Prince William County Police should be commended for the quick crime-solve of the Sudley Place vandalism. Kids can do some mighty stupid things but residents should not have to bear the cost and time that go into fixing the damage. Hopefully, the group who did this vandalism will receive very inconvenient, stiff sentences that teach a lesson.
Some of us were talking about what causes this type of behavior. We seem to have had a rash of it with young adults here recently. Houses in Gainesville were vandalized. Cars and a few homes were vandalized in Sudley. Why do young adults (who basically are still kids in my mind) and kids go on rampages like this?
Is this new behavior? Is it reflective of the community? Is it reflective of the times? Is it more rampant than it used to be? Do kids have more freedom? Is it part of a hate crime tendency?
With this type of crime occurring as frequently as it does, is this the time to be cutting back on police on street? As the economy grows worse, should we expect theft to increase, vandalism to increase because unemployed people have too much time on their hands?
What county services would you be willing to give up to keep the PWC police force at its current levels rather than it suffering the same cut backs as other county agencies are going to have to do?
These are tough questions for tough times. Give us your opinions.
See full story at the Washington Post.
RD / Yoo Hoo, you are amazing. Just amazing that commercials like that are still in your head from the late 70’s. On the other hand, when I saw that Fabreshe commercial I realized it was in my head too, but I had no idea it was still there, it was WAY WAY back there in the very very back of my mind! I had no idea is was in there and yet you pull things up like some sort of random access computer. How do you do it?
Posting as Pinko, I think she looks for the random videos after she gets the random thought. And YouTube is so massive that just about anything you look for is findable.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RD up for auction, just give the donations to SERVE or something of the sorts:)
xoxox
I don’t spend that much time on youtube as you would think. I just relate things in life with QUICK WIT in everyday life that people can relate too via a movie or song(the MARKETING has been done for FREE, LOL!)
Hit it! LOL! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F-Rsx4o7TA
ShellyB wins with her comment @ 19:20!!!! EXACTLY!!! 🙂
NOW we need a REAL contest with real benefits?!!??? 🙂
Just wanted to make a clarification about this statement. “Furthermore, someone reported a Manassas City Councilwoman said last year that Manassas Park will NOT engage in the ethnic cleansing as seen in PWC. Yes, folks, she used the word.”
There are no women on the Manassas City Council. The woman who made the statement about the ethnic cleansing must be a Manassas Park City Councilwoman.
I’m going to be very frank here, ladies and gentlemen. I do not mean to offend anyone with my post to follow. However, I’m sure I’ll catch some hell. That’s fine. I’ve taken crap from both sides a time or two, because that’s what happens when you are in the middle.
Anyways, I can NOT for the life of me figure why this past weekends “happenings” on the blog are still being discussed. I started out on that dreadful thread clearly stating I had very mixed feelings, and continue to do so. However, by the end of the thread I still had mixed feelings, but for very different reasons than that of the topic of the thread.
I know that we all have very strong personalities in many cases. This is sure to lead to spirited debate, and that’s great. All sides/voices do need to be heard on this blog. However, the personal attacks and constant come backs, and antagonizing is uncalled for.
I’m very disappointed in those that chose to ignore several serious pleas by Moon-howler and myself, to just stop the bickering, move on, and check out some other thread. However, we were disrespected to some degree. Not a soul considered our requests a single time. Oh, JustinT did refer to ShellyB and me as “peacemakers”. I have to laugh at the one, that’s one thing I don’t recall being called ever.
I think it’s fairly safe to say not everyone knows everyone on this blog off the blog. I mean we often times only see the “blog side” of a person, and only know that SINGLE side of them. The truth is we are all human beings, and the human factor gets left out way to often. You have to remember we as humans are multi-faceted, and there’s much more to each and everyone of us than any blog. We don’t know what everyone’s got going on in their personal lives, their health, and other concerns one might be faced with on any given day. Therefore, why not consider that before jumping on someone’s back.
I saw many people wanting to be winners on that thread, and there weren’t any winners in my “own two eyes”. Anti is supposed to be the opposite of something, and what I saw over the weekend was the mirror image. I thought this was the place where all voices would be welcomed and we would not bombard those with differing opinions.
I truly wish all would consider what I’m saying. This has gone on way to long, and it’s time to put it rest once and for all.
–RD up for auction, just give the donations to SERVE or something of the sorts:)
xoxox–
What a great idea! Anti, want to set up a PaypPal account or something?
Marie, you are correct about the Councilwoman. I always screw those cities up. “It’s all the same to me.”
Marie, ( @ 19:33)
With no disrespect!!!!!! SEE this is where I think EVERYONE is being PLAYED a FOOL.
BY time you get a round to the he said she said BS and then after/before argue those points… THE BEGINNING, they are already on to the next subject and the damage has been done.
What happened to SPANKING our kids? OHHHHH yeah, that’s right,it can be held AGAINST the parent(s) as abuse and the kid(s) KNOW it and win(s)!!! LOL!!!!To get back on topic …(18-CONSIDERED to be an ADULT-yeah right, HOW many of you/us parents could not wait until we were no longer responsible that see/saw the age of 18 as a RELIEF?! HOW many divorces has one been in or know of someone BEFORE the age of 30/35?) would consider such an act drugs/drinking or not)-whooo-hooo, we ALL couldn’t WAIT for those days now could we?
Just thinking…LOL 🙂
Chris, honestly I was upset with your comment that I should stop using the word “racist” and get the “hint.” I felt it was a BVBL censoring/bullying kind of thing. I understand why MH doesn’t use the word, but I understand why I DO and I am not the only one. I cannot stop using words I think best describe the situation. Thus, I was upset because I felt attacked, censored, and really, hurt that this was not the open forum I thought it was.
Obviously, as 300 postings later proved (in which I removed myself from the debate entirely), everyone was having a bad day and MH was having a hell of a time trying to calm people down. Here’s what I have learned—you can’t really calm people down on a blog if they have lost control. The more you try, the worse it gets. That’s why I took a sabbatical. People seem to be back in better spirits now.
You are right that we don’t know one another (you and I have never met), and the Internet is notorious for de-personalizing. We get images of who we think people are but that’s not the full picture as you point out (I’ve blogged on this issue a lot because I find it interesting the way identity gets more complex through writing).
If you ever heard me throwing a fit, you would “hear” the tone of voice I have here. My version of throwing fits means I use strong words but let’s put it this way….my dogs don’t even listen to me 🙂 When I scream at the kids, they hardly know they are being yelled at. This is odd to me, because I always think I’m being loud. But I’ve noticed when I actually “yell” to someone (as in trying to get their attention at a distance) they never hear me! Go figure.
Anyway, I AM a firm believer in using words I think best fit the situation. I look up definitions and word histories constantly. Usage is important to me (though I am far from a perfect editor). Words aren’t always gently, however, and neither are we.
Sorry, I see I was at crossroad in thought between this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVxdkPc0puw
and this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CRouGJq_M0
LOL!!
Pay pal works Pinko!
For EVERY disagreement or cuss word or something like that..:) I do NOT belong on blogs or any written forum..:)
I give MH BIG BIG credit. She did what she thought she should do. And that’s all that counts. Doing the right thing for the right reason. Even though we had a spat. 🙂
In most cases, relationships with the objective of learning and lasting benefit from spats. Those that don’t – well there probably wasn’t any intention of developing anything more than something one sided.
I am all for healthy spats and good yellin’ – I am also for being able to laugh at myself and admit when I am wrong. It’s called LIFE, folks. And this IS a blog!
PAP.
I’m all for one using words they see fit, and that’s most certainly your right. My point was not to “censor” your use, but it does get people riled up. I personally have been called a racist in many forms(person, email, blogs, etc.), and some of the least likely suspects have apologized to my face. I will NOT call out these individuals by name. There apologies were sincere and heart-felt. The word racist in and of itself is controversial, and “fan some flames”. We don’t need that right now, that’s all I’m trying to express. I’m far from a wordssmith.
I have to tell you I have a voice that carries, and some might say I talk loud.
I only posted in hopes that everyone might think about what a said, even if just for a second.
–And this IS a blog!–
LOL! AMEN, Jut! When we start taking blogs TOOOOO seriously, it really IS time to take a break.
As my Dad would say, “30 million people in China really don’t give a damn.”
PAP – LOL
Honestly, only white people would support something like 287g. It’s only white people who actually believe that cops don’t make blatant false arrests. It’s only white people who think cops won’t get up on the witness stand and lie through their teeth. And no matter how many times people of color tell them it’s common, no matter how many videos surface exposing it as common, these white people cannot hear for they will not hear. It’s much more comfortable to live in denial.
On the streets, the law is not what is written on the books. The law is whatever ‘they’ say it is. And there’s some laws you won’t find in a legal dictionary. You discover them the hard way.
If white people had to worry about having the light of their life placed into a gang database for life without due process, they might begin to understand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_XzDleIfo&feature=related
The only good thing about the rising police state in our nation is that finally some overprivileged white people are starting to feel what it’s like to be at the mercy of injustice. When I hear of these kinds of cases, I applaud with savage glee and apologize for nothing. You made your own bed, now lie in it.
Chris, I never thought you were a racist. Why? Because you left HSM. I’m not saying everyone in HSM is a racist. What I will maintain, however, is that HSM is a racist ORGANIZATION. People who don’t support racism should leave, as you did, IMHO. You are a role model in that way.
I also have never seen you post ANYTHING racist here ever. You stick to the topic without going down “taco ave.”
I don’t think there is anything wrong with being angry about illegal immigration, neighborhood issues, or the government. I DO think there is something wrong with behaviours we have seen on BVBL, in HSM, via GL/RD/JS/CS etc.
Off the topic, I’ve been told time and time again that I DO laugh loudly! I don’t think that’s such a bad thing 🙂
Chris, it’s ALL GOOD!
I have learned to BEND not break 🙂
We ALL want to have the last word. WHO can blame us/everyone? It is the INTENT/the HEART that matters:)
I just got done praising ALL sides for standing tall with the conviction to continue.
Fight on! It’s a BLOG! LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwTcBJ4YZQI
Mackie, to some extent, I think the racial majority is more likely to agree with whatever people in their majority agree to do. That’s not just a “white” thing. It’s a “privilege” thing and a groupthink thing. Typically, if the majority has a government, that government will work in its favor because the numbers are there and because people like to nod their heads in agreement. It’s easier.
Now this isn’t always the case, as we saw in apartheid. But it’s certainly true in this country, especially when we have a history of racial division.
I won’t even bring in socioeconomics because that’s where this whole thing gets more confusing. Sometimes I think socioeconomics transcends race in terms of issues we see here and everywhere else. But only sometimes…clearly there are racial issues in this county that are unresolved.
Incidentally, I’m wondering if you are “white” Mackie. I’m just curious because first, some “white” people do realize they have more power because they are in the majority. Conversely, some people who are not white realize they might be at a disadvantage because of that. Then there are “white looking” people like me who NEVER felt empowered because we’ve been beaten down by the system. I’m lucky that I’m so stubborn, I just keep getting up.
Personally, I’m going to go harlequin and just watch as everyone stares…
I did not catch the discussion of “racist” usage, Chris and Pinko, but this is a similar issue to what I mentioned about hate crimes above. For some reason, people are way too personally invested in policy ideas like the Immigration Resolution. I think that you can certainly refer to the Immigration Resolution as rooted in racism. I have done so, and so have most people who have no personal dogs in the fight (like they are on record supporting it at a time when maybe they were affected by the prevailing atmosphere).
While a person who advocated for the Immigration Resolution should not be called a racist (not if you want to be polite and civil), I think it is fair to refer to the Immigration Resolution as rooted in racism. It was, after all, a law that required Police to use “probable cause” to determine if someone looked illegal or not. And, if there was not a specific population that “looked illegal” to a good number of PWC residents, there is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, to trigger the whole disastrous ordeal. A sudden surge of Swedish immigrants would not have done the trick.
If we could only remove the pejorative nature of the word “racism” (an impossible thing I know) I think we could get a lot further in these discussions. Everyone is capable of racism, and everyone is guilty most likely. The problem for people like me and Pinko came when we started to institutionalize racism into our laws. That’s a problem, and it needed to be addressed, and it WAS addressed on April 29th, 2008. If we took the concept of racism out of our consciousnesses, we never could have achieved the change in the law. Why? Because we wouldn’t have realized the law was unconstitutional and destined to land us in court.
So, the idea of “racism” was very helpful to our county. It motivated citizens to speak out. And citizens speaking out gave the Supervisors the political cover to make the right decision and change the law.
Whether or not people get their feelings hurt every time they hear the word “racism” is another matter, a much smaller matter. But if we want to avoid situations like what happened over the weekend, perhaps we should try to separate the idea of “racism” from the accusation that someone with a particular point of view is a racist.
Toward that end, I apologize for at times implying that certain politicians and their political advisers are racists. I am not sure about this everlasting debate about racism vs. political opportunism when it comes to those individuals. But I will bear in mind that next time I discuss it, there may be people reading this blog who feel personally attacked every time they see or hear the word “racism.”
PAP, I’m not sure what the point is of your apologetic argument.
Looking the other way…is still looking the other way. The fact that it’s easy to do means nothing.
NGL, I agree with everything you said, and you said it so very well!!
The only thing I balk at is this: “Toward that end, I apologize for at times implying that certain politicians and their political advisers are racists.”
I don’t apologize for that. When it comes to our political and civic leaders, if you promote racism even if you are not racist yourself you are just as guilty. This is my perception, of course. I also think people who walk away while someone is being mugged are almost as guilty as the muggers.
Mackie, I’m not trying to look the other way. I’m just analyzing what you are saying and wondering if I am understanding you.
I really doubt that Mackie is White. I know a lot of Black people who think like Mackie about law enforcement. I do not agree with Mackie’s high level of skepticism, even rage, toward law enforcement. I do realize there is a lot of injustice, but I also feel like 99 percent of people in law enforcement are doing their best in the name of justice. And, when I read a post like the one Mackie dropped above, I worry that White people will be offended.
That said, Mackie did raise a good point. All those of us who have expressed support for 287g do so without thinking about the fact that we have not yet reached the point where justice is metered out equally to all Americans (just ask the gay community in California). There have been innocent people put to death by state governments in this country. So law enforcement is not perfect. But if you let that fact stop you from enforcing any laws at all, I don’t see how that makes for a more perfect union. So, even though Mackie reminds me that there are often miscarriages of justice, and that often racism is involved, I still feel like I can live with 287g in our jails. And I say that knowing that it leads to some injustice.
A better version of 287g would be that only major felonies would cause someone to get reported to ICE. But we basically have that anyway since the low level criminals are all let go by ICE. I mean, I assume those are the ones they let go. Which brings us back to the biggest reason why the Immigration Resolution has been a huge failure for PWC. We pay millions of dollars so we catch more people who are undocumented, they get turned in to ICE, and ICE lets them go. Not worth it.
Well, Pinko, you’re right I guess. I can’t say I didn’t mean it when I said Stewart, Stirrup, and Letiecq are probably racists. But I can still be sorry that I hurt people’s feelings. Believe it or not, I even care about the feelings of those three people.
Mackie, don’t be mad at me. I’m working out all these thoughts as I type them and I know you might be unhappy with my willingness to compromise on principles like equal justice. I am struggling with the challenges you present to us.
But you do realize that if you make blanket statements about White people at the top of your post, almost everyone else will dismiss what you are saying as “reverse racism.” You may or may not want that. But that’s what is happening. We are all in the spirit of making things less abrasive here so I thought I’d say that even as I acknowledge that your points get through to me.
Considering some ridiculous number of African Americans are incarcerated for drugs and never get their voting rights back (something like 4-5% of VA’s population), I can see how anyone would think there is tremendous racism in law enforcement. And we DO see racists in law enforcement acting out–I will use Jackson Miller as a prime example (and I have no problem calling him racist either). You can’t tell me that man is capable of making unbiased, fair calls. He’d be the first one to bring someone in for “driving while speaking Spanish” IMO.
“Believe it or not, I even care about the feelings of those three people.”
I’m not sure they HAVE feelings. If they did, they wouldn’t act this way. They really don’t give a damn about other people IMO. We could make fun of their mothers and they probably would blow it off. At least that’s the image they portray. If they acted like human beings, I might feel otherwise.
NGL,
So people of color are supposed to care about over privileged white people being reminded of their own stupidity? When that stupidity leads them to act like an giant child in a sandbox, smashing smaller children to death, exposing the stupidity is a public service.
If I was grinding my boot into your neck and saying it was a good thing and I didn’t notice how painful it was to you until you reached up and punched me in the balls to get my attention, I hardly think the offense against my reproductive organs would be unwarranted.
May the police state rise. May it consume you and those you love.
Wow, Mackie. You have some rage going on there. I think sometimes rage can help. Other times, it just eats at you like acid until you rot away, though.
PAP,
Many felons of ALL races don’t bother to try to get their voting rights reinstated. Now, that is only their fault for NOT doing so.
NotGL,
You and PAP as I said before are entitled to use the term. Neither one of you need to apology to anyone for how you view things. Let’s not forget “perception is reality”, eh? 😉
I just felt like I was back on the other blog, and that was unsettling to me. My perception, ya know? I would hate to leave this blog for the reasons I left the other, but if it comes to that, so be it. I will live to see another day. My post was NOT directed any person(s) in particular, just my assessment for what it was worth.
–Many felons of ALL races don’t bother to try to get their voting rights reinstated. —
VA and only one other state has the most oppressive system for getting voting rights back. Outside of a ton of paperwork, the only person who can give them back voting rights is the governor. Some governors have given back fewer than 500 rights in an entire term! It’s not as easy as you think and when people are re-entering, they’ve lost the information or are struggling so much they can’t get it together. 4-5% of an entire population makes or breaks an election for sure.
If you move to other states, once you get out of jail and pay your fines, you automatically get your rights back. VA is REALLY bad this way.
I didn’t realize Virginia was so restrictive. Thanks for the information. I must I don’t feel all should be given their voting rights back.
Less the 500 in a term, wow? Do you have any idea how many applied and turned down?
I’d have to look it up. The League of Women Voters did a whole study on it. Let me see if I can find the link.
VA and KY are the worst states for this.
Here’s some info:
In Virginia, only the Governor can restore voting rights. The Constitution of Virginia,
Article II, Section I states: “No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the governor or other appropriate authority.” All applications are sent to the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth for processing. An application can be filed through the Circuit Court, but this is an exceptional route. The number of felons who have had their voting rights restored by any one governor has varied greatly. For example: Gov. Robb restored rights to1,180; Gov. Allen, to 480; Gov. Gilmore, to 238; Gov. Warner, to 3,486 and Gov. Kaine, to 878 during his first 15 months in office.
Nearly 300,000 Virginia citizens, representing 4-5% of Virginia citizens who are age 18
or older, are unable to vote because of a felony conviction, despite having completed their sentences and been released from probation or parole. About half of these citizens are African- American. As many as one in every six African-American men in Virginia cannot register to vote for this reason.
The whole study is here:
http://www.lwvalex.org/Frlons%20Rights%20study_materials.pdf
We’re actually supposed to have a meeting on this topic tomorrow if it doesn’t snow!
Big Mack,
“So people of color are supposed to care about over privileged white people being reminded of their own stupidity? When that stupidity leads them to act like an giant child in a sandbox, smashing smaller children to death, exposing the stupidity is a public service.”
I am WHITE and I think of you as a friend that has opened my eyes.I thank you and have thanked you for ding that. I just don’t get the WHITE sh#t.
Are you drinking too? At one point it was cheaper than gas and I got an email alert to drink and not drive? LOL
–I don’t feel all should be given their voting rights back.–
I don’t think really violent criminals should. But those people usually stay in jail for a long time anyway.
It’s these drug convictions that kill me. Okay. Drugs are BAD. We don’t want them on our streets or anywhere else. But if someone cleans up and is trying to make a new start, why put them through hell trying to vote? It just makes them feel like permanent outcasts.
Anyway, per usual, I am WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off topic!!! RD, pour me purple knee-hie.
Make it a “grape knee-hie.”
PAP,
I have no problem with some getting their rights back, just not all. Certainly violent criminals and perverts should NOT be given back their rights, and those young adults that commit “lesser crimes”. I the degree of the felony and one’s age should be considered. I do believe people can “start over”, and if they’ve proven themselves and paid their debt to society then consider them.
Thank you for that link it was quite informative. I also liked the “glossary” portion.
Corr: I meant to say and those young adults that commit “lesser crimes”, should be considered to get their voting rights back.
sorry for the confusion.
Yoo Hoo, do you ever play that game where they give you a word and you have to sing a song with that word? I think you’d be very good at it. Quick: give me 10 song lyrics that have the word “forgiveness” in it!
first one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLgUuHl2xJo
Thanks for all the info Posting as Pinko. I had no idea there were 300,000 Virginians barred from voting because of this law. One in six African American men is really a travesty. We now have our second consecutive President who has experimented with drugs. We have a seven time convicted felon sitting in the United States Senate! And we can’t let someone vote if they have a single drug conviction?
By the way that was fair and I take it as a challenge and my computer froze up
second one :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_izOLbftmVo
This is A hard one!( not random-personalizing songs I have heard)
Here is another, how many is that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ul3mxG1-Qs
Pinko,
YOU pour me a drink! LOL- Knee-hi, purple or pink who gives a shi…….LOL 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01KQfcSCRbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t38xiN8AFSM
how many is that?
I lost the challenge. I cannot pick 10! 🙂 Bummer.
YooHoo, I can’t see the videos right now but did you have “Hold Me Now” by The Thopson Twins on your list?
The fruit of white privilege.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZYH8EsJmJ4
Just wondering…what is the point of releasing a person back into society when they will no longer have a voice? They will most likely be permanently marked as criminal, and have a tough time finding a job. This will already make their lives harder and more frustrating…thus they may be more likely to commit another crime. However, I fully understand why employers should know the criminal records of employees. This has a reason.
I want to understand the logic of taking voting rights away from criminals who have done their time. What is the purpose of it? Criminals will not REALLY be starting over, given all the other ways they are permanently marked in society, so is it just an extra, tangential smack on the hand? Is it meant to be a deterrent (I don’t think that’s logical)? Are we saying that once you commit a crime and do your time, you are no longer REALLY a citizen of the United States? Are we afraid that the criminal element may rule us all?
I think it is a good thing that we examine this. I’m going to go off and do some research today.
Chris I know what you are saying. That’s what the LWV meeting is about today–reaching a consensus on who feels what. The National Leagues take all the info from the smaller ones across the country and that’s how they establish their position.
DG, I know. It’s pretty pathetic. There are what they call “re-entry” programs, but there aren’t enough of them. Sad to say, if you have done time, especially in VA, they consider you a felon for life. Ex-felons will NEVER be called “ex-cons” or “ex-felons” in the state of VA. In the eyes and status of VA, a felon is ALWAYS a felon, even after he/she has paid off a debt to society. I’ve very much anti-crime, but this system is anti-people and counterproductive IMO.
It’s just a few bad apples!
It’s not systematic racism no matter how much proof there is!
All that stuff ended in the 60s!
287g won’t lead to false arrests!
Up is down!
Black is white!
War is peace!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcanTRJjDAI