PM
Seek:
we see very similar problems with WHITE youths in Britain---note Theodore Dalrymple's excellent works (Anthony Daniels is his real name). Lots of White Liberals play the "knockout" game in Britain.
In New Zealand, Chinese, Koreans, and Singaporeans are looked upon as Blacks are here. Yup---the same racial group looked upon as super hard studying ubernerds here.
Men are ALL THE SAME, in the mass (yes there are geniuses and fools in all cultures, but follow me here). It is what the culture emphasizes that detrmines the man. For example, Jewish culture requires an act of literacy to claim manhood. I'm sure Jack and Clint's rite of manhood involved poo and some flinging.
My concern with the Black community is that the sense that men need to take care of their kids has been destroyed over the last 50 years, by cultural changes forced upon Blacks by Liberals and the "War on Poverty." This has resulted in the thuggery above. To create more Justice Thomases and fewer hooligans, simply change the Culture and emphasize different things in the rite of passage to manhood.
But melanin has jack all to do with it.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 7:21PM
Brit whites who randomly punch people aren't as numerous or feral as the blacks -- witness that charming rampage this past summer in Tottenham. And they're not likely to be "liberals," assuming they have any defineable political viewpoints at all. We need less "empowerment" than we do Enoch Powell.
Andrew B| 1.19.12 @ 8:06AM
I am old enough (49) to remember the exact moment I knew the rules had changed. A well-known thug in my school jabbed me in the stomach with the sharp point of a compass stolen from geometry class. When I reacted, it was I who got a talking-to from the teacher. She said "Don't you yell at him! He comes from a home without a mother!"
I politely pointed out that my mother had died when I was in second grade, and so I labored under the same "disability". The teacher shrugged and went about her business of comforting the thug.
That was the moment I became a conservative. I never thanked my teacher for providing me with such a perfect object lesson. Somehow, I don't think she would be pleased.
Drunken Sailor| 1.19.12 @ 10:18AM
Amen Andrew. When my oldest was getting punched daily by a bully, I told him to report it. He did and nothing happend. I contacted the school and verified he reported it. I'm sure they were shocked when I let the matter drop. The next time the kid got in his face my son punched him in the nose as I had instructed, when the kid came at him again my son punched him in the nose again, as instructed. Fight over. I got the phone call to pick my son up, went and in front of the pricipal asked my son if he wanted to go to lunch to celebrate. The pricipal stood there bug eyed and said , your rewarding him for hitting another kid? I explained, no I am rewarding him for following the proper channels first and when the authorities refused to act, standing up for himself. We haven't had any problems since.
PolishKnight| 1.19.12 @ 1:11PM
Hello you two. Looking in hindsight, I wonder why I (when such things happened to me) and you didn't escalate the matter to the authorities (namely, the police). Look at the PSU incident. If you see or experience criminal behavior, report it to the local authorities AND to the police! Make a police report even if they do diddly about it and get a copy.
A friend of mine did this and she kept all the paperwork and after a few months of inaction, contacted a lawyer and had him threaten to sue the city and she got them to pay for her daughter to go to a private school. Problem solved (for her at least) but if more did this, the problem would be solved or at least addressed!
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 2:08PM
DSW,PK, both correct.
Me, I'm homeschooling my kids.
Drunken Sailor| 1.19.12 @ 2:10PM
Hello PK,
The reason I didn't esculate it to a higher level was.
1. This is a very small community (one school in the entire county)
2. The sherrif at the time wasn't very fond of us as my brother (his chief deputy) was running against him.
3. I thought it important to teach my son how to properly deal with a bully.
It worked out, gave my son a boost of self confidence that he needed and 3 years later, that kid has stopped bullying others and he my son and him are friends.
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 6:00PM
Yup. I'm Facebook pals with a guy who bullied me in Junior High.
And your approach, DS, was perfect.
Mike M| 1.19.12 @ 8:13AM
Ah, Yes.
Another glowing example of the 1960's "Peace" generation. Where all is love and we can just, as one great guru of the era proclaimed, "turn on, tune in and drop out."
Timothy Leary| 1.19.12 @ 8:15AM
Right on, right on, right on.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 11:59AM
People like Timothy Leary aren't the problem, fool. Al Sharpton and Sonny Carson would be more like it.
Moe Blotz| 1.19.12 @ 3:31PM
Oy Doofus, who dyiz think the guru Mike M mentioned might have been? The high priest of LSD?
Alice B. Toklas| 1.22.12 @ 5:19PM
Sharpton and Carson would be nowhere if we hippies hadn't paved the way. I'll have another hit on that bong, please.
Melvin| 1.19.12 @ 8:30AM
Like one Black Youth said right after the election, "It's our world now."
Dick Nome| 1.19.12 @ 10:58AM
Welcome to Obamaville.
Teaghan| 1.19.12 @ 11:39AM
" I won "
Bob Grant| 1.19.12 @ 8:32AM
There needs to be a good Vigilante Justice movement in this country.
In situations like this, one should ask: What would Harry Callahan do?
sjccoach| 1.19.12 @ 8:35AM
Why would you leave your weapon in the car? Carry it and use it on these young thugs.
Mark | 1.19.12 @ 8:50AM
I'm from St. Louis and this incident occurred just blocks from my house. I carry mace, at all times when alone in public, am trained to use it. You cannot rely on police in this city.
Mark Shepler| 1.19.12 @ 10:25AM
That's a good start, Mark but may I recommend you subscribe to what I call the "big bore theory" of carrying a weapon?
It goes like this: "The bigger the hole the bad guy is staring at, the less likely you'll have to pull the trigger". I believe the converse is true as well.
Pointing a spray can of nasty stuff is the smallest bore of all and, just as with wild animals it's sometimes used on, is more likely to simply to: a) fail to discourage the beasts from attacking b) piss them off even more. c) get you an extra beating or death from the well deserved scorn they'll have for such a naif
Thus, if one must pull the trigger it's far better it have the more, ahhh, salutary effect on the animal a larger caliber offers. Personally, I prefer a .30 hole at a minimum and a .40 or .45 sized one ideally.
Teaghan| 1.19.12 @ 11:38AM
Have the .45 in our beside table.
Mark | 1.19.12 @ 3:39PM
Thanks for the advice, Mark. Well taken and much understood here!
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 6:01PM
"Better to be judged by twelve than carried by 4."
Nina| 1.19.12 @ 8:57AM
When my kids were young, I always told them to take responsibility for their actions. Well, sorry to say, after my son got in trouble more than the company he was keeping, I stopped. If others were not going to stand up and make their kids do the right thing while mine took the brunt and blame for all, "not my kid" attitude wins....not that he was at the level of these punks, but it's frustrating when others don't step up. It's not like on tv where the parents march the kids into the police station and make them take their medicine, smack them up side the head...Tyler Perry's proud "black" parents...where are they? And yeah, I figured these are mostly black chilun making these terrible mistakes and doing the dasterdly deeds. Not saying all,but mostly.....and that poor mother, watching her poor little darling cry cuz it weren't her fault! She was just standing there....lucky it wasn't you getting the beating, eh?
chemman| 1.19.12 @ 4:22PM
There is a great proverb that speaks to this: "A companion of fools suffer great harm"
BTW I raised a son and a daughter with great success. One of the things I never, ever gave into was the "well others are doing it". You have ensured your son will continue to suffer great harm by not holding him accountable
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.19.12 @ 9:15AM
This is the Culmination of Liberal Permissiveness, when it comes to Crime and Blacks. Everybody knows that Liberals are SOFT ON CRIME - Just ask any Big City Cop - but when it comes to Black Crime?
It's SOCIETY's Fault.
Blacks only commit Crimes, because WHITEY made'em do it. It's Whitey's fault that they Rape, and Rob, and Sell Drugs, and Murder.
It's Whitey's Fault that, although Blacks only make up 15% of the Population, they commit 56% of all the VIOLENT CRIMES.
It's Whitey's Fault that 85% of all Black children, are born to Single Hoes and B*tches.
It's Whitey's Fault that the #1 Cause of Death. for young Black Males, is HOMOCIDE.
And, of course, it's Whitey's Fault that over 50% of Black Males are somewhere in the Justice System: In Jail/On Trial/Awaiting Trial/Awaiting Sentencing/on Parole, at any given time.
But, the things that are happening now, come as no surprise. At least, not to me.
David Dinkins became the 1st African American Mayor, of New York City.
The Result of that?
Crime went off the charts. David Dinkins allowed an AL SHARPTON instigated POGROM, go on for 3 Days and Nights, in Crown Heights. He ORDERED his Police to STAND DOWN, as Black Marauders, combed the streets of Crown Heights, "looking for JEWS".
Al Sharpton's fingerprints were on the MUREDER of 11 People inside of Freddy's Clothing Emporium, in Brooklyn. One of Al Sharpton's "Hired Protesters" went inside of Freddy's, told the Blacks to leave, and then SHOT the remaining people DEAD, and then Set Fire to the Store. Al Sharpton's PUNISHMENT for these two Acts?
Nothing. In fact, even with what he's done, PLUS the Millions he owes in TAXES - Money that he's owed for YEARS - he's got himself a Television Show on the Liberal MSNBC. Is anyone SURPRISED?
A Black CROOK/Anti-Semitic RIOTER, and the Instigator in a Multiple Murder and Arson, and a TAX CHEAT, on top of all of that, gets his own Show on the most Liberal Station on television.
That's what I'm talking about.
Let's take it a little further, to the present.
All over the Country, BLACKS are on a Rampage. They ATTACK people on the streets, for no reason, other than their Colour. They Flash Mob Stores. Stealing and Destroying, anything they can get their hands on. GOD HELP YOU, if you're in a McDonalds in one of America's Black Holes of Calcutta - Detroit/Baltimore/Philly/ or Atlanta.
These Animals, are no different than any Animal. If they think they can STRIKE with impunity? They will strike. They don't attack another Animal that could do them harm. They attack when they know they can GET AWAY WITH IT.
Enter Kunta Kinte Obama. What was one of the FIRST Cases, brought to his Justice Department? The Black Panther Voter Intimidation Case.
Three Dirtbag Black Panther SCUMBAGS, standing outside a Polling Place, in Philadelphia, Pa. Standing in front of the entrance, dressed in Military Fatigues, and carrying batons. They tried INTIMIDATING White People, as they came up to Vote. It was all caught on VIDEO. And, what happened next, is why we're where we are, today.
Even though they had these 3 MFERS, dead to rights? Even though they had these Pieces of Sh*t, on tape, violating every aspect of the Voting Rights Act? Even though they had the Testimony of a former Civil Rights Attorney, in the Carter Administration? This Black President, had his Black Attorney General: LET THEM GO.
That act, by this Administration, was a GREEN LIGHT, for every Black Thug, in this Country. Just as this Muslim President's continual B*TCH SLAPS to Israel, is the accelerator for all of the fires that are Burning, in the Middle East.
It's just as Tip O'Neil said:
The Fish ROTS from the Head, down.
Bob Grant| 1.19.12 @ 9:30AM
Timothy,
And why do you think blacks get away with blaming "whitey" for their actions?
Don't you think this mentality was institutionalized when the concept of a Protected Class was put forth?
As members of the Protected Class, all acts can be explained away as the result of society. Upon joining the Protected Class you receive one Race Card, good for the lifetime of the card holder with unlimited uses.
Do away with this Protected Class mentality and many of our societal ills will go away.
Petronius| 1.23.12 @ 2:29AM
True enough. The only people these punks don't mess with are the Bosnians. Being immigrants, they, unlike whites, are allowed to defend themselves. And who controls the courts? anti-white white Liberals!
Whitey O'Carr| 1.19.12 @ 8:45PM
Mr. Pennell, the quote "The Fish Rots from the head down" is from none other than former governor Michael Dukakis. It is supposed to be an old Greek saying. Knowing him, he has first hand experience.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.20.12 @ 11:03AM
I stand Corrected.
Obliged.
albert constantine jr.| 1.19.12 @ 10:08AM
In the early 90s, I was driving to my urban apartment from my agency on a Friday afternoon. My wife was home, pregnant with my first child. As I passed along the park which was a few blocks from my home, I saw a mob of children aged between 10 and 15 all on bikes near the edge of the roadway. Ten were black, one was white, and the white kid had a distressed look on his face. As I went passed, I saw one of kids pulling at the white kid’s bike.
Thinking I might be witnessing something untoward, I made a U-turn and pulled up to the kids and asked what was going on (I was in plain clothes). I looked the white kid directly in the eye and asked if everyone was okay. They all assured me that all was in order, so I told them it was dangerous to be playing in the road, and they all politely agreed to move.
I drove off, and made another U-turn a couple of blocks away to start back home again. As I again approached the scene I had just left, I saw a crying white kid on foot, and 10 black kids scattering on their bikes plus one. I picked the kid up and admonished him for not telling me what was happening when he had the chance. He said they threatened to beat him up if he told. Another motorist in a pickup chased the kids with the stolen bike and recovered it. He took the kid and his bike home.
I was able to track one of the fleeing mob to a location outside a nearby hospital. I displayed the badge on my belt (next to my holstered weapon), and the kid stopped. I got his information: he was the 15 year old son of a 32 year old felonious mother whose name and record I was familiar with. Having no victim present, I sent this kid on his way, figuring I could give his information to whoever might be assigned if the attempted robbery was reported.
As I got in my car to head back home, I saw a patrol car from the local jurisdiction. The patrolman driving had graduated from my high school and his service in the Marine Corps overlapped mine, I’d known him for 15 years at that time. I flagged him down to make him aware of what I observed. He informed me he couldn’t follow up, he was on his way to a Man with a Gun complaint at the hospital (someone later pointed out that the man with the gun was probably me).
The following week, I made my bid on my house in the suburbs, where I’ve resided for the last 18 years.
As an epilogue, the story has what I think is a just ending. The youthful perpetrator whose name I got was murdered in a drug deal gone bad in 2005.
Bob Grant| 1.19.12 @ 10:47AM
Nice story, nice epilogue (like a Quinn Martin Production)...
Al, ain't it curious how these feral thugs like to fight in packs, yet, we are constantly reinforced by pop culture how tough these guys are?
They seem to be more comfortable fighting as a group (and usually with deadly weapons) rather than than mano y mano.
albert constantine jr| 1.19.12 @ 11:19AM
To be fair, I think even the brave fight better alongside others with courage, but I concur. Numbers and perceived anonymity (or at least perceived lack of accountability) seem to enhance the aggressiveness of mob members. I think even the behavior of the toady in "Christmas Story" supports your assertion.
W| 1.19.12 @ 12:04PM
Albert,
In my county Juvenile court is referred to as the Minor Leagues, in training for the Majors, across the street in Criminal Court. During my stint in Criminal I had to review presentence reports and just about everyone was the same. No father at home, alcohol and drugs in the home, serial boyfriends in the home, welfare, teenage pregnacies, drop out of high school at 16, juvie record,etc. It was the same for white and black defendants.
I have black clients living in the city who are afraid to walk to the bus stop, and in constant fear of robbery, rape, shootings. They all complain about not enough police protection, whereas the elites complain about the police as occupiers.
They all want to move.
PolishKnight| 1.19.12 @ 1:26PM
Guys, in another discussion yesterday I was castigated as a "cad" for objecting to chivalry and giving women a free lifeboat seat. Yet, this whole situation is largely agreed to be a result of a policy of indulging and protecting women at all costs. Let's list the ways:
1) Family courts rewarding women filing for divorce with alimony and/or "child" support and the kids while demanding the men foot the bill.
2) As marriage became less popular with men (see above), more unwed mothers sprouted up and the state rewarded her with welfare and/or "child" support and demanded the men pay. See below:
3) Awarded jobs to women so they could be "equal" and liberated and threw the emerging working black class to the curb to give these entry level jobs to working and middle class white women. Feminism put more black men in jail than Jim Crow.
4) BUT that doesn't mean the black and working class men are off the hook. "Child" support is now effectively debtors' prison with imprisonment for failing to pay for any reason even if the amounts are based upon "potential" income (if he went to medical school and dropped out, he could STILL have been a doctor so even if he works as a waiter, he owes $2000 a month). Failure to pay, go to jail, and learn how to commit violent crime.
5) The few guys who go through this whole obstacle course and somehow manage to be good "gentlemen" can go to jail based upon any DV claim. Most states are "must arrest" so if a woman gets drunk and angry files the complaint, off to jail he goes.
Certainly, this is worse in the black community but also making inroads everywhere else especially in the workplace class white community.
So you guys helped create all this including Ronald Reagan and his decision to require welfare mothers to have their husbands work and/or kick him out. Guess how that worked out?
W| 1.19.12 @ 3:35PM
PK
I am not clear about what your mean, except for the jail for non payment of child support. I dont know what county or state your are in, but my experience is you have to try very hard to get thrown in jail for not paying child support. They have hearing after hearing after hearing on the charges of contempt, and if you end up in jail you deserve it. I have client whose ex moved to Florida to work for cash and a phony ss number to avoid paying for one child. The arrearages built up to $10,000, and when he came back to Pa,we found him, but the judge allows him to pay $50 per week. He always misses, the judge has a hearing,threatens to put him in jail, then gives him time to pay. This happens all the time. In the cities they do not have room in jail for deadbeats.
PolishKnight| 1.19.12 @ 4:47PM
I've heard otherwise, W. In any case, you didn't address my main point: No matter how much you say the guys deserve it, it won't change the problem that women can have as many children as they like at taxpayer expense eventually. So the policy doesn't work. If it makes the judges and debt collectors feel good to toss the guys into jail at taxpayer expense as well, that doesn't help all of us in the long run either.
W| 1.19.12 @ 5:20PM
PK
I wasn't ignoring it, just in a hurry to leave the office. What policy doesn't work?
All I can say is it takes two to tango. Women don't have children alone, and we are not discussing in vitro.
Believe me, very few guys get tossed in jail for not paying child support. You have to be almost a total idiot and owe a lot of money and make no attempt to pay to let that happen.
In our city, about thirty years ago, one judge started throwing guys in jail on a Friday morning for the weekend, and by 5:00 pm on Friday you would be surprised at how many "found" the two or three thousand to pay on the arrearages of $10,000 or $15,000.
My comments are based on direct personal experience with clients, not hearsay.
Keep focused on beating Obama.
Tina Trent | 1.20.12 @ 2:50PM
Oh, go whine to others who make babies they won't support. Of course, the answer to many of the problems of the underclass is to give young males of all races less time to act out by forcing them to support every life they create. That's why welfare reform worked so well for the many women who took advantage of it: it asked more of them and offered less of a free ride. Good goals. Too bad nobody had the political will to ask the same of fathers --- and I point at "father's righters" like you for helping prevent such interventions. You sided with the radical fems on that. How curious.
One of the largest feeders of underclass pathology arises from the extremely widespread practice of unmarried males living off the households of their babies' (or someone else's, in a round-robin way) mommies, on our dime, of course. So your argument here about men checking out of relationships and marriage because they are unable to cope with the betrayals of the feminazi state doesn't even begin to approximate reality. These men and women aren't alienated from each other: they don't get married because then the checks from Uncle Sam would stop coming. That was by far the most common arrangement I saw when I was in the position to see such households. Where exactly do you think the males live, anyway?
Of course both women and men betray each other. But for every example you offer here, I could offer the names of ten males I know of who are simply too addicted, lazy, self-pitying or dishonest to bother supporting their own children. The answer is to make them do it, not to excuse them for refusing to behave like grown-ups because they're such fragile flowers tramped on by the feminist movement. Reagan was right, and you are advocating unmanly moral weakness.
albert constantine jr| 1.19.12 @ 1:54PM
W-
I also observed the similarity in demographics between black and white adult inmates leaving prison in the mid-80s. Highest grade completed in school was generally the 10th (usually the point when they'd turn 16 after years of social promotions). All had dependents they weren't supporting, though the white defendants described their marital status as divorced, whereas the black defendants would say single (teenage shotgun marriages were still common amongst white folks at the time, now it seems few bother to go through the kabuki dance). When Rick Santorum announced the things that people need to do to avoid poverty, all of those things were heavily represented amongst folks who went to jail.
W| 1.19.12 @ 2:50PM
Albert,
The answer is fairly simple to these problems. Don't have children unless you are married. Finish High School and go to college or learn a trade or start a business. Get a job
Too many men have abandoned their children and are not acting as fathers. And too many men and women are having children without getting married.
Everyone knows these are the answers to the problems we have, and not some massive new government program or agency, yet these problems are getting worse.
What city were you a police officer.
albert constantine jr.| 1.19.12 @ 8:39PM
My law enforcement employment experience has primarily been in Corrections, largely in the parole field. Half of that has been spent assigned or supervising those assigned our officers assigned to state, local and federal task forces. I've worked mostly in Wilmington and New Castle County, Delaware.
W| 1.19.12 @ 10:14PM
Being in the parole field, you have heard all the stories, good and bad.
albert constantine jr.| 1.19.12 @ 10:41PM
It is great for the stories, lousy for the pay.
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 2:11PM
And I live in the Northwoods, on two acres, with my own water supply, and homeschool my kids....
Jeamar| 1.19.12 @ 3:22PM
As usual Occam, we think you're wonderful.
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 6:25PM
Jeamar---no, not wonderful. Sarcasm not necessary.
The point is, I thought this through very carefully after the LA riots.If you don't have to live in a big city for your job, why the hell do that? If I want the cultural amenities of the Twin Cities, I drive there, get a hotel room with my wife and kids for the weekend, see the museums and go to the restaurants I want to go to, do any shopping I need (very, very little requires a big city nowadays), and get the hell out!
Seriously, Jeamar, ever read Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner? He was an idiot on many many things (especially the docility of Islam), but one thing about living in a city he got SPOT ON---I'm going to paraphrase---"In a city, you live in a cage, the constantly moving bars of which are members of your own species." After 5 years of living in LA, I got very, very tired of living in that cage.
So, think about it. People are not snowflakes---their behaviors in the mass are actually reasonably predictable based on culture and education. Finding rare skills and going to places where they are in short supply is a great way to get a good job and keep it (it is minus 23 out today where I live in rural Minnesota). Choose places to live based on what you will be doing for a living, and availability of cultural items you need to have (kosher is not my priority---never was). Pick places to live that offer the ability to live in minimal conflict with your neighbor (low density helps). Prioritize your wants and needs.
For example, leaving LA---I had not gone to the Opera or the Symphony while living in LA for 5 years. I had attended 2 plays, had gone to the Getty twice, La Brea Tarpits/LA county Museum once.
I liked foreign film, and needed a source for technical books. When I found out that I could purchase books from the Bodhi Tree (sadly, closing---one of the best things about LA, along with The Black Cat Mystery Bookstore and Change of Hobbitt) and that foreign films were available to buy by Catalog from Chicago, it was off to 'Bama for me.
Our cities are decrepit because the numbers of Rudy Guilianis are scarce. How to fix it is simple (Simple does NOT equal Easy)---enforce the small laws, enforce civility, get punks like those noted above hammered by the neighborhood cops before it even reaches court, and have judges back this up.
But judges tend to be on the Liberal side.
BenZacharia| 1.19.12 @ 10:10AM
The Ayn Rand generation aka the '60's is now large and in charge.
Who'd thunk that the philosophy of "My happiness is all that matters." would backfire?
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 12:01PM
Blacks reading Ayn Rand? That's a pretty short list.
Stormy| 1.19.12 @ 12:07PM
I think that you are confused. Have you ever read one of her books? The 60's generation is not a product of Ayn Rand.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 3:57PM
Precisely. While I'm not much of a fan of Rand, she was anything but an ally to the counterculture. She made it a point to avoid hippies, beats and other rebels. She called them "Nietzschean whim-worshippers."
As for me, I don't worship whims. I merely occasionally act on them.
Whitey O'Carr| 1.19.12 @ 8:54PM
No, you're wrong. The Age of Aquarius generation took over from 1969, after woodstock.
David W| 1.19.12 @ 11:23AM
Where's Al Sharpton? Jesse Jackson? Charlie Rangel? Reverend Wright? The NAACP? The Congressional Black Caucus? What would happen if one of these jackwagons or group of jackwagons would stand up and denounce this? What if President Obama denounced this? You can bet he won't - after all, without his racist stormtroopers intimidating voters he won't be re-elected. Maybe if Obama wasn't spending all of his time kissing Iran's butt cheeks he could help stop this insanity.
This is just the beginning. There may actually be a race war - but started by Obama and the black community against everyone else.
Teaghan| 1.19.12 @ 11:33AM
I had a neighbors daughter and her boyfriend run through my garden at my place of business in their car, destroying $2000. worth of outdoor art. They were caught only because of a witness who had stopped to helped them get their car of of my property and to see if they were injured. (he had come up behind them). When I discovered who had done this damage, I called the mother and she and her worthless husband threatened to sue me for saying that her daughter had infact lied to them. The parents of the boy paid for the damage, in cash as to not get the insurance co. into it, there was no apology but hostility towards ME for having the gaul to expect they face some sort of consequence. It is the parents who create these narrsassitic individuals. I would have been drug up to the shop owner by my dad and made to not only apologize, but work to clean up the mess I had made and to work until the merchandise had been paid for.
I can't tell you what a rude awakening this was for me for someone to no be held accountable for damages they caused. Be shocked doesn't begin to describe it.
Jim Kahler| 1.19.12 @ 1:20PM
When my son was young he and another boy trashed out a new home in our neighborhood. The police were called and came to the house. I was at the office of the company 1st thing in the morning and agreed to pay for the damage. They suggested we tear out all the flooring because that was my business and they would have some of their workers do the repairs on their off time and that would cost less. The next day my son & I did the work and when they finished the repairs we replaced the flooring. A couple of weeks later the company called and told me to submit a bill because both of our homeowners insurance paid the bill. Needless to say when I got the check I sent it off to a Christian ministry. As a sidebar, when this company moved to a nearby town I got the flooring contract and worked for them for years. My son also learned a valuable lesson. The same one I had learned at an early age.
j. margolis| 1.19.12 @ 12:13PM
What do you expect from black bastards who are black trash?
Joe D.| 1.19.12 @ 1:22PM
A couple of quick points here:
1. If you are going to mention the Priets scandels you should not forget the other trusted authority scandels of News Networks/papers, police, Prosicutors, President (Clinton) and Judges. Now I not a fan of the Catholic Church and how they handled homosexuality. Which was 95% of the problem (Men on boys).
2. My second point is, why are you still living there. Is it that you want to see how far human nature can go without God? Or you think good people like yourselves and can help turn that city around?
Sheila| 1.19.12 @ 1:49PM
Mr. Orlet, you've been tiptoeing around this issue for quite some time now. I again call you on ignoring black pathology. I again challenge you to stop making "a supposedly conservative argument that concedes the primacy of non-conservative values. The implication is that the opposition isn't wrong, just not living up to politically correct ideals."
You are "neither direct nor relevant concerning a real blight of our times, the hateful ethnic racketeers who try to get their way by recklessly tossing accusations of racism at anyone who stands in their way." You instead "protest how un-racist" you are and claim it's your opponents who are racist. Man up. It's past time.
wolflen| 1.19.12 @ 1:50PM
after the riots in los angeles...i fully realized that the police were the last line of defense..if any defense at all against any kind of "racial disturbance" little was done to the looters and the ones that burned down the many buildings..what it said was...its ok to riot/rob/steal/kill.. if your an oppressed minority..
my beretta .45 with hollow points is an essential tool for living in los angeles..
Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 6:36PM
Wolf---and I don't need to lock my doors. By the way, have you checked out the women in North Dakota/Upper Minnesota? All these gorgeous Swedish women (I'm married, not dead) who want to find a nice guy and have a life and kids....
but you are on the ball about the LAPD---Darryl Gates was very slow to react. They were rioting in the friggin' Beverly Center in Beverly Hills!
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 7:29PM
Upper Midwest -- here we come. Or maybe I'll go on the set of another movie based on the Stieg Larsson triology. Go Vikings!
Bob Grant| 1.19.12 @ 7:50PM
As I recall Daryl Gates was up against it. His force was overwhelmed but, geesh, did they have to look like extras from the Police Academy movies?
Bill| 1.20.12 @ 9:17AM
I assume the .45 Beretta is a pistol, not a revolver; does it have a decocker? I like the decocker on my Sig Sauer P220 .45 a lot. I have a Beretta PX4 Storm subcompact, it also has a decocker, not as neat as the Sig one, but a decocker nevertheless. So what's the answer on your Beretta?
wolflen| 1.20.12 @ 1:32PM
yes its a semi auto with decocker/safety..works very nice for me...is called a cougar..have one in 9mm also..which is fun..but for those "when it absolutely, positively has to be deterred" the .45 w/ hollows is a friend indeed.
Sheila| 1.19.12 @ 1:51PM
By the way, your sarcasm at the end of your column is misplaced. Their mothers would, indeed, be "proud" of their chillun.
Don Carlson| 1.19.12 @ 3:28PM
All the police in the world cannot change a jungle into a civilized society. Is there any doubt that Missouri would be better if St. Louis were to disappear? Where the people feel no shame in being ignorant, violent, and careless of the lives of others, only fear of deprivation or fear for their own lives will deter them. Instead, they are told they are victims and thus heroes who are owed, first, apologies, then adulation, and finally support for life. Is it any wonder the nation continues to decline---its cities are becoming more and more the home and playground of degenerates.
Cynicon Implant| 1.19.12 @ 4:04PM
This story is depressing but needs to be told. All those liberals living in the suburbs who feel sorry for the plight of inner city blacks needs to be forced to walk those lawless streets unarmed and alone. Then we'll see how sorry they are for these punks.
Dr. X| 1.19.12 @ 4:18PM
The Negro has proven that he is incapable of self-restraint. He is incapable of living in a free society. Want proof? Look at Africa. Then look at Detroit, L.A., Compton, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Gary, Baltimore, Newark...
The problem is that the Great Lie of our time, enforced by The Government, is that "We are all equal." Was Henry Ford from Africa? Edison? Carnegie? Morse? Franklin? Watt? Salk? Bell? Jobs? Gates? Shakespeare? Rembrandt? Beethoven? Mozart?
The only way The Government can perpetuate the Great Lie is through repression and propaganda. The White Man is the Officially Designated Enemy of The Government and its policies. The Negro must be given preferential treatment and Preferred Status. If Negro "youth" stab you, assault you, or murder you, the Official Government Policy is "Sucks to be you, your ancestors owned slaves. Tough luck. Pay more taxes to support the Savages who accost you and your White offspring."
Kingofthenet| 1.19.12 @ 4:44PM
Why wasn't the victim's testimony enough to convict?
steve b| 1.19.12 @ 5:15PM
Be prepared for the reaction in Americas cities in the unlikely event Obama is not re elected.Keep your powder dry.
Dennis| 1.19.12 @ 6:31PM
Live in a state where you can carry a concealed weapon, and shoot the bastards.
Seek| 1.19.12 @ 7:30PM
I call that the Charles Bronson strategy. It works for me.
Richard Baker| 1.19.12 @ 7:51PM
Was a teacher in Florida and had a black student whose family was Jamaican and who was absolutely out of control by running around the classroom and, in general, acting the proper fool always. Did little or no work and was constantly being sent to the Discipline office. In a Parent-Teacher conference with his mother, who was a local attorney, I told her that her son was a troublemaker. His file in the office was about 3/4" thick, by the way. Her response? "How long have you known him to say such a thing?" When I said long enough (about 3 months) to know that he was a troublemaker, she became incensed and said that I didn't know him long enough (?) to say that. In my time in the classroom the black students weren't much interested in getting an education and would harrass those blacks who did by accusing them of acting "white." Their "culture" seemed to applaud disruptive behavior and denigrate those who were diligent in their work. Sadly, too many of the other kids whether white or Latino would then emulate this bad behavior. Finally, when I'd see this rampant misbehavior I'd wonder if this was what Dr. King and Medgar Evers died for.
Walden| 1.20.12 @ 3:49PM
A little off topic, but related to your post Richard B. A few years ago, I was managing a team of bank analysts in Atlanta, and I also had the "administrative assistants" under my watch. One was black. When it came to annual review time, I went through all the people's reviews, and the only one that was problematic was the black admin assistant. Lets call her Elizabeth. When I suggested to Elizabeth that there were a couple of areas for improvement in her performance, she turned cold as ice and looked at me and exclaimed, "You're just saying that because I am black, aren't you." I immediately stood up, opened my office door (which I never should have closed in the first place), and asked her to leave. That has left a very nasty taste in my mouth.
Richard Baker| 1.20.12 @ 6:41PM
Walden:
Agree. Something in their "culture" seems to accept the idea that being prepared or willing to accept constructive criticism is a "white thing" and therefore not something for their crowd. And they wonder why people find them as they are? As I've said before, was this what Dr. King and Medgar Evers died for?
bob alou| 1.19.12 @ 9:32PM
Unless things have changed since the last time I was back to South St. Louis, the city of my birth, youth and continuing family ties, how come the picture associated with this story has Chicago cops pictured? Blame Dick Gephardt, Bill Clay and a host of other liberal apologists, along with democratic mayors and courts who hamstrung the police at every turn. I grew up on Michigan at Utah and the last time I was back there was a crack house two doors from the old homestead. My parents weren't rich but they stayed married and made sure, because they took us, that we six kids (raised in a four room flat) were in church every Sunday. I agree with the above writer that concealed carry laws should begin to turn back the tide of lawlessness. But it is going to take a while. I suspect, without knowing, that down around Lafayette and LaSalle Park, where Mr. Orlet resides, there are a lot of people who still vote democrat, despite the obvious evils it(they) has/have wrought on the city. I hope they have their insurance paid up but I also hope they come to their senses before it's if it isn't already, to late.
Seek| 1.20.12 @ 12:00PM
Think black crime is bad only in "bad" neighborhoods of St. Louis? It's bad anywhere, as long as large groups of blacks have opportunities to congregate. This was my city. Even though it's been many years since I've lived in the area, this stuff rankles.
http://www.riverfronttimes.com.....for-crime/
Betina| 1.20.12 @ 7:32PM
Geez - looked everywhere and not one word mentioned about the race of the perps or the victim. Why? Think that isn't significant? The right in this country is cowardly and then blames the left for all our problems. The race DOES MATTER. Because these little "knock out" games were being played all over major cities in the country last summer and quite a number of "black youth" were getting their jollies beating the crap out of whitey. And do you think the fact that their "man" in the White House has anything to do with it? Like Clinton who made oral sex just another recess activity in grammar school? So next time anyone on the right writes an article about this topic, tell the whole story and do this country a favor by letting everyone know that "black youth" is on the rampage and if you are white and in the area, you might be killed. Save a life instead of protecting your hide from the PC stormtroopers.
Meggie| 1.21.12 @ 9:43PM
The behaviors described above will eventually pass. Don't forget how horribly the southern whites behaved toward blacks in the not so distant past.
Gub| 1.22.12 @ 12:47PM
Gak! I've never read such ugly racism before in my life:-( Do you think you can enslave a group of people and now allow them to marry or learn to read and write, then free them without helping them to transition to independence, and then discriminate against them for years without having long-term generational effects??? There are plenty of white youth who have been given every advantage in life who are not exactly little angels either. Betina's suggestion that a black president leads to more black crime is just disgusting! Look at all the progress blacks are making despite the ugly racism of people like you!
POST American| 1.22.12 @ 10:05PM
----------------BOTTOMLESS LINE--------------------
Given the REALITY of 5 decades
of relentless, full-spectrum, capstone
funded, promoted and engineered
cultural degradation
-----AND!
the FACT that injections, food, water,
air and meds have been thoroughly
and incrementally tainted for just
as long
------------MAYBE folks themselves
aren't doing that badly.