There's a Riot Going On

I must confess to a certain amount of ambivalence in the weeks since the latest riot in Chico. On one hand I was pleased at how our deployment of resources quickly dispelled the gathering on W. 6th St. I was also relieved to hear almost universal condemnation of the riot by most everyone in the community. On the other hand, I could only conclude that the reason for this condemnation was that there was no cause behind the riot. Even the normal hatred of all things POLICE in some quarters was not sufficient to defend the stupidity that regularly overcomes the South Campus mob.

If they only had a brain . . . er, a cause.

Our post-modern, narcissistic culture just loves a cause. Especially one that moves people to protest. In the post 60s era, the protest has become the ultimate expression of one's self. Our media culture perpetuates this to the point of absurdity. Unfortunately, what they show us isn't always honest.

I fear that had just one of those drunken idiots decided to start a chant other than "CHEEEEEECOOOOOOOH", we at the Police Department would be on the receiving end of the condemnation come Monday morning. It wouldn't have to be an especially complex or deep meaning chant, just one that is catchy. Here are some of my favorites.

The problem with the mob in Chico was that they didn't have the right handlers for their riotous act of civil disobedience. All they had to do was hook up with one of these groups and they would have really caused a stir. If they had only invited Amro Jayousi to show up wearing his keffiyeh and duct tape over his mouth, they might have gotten on CNN.

Of course I am being facetious, however, the mixture of neo-Marxist/anarchist agitators and pro-Palestinian protesters can be volatile. Especially when acted out in a Western liberal democracy that has completely surrendered its right to defend itself in the face of a hostile mob. This video was taken in London earlier in the year. And to this cop, it is very disturbing.

I have a friend who was born and raised in Germany. He travels to the EU several times a year. He often likes to tell me that the US is at least twenty years behind western Europe when it comes to the onslaught of liberal appeasement. I was reminded of that when I saw this video. All I could think was that I'm glad I'll be retired long before I see the likes of that. But then I remembered the press conference by our city leaders the day after our little riot. Our Mayor got in front of a TV camera and said that while it was important that those arrested during the riot were made to face the consequences of their actions, "the most important thing is that we come together as a community and figure out who we are".

Maybe retirement won't come soon enough.