Orlando Shoe Riot Shows How Out of Touch We Are
Early this morning while reading over news, I came across this grand specimen of news in America.
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This is a joke, right? A “shoe riot”?
No.. it’s no joke. According to the article, “More than 100 law enforcement officers in riot gear broke up an out-of-control crowd waiting to buy a new basketball shoe.”
And here is just one of the outstanding comments in the article:
“All I know is I paid a couple of hundred dollars for a flight,” said Sky Smith, 26, also of New Haven. “I’m not leaving without my shoes.”
I think the best part of this is reading that its NOT THE FIRST TIME and “Similar shoe releases have caused violence at shoe stores across the country” and “In Jersey City, N.J., a 20-year-old man was stabbed seven times amid a crowd of about 300 people waiting to buy the shoes, a local newspaper reported.”
This is why other countries don’t take us seriously. Why we are hated by some and why so many around the world look at us as completely spoiled and out of touch with real issues. Other countries have riots over religious freedoms, riots over voting and elections of power, riots over genocide and police brutality.
We have a riot over — ready? — $220 sneakers. Rioting in waiting to throw away money on a luxury expense that others in the world work hard more than a month or two to earn. Are we really that arrogant and spoiled?
There is this here “movement” in the US called “Occupy” and most of what I hear about it are from people, media and politicians criticizing those involved calling them names and “spoiled.” Even multiple beatings have been caught on tape, suppressing their rights of free speech, and no REAL public outcry. In just about any other country those beatings would trigger mass riots. Here, we criticize those that got beaten.
Are the “Occupy” people really the ones spoiled, or possibly are they the only ones that really get it and understand the real problem? I feel ashamed as an American that a riot over sneakers happened, besides the fact that it made the news.
I think its time we take a serious look and do a little self evaluation of what we are about.
