Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 8:38:50 AM

So I live in the very affluent eastern portion of Cobb County and for the last several days there have been peaceful protests at the corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Upper Roswell Road.  Seems to be mostly white high school and maybe college age young people although there were some adults last night.  I was ruminating on this in light of the other protests that occurred around the country (excluding the riots and looting).  What does any of this accomplish?

If I were to talk to these kids I would ask them what holding up signs and asking people to honk their horns do other than making them feel good about themselves?  I can't imagine any racist driving by saying to themselves, "Hey, these kids have really changed my mind so I am no longer going to be a racist."  I also can't imagine any police officer that is regularly accused on misdeeds and never fired because of the influence of the police unions changing their ways either.  And I can't imagine any police union official driving by and saying that they need to stop opposing disciplinary action and the termination of police officers before they do something like what happened to Mr. Floyd.

I also have to wonder if all these affluent white kids really believe that black lives matter or are they just virtue signaling?  If black lives really mattered then 99% of their attention should be focused on black on black crime in large cities.  More young black men are murdered in Chicago by other black men in six months than are killed by police officers of all races in a year.  Think about that, more unjustified murders in one city in less than a year than justified and unjustified deaths by police in the entire country over the course of a year.  While I don't think we have an accurate number of unjustified police killings of African Americans I have to believe it is a very small subset of the total since pretty much every one of them makes national news.  And I wonder if they realize that in an average year 85% of inter-racial violence and murders are committed by African Americans who only represent around 14% of the population.

If these young people really wanted to make a difference, holding up signs on the side of the road in a very safe, affluent area is not the way to go.  They need to become a police officer and displace the racist.  They need to go to violent inner city areas and try to rectify the systemic problems that lead young black men to a life of violence and crime.  But I somehow doubt that they are all that committed and intend to go to college, get a nice job and take care of themselves and their families.  Holding up some signs for a few days might make them feel good but it won't change anything and is a worthless exercise in self aggrandizement that they can put up on their social media platform so everyone will think they care.......but they really don't care all that much. It is all about them.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 9:03:37 AM

What you saw was dimokrap training of the next generation of Antifa dimokrap frontline liberal idiots.  I’m not kidding.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 9:09:22 AM

There is no doubt they have been brainwashed. 

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 12:53:52 PM

last July  I and 12-14 other church members (all white)  volunteered to fix up an old black womans house in a predominately black neighborhood of west montgomery; home was in severe decline--needed new roof, outside painting, much yard clean-up/mowing trimming; new kitchen floors/ cabinets/ light fixtures--you get the picture--we worked from 7 am-4 pm--all was done and much appreciated by the woman; however as we labored in 100" heat--i observed 7-10 teenage/adult black men & women directly across the street & next door, leaning on hyped up cars with hubcaps that must have cost $6,000,  drinking beer, playing really loud nasty rap music--never once did any lift a hand to help with the work. so it goes

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 1:35:14 PM

I'd say that's pretty typical.  One of the reasons we had our kids work at a men's homeless shelter while they were in high school.  Most of the residents were African American and it did my kids a lot of good to see how the homeless live.  It also did them a lot of good to be hungry while they served the men some excellent food.  I always reminded them that this is how these men feel when they walk by and see them eating in a nice restaurant.  My son did several mission trips to Nicaragua as well. 

All you can hope is that this example might impact them and who knows, maybe one of those young men that saw your Christian witness was moved by it in some way.  The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 1:37:34 PM

I saw a video yesterday by a young white girl (about 13-14) and she was crying hysterically because she hated her parents and didn't want to live with them anymore - because they felt that George Floyd was a criminal and not to be a made a martyr.  Her father calmly told her that she had made her points, they heard them and perhaps she should disconnect from the news cycle for a bit.  She was hysterical that they just don't get it.  I wonder how many other young people who have never been taught to think critically, have bought into the myth about black people and the police?  

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 1:41:50 PM

Easy answer Hound, all of them that attended public shools.  Public schools have turned into nothing more than indoctranation centers.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 1:58:32 PM

I don't believe that, but I do believe that the majority of the black community buys into that myth, no matter what their own experience.  I had a younger friend - a black man, who called me Mom (because I insisted he go to college, but that is another story).  One day he was opining about black people and the police on Facebook and a lot his black friends were agreeing with him - some of them I knew, some I didn't.  I asked the question how many of them had actually experienced police brutality and harassment.  Nobody offered an example of their personal experience.  Why? Because none of them were career criminals - most of them were educated and had careers (my young friend and his friends were mostly Navy NCOs).  I keep wondering when white people acquiance to all the changes that Black Lives Matter and other minority groups want, then who will they blame for their failures?  I saw a video on FB today (I think it was originally on Twitter) by a young black woman - Candance Owens - who spoke to this very thing and asked the question why the black community wants to turn career criminals into martyrs?  Like most of us, she was horrified by the killing of George Floyd, but she wasn't going to wear his picture on her T-shirt because he was a career criminal, who had committed a crime and then resisted arrest which started all of this.    I wish I had her courage to say what she said.  And I hope that her own people don't hurt her or kill her for speaking her truth.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 2:06:32 PM

That is a sad story but it sounds like her parents are trying to do the right thing but they are dealing with emotion and not logic.  It's a stark reminder that the power of academia to indoctrinate is very strong.  This is the double edged sword of promoting ultimate respect for teachers and professors toget your children to pay attention and obey.  When you combine that perspective with the lack of critical thinking skills they will believe almost anything that comes out of the academic mouths.  I have had plenty of spirited discussions with my children's friends that went to liberal universities.  They were invincibly ignorant and facts, logic or reason could not penetrate their mushed brains. It was all about emotion and feelings, which were often at odds with reality.

The debate almost always devolved into the fallacy of appealing to authority because they lacked a strong foundational argument.  "I'll take the opinion of some college professor over you".  They were dumbfounded when I told them that having a PhD or being a college professor was not an assurance of wisdom or infallability and that they were often completely wrong about how the world really worked.  In fact, they were often wrong because what they know is theory.....what I know is theory and real world experience which is far more valuable and reliable.  And I have the advantage of wisdom that comes with age and making mistakes and learning from them....something I too discounted when I was there age.  There is a reason we all heard from our parents, "wait until you're my age or in my shoes and you'll understand".....because it was true. But the difference today is that their lack of critical thinking skills often extends into adulthood and may never go away.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Protesters in East Cobb, Georgia
Date:	6/4/2020 3:54:11 PM

Yes, but school is not the only influence in their lives.  Parents and family, religious leaders, coaches, etc also influence them.  It's important to give kids a lot of different influences and perspectives. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/4/2020 4:20:06 PM

Yes they do but when you look at the amount of time they spend with each of them in their formative years teachers and professors dominate.  And again, they are given a special level of influence in that role....probably with lots of unintended consequences.  Hence the increased amount of homeschooling and hybrid schools.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Influence is all around
Date:	6/4/2020 6:36:15 PM (updated 6/4/2020 6:40:18 PM)

The kids are protesting...not looting...influence to protest is all around us. My son and daughter protested when they were in high school and college and after. They actually have contributed to positive change in their communties as adults.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Influence is all around
Date:	6/4/2020 8:56:41 PM

What size TV did ya get during your protest this week??  There’s a lot to learn at those “protests”.  BS!!

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Influence is all around
Date:	6/4/2020 9:36:17 PM

Don't know about your daughter but Jeffrey seems to be a solid, upstanding contributor.  Are your son and daughter your only contributions to the common good?  There must be more. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Influence is all around
Date:	6/5/2020 8:53:56 AM

Just to be clear, I have no issue with them protesting peacefully.  I am questioning what it actually accomplishes and their real motivation.  It seems to me they are more interested in getting people to honk their horns....a participation trophy so to speak.  Peaceful protests are part of the American ideal.  But if these young people are really interested in change, asking people to honk their horns isn't going to do anything other than make them feel better about themselves.  By far the worst signs they are holding are the ones that say Silence is Violence.  Maybe I misunderstand their intent but it seems to me to be trying to shame people to honk their horn so they are affirmed in what they are doing.  That is juvenile. 

I have never seen in my 60 years more unity in this country over the reaction to the death of Mr. Floyd.  I literally have yet to meet or talk to someone who isn't horrified about what happened.  I know they're out there but they are a very, very small minority and they are syt best intellectually dishonest and more likely downright evil.  But the rioting and looting takes away from the opportunity to unite this country about the issue of police violence and the protests ought to be focused on the carnage that cause hundreds of deaths of people of color.  Change comes one person at a time.  First, don't judge someone based on the color of their skin....something the BLM movement and those that accuse all white people of being racists should consider.  Second, oppose police unions that protect police officers that misbehave.  Third, oppose policies that have decimated the African American community by destoying their family structure, glorify violence and the objectification of women, denigrate the value of education, marriage before parenthood, glorify drug and alcohol abuse and so on.  Fourth, oppose the slaughter of black and Hispanic children in the womb.

I find it reprehensible that white people who are not racists are being shamed into apologizing for the color of their skin as if they had any choice in the matter.  I will never accept responsibility for the actions of others any more than I hold every black person responsible for the reality that over 80% of inter-racial crime is committed by black people.  That is the responsibility of those individuals and no one else. Until we stop this insanity there can be no unity and change will never happen.  I am not responsible for the stain of slavery but I am proud of the Christians, most of them white, that ended that abomination.  Nor am I responsible for African Americans that are in this country as a result of slavery.  But I can tell you that black people around the world are clamoring to get into this country and for good reason.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/5/2020 10:36:02 AM

I know a lot of people homeschool their kids and depending on the resources used, I think it can be a well rounded education.  But, having said that, I would prefer that children be exposed to a wide variety ideas and people.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/5/2020 11:24:29 AM

That's where the concept of hybrid schools come in.  Helps a lot with STEM subjects.  I know a very large number of homeshooling families and their kids are very well rounded, polite, hard working and motivated.  And they can think critically, which is something our education system tries to prevent because it gets in the way of indoctrination.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/5/2020 5:40:53 PM

If you say so.  Have no kids or grandkids so I don't really have a finger on the pulse of what public school is like now.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/5/2020 5:58:24 PM

When you say alot....what do you mean by alot? Do they home school them for 9-12? I don't know anyone smart enough with the time to home school.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/5/2020 6:34:12 PM

Google Harding Family Montgomery Alabama.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/5/2020 8:03:01 PM

Some people do a great job at home schooling...some do not.  Some are like a past client prospect (I turned down the job) who asked that I meet to discuss renovations to their home including new space where they could home school there 3 kids.  The existing home school room included a display of posters featuring Jesus and his disciples with dinosaurs grazing in the background.  Sorry folks, but in the south this is an accurate dipiction of what passes for ''education'' in many home school situations.  Not left wing indoctrination but just as bad IMHO!

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	GF
Date:	6/5/2020 11:13:16 PM

There are programs available for home schooling parents to follow from a variety of sources. There are plenty of classes on the internet - in fact, some guy (sorry name evades me) that built an entire academy for online learning.   I also know a few people that home school but actually hire tutors to teach certain subjects.  Kids I know of have a full school day, the same as if they attended a brick and mortar school.  They get together with other home schoolers and do educational trips and classes.  It's really a lot more developed than you would think.  

When I first heard about it, I was skeptical about getting into college after being home schooled, but a high percentage go on to college and have no trouble getting in.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Agreed
Date:	6/8/2020 8:50:24 AM

They home school through high school.  Many of them use hybrid schools where a portion of their time is spent in a school setting, mostly for the sciences and math.  Hard to do labs at home and not everyone has the math training.  Most of the home schooling families I know go through high school.  And home schoolers as a group do far better in college than the national average.  It's obviously not for everyone and it takes real committment but the available resources to home school families has improved dramatically in the last decade.  And they are very well adjusted young people.  All the negative nonsense about home schooling is pure ignorance or agenda driven.