Urban Art Association

Set yourself goals dude, don't start a riot, start a revolution

They will riot over anything ,i was over in paris for newyear,pretty scary seeing about a hundred guys all looking cloned running down the street attacking riot police and setting cars alight ,the news the next day said there was over 800 cars set on fire ,bunch of crackpots who will use any exuse to riot and cause mayhem!!

sorry Not directed at the majority , but there is a element that will use any exuse to cause mayhem ,we were caught up in it and it was very scary!!

Congrats to C for cancellation, it's unfortunate that they needed a public shaming to cancel the order as opposed to internal morals, and somehow I'm still suspicious that they'll still be jetting on private aircraft.

And I'm not a die hard fan of Obama but at least he's giving it lip service. His picks are certainly questionable. And nothing is black and white but the enormity of executive compensation has unquestionably been growing larger and larger the past 1 or 2 decades.

Americans are lazy? Riot? Yea we see how helpful the Watts riots were and how about Kent State? Don't forget how helpful the LA Riots were. Riot? You mean like Detroit does when they win sports championships? Yea that makes sense, lets burn down the town in which we live in; That will show them...LOL

i don't see how americans can riot considering the chances of someone pulling out a beretta & taking it that one step too far

Snausages: First of all, I love that screen name...I can't tell you how much I used to joke around about that shit when i was younger

Anyway, It seems as if your posting from a hater's point of view and generalizing all Americans as the same.

When those losers in Detroit riot over sports that doesn't mean the entire country does. The entire country has always been outraged at Detroit's ignorant actions.

And I think the UK is the king of sports rioting and all of those other countries that riot over that sport like it's a religion.LOL..GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!

In my opinion, the way to deal with idiots isn't to stoop down to their level and act like an idiot.

Kent State resulted in death of some of the protestors that weren't rioting. The Watts Riots only resulted in more Project Housing and liquor stores on every street corner as well as the Crips, Bloods, Crack, AIDS and the destruction of any hope in that area... Until Obama and Obey'z(LOL) HOPE.

Because we have freedom of speech is why we have so many activists and I feel that you are wrong about us not gettin off our asses and doing something about it. The mainstream media chooses not to broadcast protests because they happen on a daily basis, in a somewhat civil manner. Occasionally you'll see somebody get paint splattered on em or an abortion clinic set on fire and that's when it gets coverage from the mainstream media.

There are protests every day at the whitehouse where people consistently travel from all around the country to exercise their freedom of speech(Especially throughout the bush administration).
That happens all throughout our nation on a daily basis. People move to San Francisco because of how organized countless groups protest on a daily basis.

We're gonna have to save the rioting 'til it really gets rough and now that Baby Bush n' Dick are out I say we just riot with paint.

1LUV/PEACE

The scope of this current financial crisis is still relatively unknown. Unemployment is growing and fear along with it. The daily drumbeat of bad news fuels more and more fear. I recently asked an accountant friend how he thought it would all turn out. He told me to "get a gun" - and this from a very mild mannered person.
That was before our election here in the US
And in enormous numbers, Americans responded to calls for hope and change. I saw much more hope as a result of the election outcome. People saw how they could accomplish positive change if they all worked together for it. They seemed less cynical.
In the days that followed, voices of the status quo returned but not quite as loud as pre election. They began to try and chip away at an inspired public. Its still a work in progress. I believe in the voices of hope and positive change because that's what the large majority of people want.
But I also think to get that, people have to participate and not leave it solely to others. They can't sit back. And they can't achieve anything meaningful through mindless violence, which in my opinion, is completely counter productive. I think people who are inspired become hopeful and want to participate but don't know how to go about it. They've been told for the last decade to "go shopping"

And those who become extremely frustrated often resort to extreme measures.
I think communities need to reach out within their own communities to channel this frustration into positives before they do become negative.
But people, regular people have to take the initiative. They need to come up with ways to move things forward positively. Do it within the community you belong to. Neighborhoods, blocks, artists, musicians, professionals, teachers etc. - there are all sorts of communities and if each work within their own ranks, it inspires more and hope grows and frustration diminishes.

Riots are the antithesis of hope

spot on

I think its pretty evident, Americans aren't rioting because Obama was elected.

If Obama lost, I know people who would have rioted.

Ultimately, we're a fairly wealthy nation with more to lose and even when things go poorly, American's are still relatively comfortable with ample TV, cheap food, etc.

But above all, the difference between America and France is America's culture of personal responsibility. Let me try to say this best I can, because obviously its a generalization, but one that I still think is accurate: Americans are more liable to blame themselves when they lose their job than the government. If you're blaming yourself, what are you going to riot against?

Snausages...

I'd say in the first two weeks we've seen a bit more than empty sloganeering from Obama since January 20th (really the 21st because the 20th he attended 15 official inauguration functions)...

-Moved to close Gitmo
-Directed military to begin pulling out of Iraq
-Expanded freedom of information act by exec order
-Expanded executive branch accountability by exec order
-Signed a bill for equal pay for equal work
-Banned lobbyist gifts to executive branch employees by exec order
-Lifted ban on stem cell research by exec order
-Lifted ban on foreign aid going to groups that advocate birth control
-Protected Utah wilderness by issue moratorium on drilling
-Put a hold on CA offshore drilling
-Opened diplomatic discussions with Iran
-Reached out to the Muslim world on three occassions
-Ordered a predator air strike across the Pakistan border
-Allowed states to curb auto emissions
-Had a slew of appointments get pushed through Congress

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...

The $1 trillion economic stimulus bill that should pass this week.

Now why should I riot? I hardly think sedated is so much the right word, as adequately satiated given that Obama's had less than two weeks and has gotten all this done - with the promise of much much more.

What will rioting about the economy do? Talk about the epitome of empty gestures at this point considering that the system of representative government is just starting to work, and we haven't even gotten the entire cabinet appointed or the real red meat.

Is there a lot of discontent in America? Clearly.

Are there a lot of out of work youths, desperate people, lots of firearms, lots of long time problems still not solves, and lots of things still going wrong? Clearly. And clearly, the incendiary elements for a mass riot are in place. Why else did the Republicans move 20,000 troops into rapid response should the state crumble based on early expert assessments of the potential for violent insurrection.

The difference thus far is Obama. So far that hope hasn't proved empty, and lets hope for the worlds sake it doesn't.

"if it doesn't I'll go live in Thailand" -- ironically, they just had a big riot. Closed the airport and everything.

Yea I was aware that you were from the U.S. Snausages. I was addressing "Signed And Numbered Studios" in the first portion of my post.
The only part of that post of mine directed to you was clearly the "French are pussies" stereotype.

As for your, "conspiracy theories", accusation; I don't waste time with conspiracies. Everything I stated is proven fact... I'm from Los Angeles and have been involved with the Graffiti community since the '70's. Therefore, I've had a front row seat to what I speak about in regard to "The Ghetto".
It's undeniable fact that there's far more bars and liquor stores throughout virtually any ghetto in the U.S. You can't just set-up shop anywhere and start selling alcohol. You need a permit from the govt. So it's fact that the govt. chooses where alcohol gets sold.

There's also no argument as to which communities the AIDS virus initially pillaged. What's conspiracy about AIDS is to think that the Govt purposely spread the virus in the ghetto. They just didn't care to deal with it properly until it was spreading throughout the middle/upper class areas. And that's what sparked conspiracy thinking on that subject.
It's also fact that Crack is a ridiculous problem in the Ghetto. What's conspiracy thinking is to subscribe to the idea that Pablo Escobar was dealing with the Crips. Pablo's life and connections are documented fact. It's also fact that Bush Sr. was the director of the CIA when all of Pablo's coke was being flown here.
Barry Seal was also a real CIA drug dealer and DEA informant who was assassinated. It's undeniable fact. It's also documented fact that Bill Clinton helped his buddy get a position with the CIA and was immediately sent on weapons for coke runs that ended up falling on scapegoat Oliver North's lap. The Iran Contra scandal was real and Ollie actually did have to testify. No conspiracy.
It's also not fairytale that Clinton was closely connected with convicted coke distributor Dan Lasater, in which he pardoned when he was president. It's fact that Dirty Dan's assistant, Patsy Thomasson was brought in to the Whitehouse working under the Clinton Admin. as White House Director of Administration. It's also fact that Bill had her head the White House drug testing policy and made sure that convicted drug offenders on the White House staff would not be bothered about their past, which was a first in U.S. history.
Another fact is that Bill's half brother Roger Clinton was convicted for drug charges that were connected to Dan Lasater. As a result of the criminal investigation, Roger was caught on video/audio saying how that coke was actually for his brother and how they know that Bill's nose is "Like a Hoover vacuum. How is that conspiracy.

Being in denial is having a sheepish and narrow point of view in my opinion. Jumping out of that box and actually being knowledgeable about the facts will only increase the depths of your artwork.

Knowledge is power and if people educate themselves more on the facts of the issues then we will use that power to make change. Too many riots have been started out of ignorance.

In regard to rioting; I don't know of any holiday's that honor any famous rioters. Martin Luther King had the right idea and it has shown. Think of how much more impacting it would've been for African Americans to organize and march in a civil manner, rather than rioting. The negativity of rioting destroys the message in most cases.
1 1/2 Americans just got together to witness the Obama innauguration and not one arrest. Despite thousands of people being pissed off that they froze their bums off only to get a glimpse of the back of somebodies head.

If and when there needs to be a revolution, that's the organized way that it will happen. And if all else fails, then we'll go buck nutty.

Debate is good because it spreads knowledge and if more people engaged in healthy debate prior to just poppin of and rioting, then we'd get much more accomplished at a faster rate.
Peace. 1LUV &
Happy SuperBowl Sunday. PS. If the Steelers don't win and I riot, will that void my post?

Sorry but I've never celebrated Paul Revere or Che Day.
The topic of discussion was in regard to America's attitude toward the French riots.
Actually my perspective is that we should raise up but only when it's absolutely necessary. The current financial situation doesn't seem like one of those necessary reasons. People's greed and gluttony is what created this financial mess so I have no sympathy for people who whine about having to live a bit more frugal lifestyles and even live a little ghetto, until things pick up. It seems like spoiled whining beeeatches who are whining over money.

You generalize everything that I state way too much so that's why I backed my statements up with facts in my previous post. You've ridiculously misunderstood my comments in regard to the ghetto. My posts would be waaaay longer if I had to explain everything in detail. It's really ignorant to get the impression that I was blaming the number of liquor stores in ghettos solely on the Watts Riots. That's a result of a much larger problem stemming from our countries long history of racism. The Watts Riots only slowed down the process of the govt. allocating funds to the Ghetto areas of LA.
I also witnessed first hand how the racism that the LAPD inflicted on those communities after those riots caused many years of beatdowns by the cops. I also saw the number of blacks who were locked up in LA County Jail rise to an alarming rate where they had to build another jail.
Sorry but if those people would've organized and "rioted" with their voice and unity then they wouldn't have had to wait until 2008 to finally feel some true hope.
You stated that riots are the result of people living in an environment where they want and need to drink often? Huh? So your saying that you are for a bunch people rioting because they need to drink? Huh? I'd still love to hear your logic as to why and how there are so many more liquor stores allowed by the govt. in the ghetto areas as opposed to the upperclass areas. Do you really think there aren't many rich alcoholics?
See I've backed my opinions up with facts but I'm not clear as to what you base your opinions on.