KELSEYVILLE — In the course of my life I have observed riots first hand, as well as on TV. My first experience of a riot was in 1967 in Madrid, Spain.
Protesters were rioting because of hatred of the dictator, Francisco Franco, who had ruled the country since the 1930s.
When I returned to the United States I found that rioting was well alive in this country, too.
In 1971, while attending San Jose State University I found myself caught in a riot outside the administration of justice and the ROTC building.
Tear gas and batons were used to disperse the crowd. Then the crowd proceeded to go downtown to break glass, loot and of course borrow a few TV”s (steal). Of course though small TV”s, they were bulky and hard to carry. No problem, it was free, so to speak.
From that point in time and after watching riots on TV for Martin Luther King Jr. and a few others, I noticed that it started with an honest person but ended most of the time in looting of shops and of course the free (stolen) TVs would accompany.
We have progressed significantly since those days. We now have 45″, 55″ and 65″ sound on sound, pic on pic, 3-D and of course do not forget the almighty iPhone.
Now for the Zimmerman matter. I refuse to take sides in this matter, because I understand that the law is the law. Change the laws in Florida via the vote.
Rioting in my view is just a pure and sorry excuse to loot, steal, maim, destroy property of the hard-working, no matter what color they are.
Being Hispanic I will and speak freely of this subject. Prejudice is here, it will stay and continue. How we deal with this is a matter of going to the voting booth and change the laws that will restrain those who infringe on people”s rights. We have a (black) President who has been elected twice.
That must say something of the course of thinking of the American people. Having riots for any reason whereby destruction of property, theft and maiming or killing of the innocents is unacceptable.
This only creates more dissent and separation of the races that mix this great country of ours.
I, as a Hispanic, am and will be, an American first. There will be injustice, but it can be fixed by we the people. Let us not forget why we are here and stay in the great country. Stealing a TV is not the answer to our problems.
