Riots in DC

[blacksheep-1]

This is not a political message by any means, but I thought as one of the page's "old timers" I should say something.
It's sad when someone like a 30 year old mother, and 14 year Air Force veteran loses their life, I'm sure it was a mistake on someone's part similar to what happened at Kent State in the 70s.
For the kids out there, I've seen this before, the riots over the Vietnam war, the riots over racial equality in the 60s, I thought America... MY America, was coming apart at the seams.
It isn't, oh for sure our leaders in Washington, on both sides are out of touch, I don't think that is even debatable. But we'll get through this, we always do, because even though folks are trying to divide us over race, ethnicity, class and pretty much everything else out there, we are foremost Americans, and although we don't always get along with each other, we always seem to close ranks when we have to.
We have to now..
..and politicians, and their press minions looking for ratings will continue to try to get traction by pitting us against each other
.. don't let them.
The one thing I saw today that made the most sense was when a reporter stuffed a mic in this guy's face and wanted an explanation for everything that was going on.
The guy looked at him and said.. "it is OUR house".
Politicians should probably remember that.


I know this is a touchy subject, if you wan to comment fine, but let's start building instead of tearing down, so keep the politics out of it.

 

[JAJ]

I agree with you. I've done a lot of business in the USA and I have enormous respect for the institutions and the people I've dealt with. There's nowhere like it.

The conflict today was about information, the new weapon in the loyalty war, and it's messy to say the least. People who thought they were doing the right thing might just end up in prison for decades. It's awful to watch from across the border.

The USA has the ability and the talent to confound the critics and the oligarchs. Get on with it. Please. You've always been amazing - don't stop now. Thanks.

 

[byronj]

Here is my questions and point of view. AND I'm NOT a Historian, but almost every empire has lasted about 200-250 yrs. (We are not an Empire but an organized society which has lasted roughly 200-250 years) . Therefore, this could be the beginning to an end. Anyway I digress.. Back to MY point of view. And feel free to disagree or agee I am not on TMO for polictal sh$t, guns, religion, or porn. (well car PORN but thats cause of @Fabman and his sexy beast. (HAHA)


Why do they have to storm the Nations Capital? That is sacred ground and represents to me, my brothers, and sisters who serve to fight for. That is ours, yours, and every other American in this country. Please don't come at me with Trump this Biden that crap, as most know I can give two shits about either of those asshats, or which one is shittier than the other. Stand out in front in peaceful protest for 100 years if you need to, but to storm the Capital is an attack on all of us. I'm not talking about the entire crowd, I'm talking about those that crossed the line from protest to attack.

 

[ChrisM]

@Ludachris Can this be moved to The Paddock? Making the same request as I did for the last thread of a similar nature. It's not even generally related to Mustangs. No offense to anyone, it's just that we have a section for non-Mustang topics.

 

[blacksheep-1]

I'm not taking sides at all, I'm talking about the humanity, I find this pic absolutely heartbreaking.. it really claws at my heart.
" I cannot lose you"
I'm so angry right now, but I'm not sure who to be angry at.
How did we come down this road?
Plenty of blame to go around

 

[byronj]

@blacksheep-1 I am not going to say or tell you which feeling you should be at this time but you as a retired FF is respected to me just the same as my military brother and sisters. But I would say disappointment is a better feeling. We as a whole are America, and this is disappointing not only on a local but a world level to me. I personally do not feel any anger towards anyone or anything but I am highly disappointed with the way our elected officials have been acting toward each other and then disappointed with their constituents.

(@bil I hope I corrected all my auto correct crap on this post)

OH YEAH, @Ludachris this really need to be in the paddock. JUST MY .02

 

[blacksheep-1]

@blacksheep-1 I am not going to say or tell you which feeling you should be at this time but you as a retired FF is respected to me just the same as my military brother and sisters. But I would say disappointment is a better feeling. We as a whole are America, and this is disappointing not only on a local but a world level to me. I personally do not feel any anger towards anyone or anything but I am highly disappointed with the way our elected officials have been acting toward each other and then disappointed with their constituents.

(@bil I hope I corrected all my auto correct crap on this post)

OH YEAH, @Ludachris this really need to be in the paddock. JUST MY .02

Yep, that's a better way to put it, when I saw this happening on my news feed I was saddened more than anything else. I was thinking how did it come down to this?

 

[TMSBOSS]

I personally do not feel any anger towards anyone or anything but I am highly disappointed with the way our elected officials have been acting toward each other and then disappointed with their constituents.

Agree.

With the thought that absolute power can corrupt absolutely..... What is the solution?? Term limits come to mind. Spending billions of dollars to elect a "Public Servant" with the hope we align with the proper party is not healthy. Where did this alignment become reversed?? Why are we allowing manipulation by the parties and the mega donors? The fix maybe in eliminating career party politics or at least diminishing its affects. Align term limits in congress with the executive. Kill the divide and conquer state of mind we now live in.

 

[Silver LS]

I think we will hearing the fake outrage from some of the elected people we sent to Washington. We need to remember we sent them there. I am angry being retired from the Air Force. I don't want opinions from talking heads. I am ready for good old fashion law enforcement. We all need to take a breath as a country and let law enforcement do their job.

 

[bob]

I'm one of the polarized with strong opinion. We are two Americas with a bunch in the middle that really don't care. I do not think the large extremes are coming together anytime soon if ever. The appathetic will just go with it like frogs in a pot of water with the heat slowly being turned up. It used to be we could not agree on gun control or abortion but now we just can't agree. There is no common ground. We cannot even agree on our shared past history.

 

[Ludachris]

I know this is meant to be a non-political discussion but rarely do these type of threads ever last long without devolving into the same partisan rhetoric you see everywhere else. And as we've seen everywhere else, due to the campaign messaging and identity politics these days, the holy war that is our nation's political climate has the potential to destroy friendships and close family relationships. So don't be surprised if we lock this down when people start tossing out indirect insults to those who support one of the two political sports teams. I really would rather keep that fanaticism out of here.

With that said, I can appreciate the way Rob has framed this. Few leaders are taking the approach of trying to have a conversation with "the other side", they are only trying to appeal to their base, riling them up and cementing the idea that the opposing team is the absolute enemy (scapegoating). There is so much dark money influencing every public office these days, more so now that the Citizens United decision back in 2009 allowing corporations to donate massive amounts of money to PACS, it's only going to get worse. The path to getting elected now requires you to demonize your opponent and their party. If you don't you likely won't get elected. It's become the biggest sporting event with loyal fanatics on both sides, that even the Super Bowl can't compete. And with so much money involved, I doubt it will change much any time soon, especially with the way the candidates have latched on to that campaigning tactic.

It's really sad to watch this play out. There used to be dignity in the process, regardless of the outcome, for the most part at least. Now that is gone and it's a massive reality show, with no grace or honor to be found. Sometimes I feel like the Handmaid's Tale could really happen here. People can obviously be convinced of almost anything, even in today's modern society. Let's hope cooler heads prevail and more people choose to focus on what we all have in common, to believe in one common goal of America, rather than buy into the 2-sided game and dig in to what separates those two sides.

 

[Scootsmcgreggor]

I would strongly suggest everyone watch the below linked documentary “The Social Dilemma”. They interview some really heavy hitters in the social media development world and they lay out a compelling case for the role social media is having in modern politics and the divisions that exist today. At one point the (if I recall correctly) former CEO of Pinterest is asked what his most immediate fear is for social media and his answer is inciting civil war. I thought about this comment a lot yesterday.

I’m very concerned that even without social media there is no end game other than forceful separation/civil war. Not immediately, but eventually. Add social media to the mix and it looks even more hopeless in my opinion. So my biggest question is what specifically can we do as individuals and can we demand of our elected representatives to avoid this future?

Watch The Social Dilemma | Netflix Official Site

This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

www.netflix.com

 

[302BOB]

I'm gonna pull a Schultz on this one and just say "I know nothing"................................I was taught that if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything.

 

[Ludachris]

I'm one of the polarized with strong opinion. We are two Americas with a bunch in the middle that really don't care. I do not think the large extremes are coming together anytime soon if ever. The appathetic will just go with it like frogs in a pot of water with the heat slowly being turned up. It used to be we could not agree on gun control or abortion but now we just can't agree. There is no common ground. We cannot even agree on our shared past history.

And there's nothing wrong with having strong opinions and disagreeing. It's only natural. America has always been an idea, and largely a couple/few different (but fairly common) ideas for different people. And it will continue to thrive and survive as long as people with conflicting ideas of what it means accept that their vision of America isn't necessarily absolute. Partisan views shouldn't cause a holy war that tears it all down.

Historically there has mostly been the willingness to accept our differences when the pendulum swings the way that we don't like. That's the integrity and grace I referred to in my last post. If more people go from dismissing those they disagree with to absolutely rejecting them and fighting with them, that demonization will tear apart the fabric of what America represents. I don't really believe that we'll end up in a civil war, as that wouldn't be profitable for the richest 1%, and we all know they have a way of steering things in the direction that results in the most profit. But it wouldn't take an all out civil war to make America look like a 3rd world country, much like it did yesterday at the capitol building.

Again, let's hope cooler heads prevail and that we still have enough sense as a society to come together and see past the propaganda, the rhetoric, the fearmongering, and the vitriol that has become so commonplace in the political game, which has created so much anger and rage. Even after watching the crazy events yesterday, I'm still fairly optimistic.

 

[Ludachris]

So my biggest question is what specifically can we do as individuals and can we demand of our elected representatives to avoid this future?

The only thing I can think of is to engage with others you disagree with and let them know that even though you disagree, that they have your respect. Treat them with dignity instead of ending the discussion dismissively and/or in anger. Try and understand why they feel the way they do and find peace in it even if you can't ultimately appreciate that perspective. Share why you feel the way you do, in a way that isn't passive aggressive, or all out aggressive. And in the end, embrace humility and find a way to be okay with the idea that it isn't the end of the world (or our nation) if your perspective isn't the guiding principle being accepted by the majority at the moment. I think that's a good start.

Nearly every conversation I see take place today involves people indirectly (or directly) insulting those they disagree with when they share their opinions. I think that's just a result of the vitriol being spread, but I think people don't even realize when they're talking down to others anymore, it's just so common. In some cases people feel like it's helpful to insult others, as if it's somehow useful to show people how misguided they are. That doesn't do much in the way of showing others respect and only adds fuel to the fire.

 

[302BOB]

It seems a lot of members have an opinion on what happened in DC yesterday....To me it was tragic and detrimental to our country...thankfully the source responsible for this embarrassment to the whole world will be gone in less than two weeks....................AMEN......................Schultz couldn't keep quiet.........................

 

[Ludachris]

It seems a lot of members have an opinion on what happened in DC yesterday....To me it was tragic and detrimental to our country...thankfully the source responsible for this embarrassment to the whole world will be gone in less than two weeks....................AMEN......................Schultz couldn't keep quiet.........................

I'm sure many will agree with you Bob, but there is a good many who will object to that sentiment and point out that a new occupant in the white house alone isn't going to bridge the divide or bring people together. People on both sides feel attacked, marginalized, scapegoated, conspired against, and their voices suppressed - and they're angry. I don't know that that will change much after the transition.

 

[Bill Pemberton]

As ByronJ mentioned we need to come together now, because this is an assault of our very own Capital, and this has never happened since the War of 1812. There is no legitimate reason this is acceptable and it should be a wake up call that we do need to begin dialogue with each other, we need to understand how lucky we are in this Country and how much our parents, grandparents and forefathers gave up to give us the freedoms we have now. The end result of this happening during the worse Pandemic we have had in a 100 years and will take more American lives than in all of WWII , is a double hit that should give us all cause to reflect on how much we have to lose. Funny, we joked a decade ago that just because one saw something on the Internet , that didn't mean it was gospel. Some folks have treated the fast news like fast food, they gobble it down without much thought or conscience. Scoots hit the nail on the head concerning " Social Media " noted in the " Social Dilemma " and it was predicted over 20 years ago. We all have seen it on other Forums where folks hid behind keyboards to complain and stir the pot. Today so many read stuff no matter how crazy and feel it could be true because it was easy accessed and may have hit a minor nerve in their psyche.

Time for all of us to realize how important human interaction, in person, with respect , is, and how great this Forum is where all of us Trackrats come here to relax, learn , help and have fun , because we are blessed to see our similarities are so much more prevalent than our differences.

 

[bob]

As ByronJ mentioned we need to come together now,

, we need to understand how lucky we are in this Country and how much our parents, grandparents and forefathers gave up to give us the freedoms we have now

I'm an old guy. My father's generation fought for nothing and died. It is probably good they are not alive to see what we have become. I used to be able to get on a plane with my 12" filet knife for my fishing trip. I used to be able to open a bank account just showing up with money. We allowed those in power to use the 20 year old "patriot act" to accelerate our loss of liberty and freedom. I am forced to buy healthcare in a marketplace with no competition. Facebook and Instagram decide whether I can post or not. Speech is free as long as it is the right speech. Wrong speech will destroy your career. Last year I had to go through TSA style security check to see the Statue of Liberty! Property Rights are gone. When Congress meets we loose some liberties.

 

[TMSBOSS]

Chill A bums rush by a few knuckle heads does not an assault make. Ask me how I know. LOL If there were no cameras no one would know about it because NOTHING would have happened.

We spend 37 days waiting on a decision about a hanging chad. BTW, they are still hanging. LOL. That was the good ole days before the mass saturation of the internet. Ahhhh....the good ole days.

Want to see how stable the world is?? Stop looking at the Internet....with the exception of TMO and other automotive sites. If someone was not making cash pumping bad news to you there would be less bad news.

Just came back inside. The sky is not falling......I checked. I have track days in Jan, Feb and March lined up now. Vaccination in Feb. Business is expanding. Not such a bad ride.