From: "Richard Hong" 

>> You have a binary solution set: 0= stop them 1= let them burn the town
down

Jeff,

You start from a false premise.  Those aren't the only options.  And as has
been documented in many cases, a demonstration often only turns into a riot
when the police move in to disperse it without actual reason.

Coincidentally, I was listening earlier to a CD of a Christian rock group
I'm fond of, Five Iron Frenzy.  Their "Quantity is Job 1" album
has a cut which is about their belief that the Denver police instigated the
riot which followed Denver's Super Bowl win a couple of years ago (the
group is based in Denver.)  Here's a sample of the lyrics of the song,
"Get Your Riot Gear":

    You want riots?
    Wear your riot gear.
    You want violence?
    Then shoot some tear gas in the air.
    It is written on your badge
    "To serve and protect"
    It seemed you only served yourselves
    Protecting your own neck

The police often treat a crowd in a manner analogous to poking a dog with a
stick until it bites you, then using the bite to "prove" the dog
was dangerous in the first place.

Rich

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5