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Jagoffs are everywhere and perception is reality.

Last night I watched, on live TV, some jagoffs smash the windows of several businesses in Ferguson. I saw even more people steal bottles of liquor. My suspicion is that most of those thugs don't care about Michael Brown or his family. Some of those same criminals would have probably at least vandalized businesses even if the grand jury reached a different conclusion.

So thanks to those idiots (and I really want to use a stronger noun), people are painting the entire town and/or supporters of Brown with the same brush. And perhaps as unfortunate, their actions may discourage peaceful protesters. And most unfortunate, there will be those who say (and have already done so on social media) that the actions of those criminals somehow prove that Michael Brown was a thug and that his killing was justified and/or the officer who killed him did so with reason. 

All of this because some goons committed multiple crimes. And I bet if you asked them if they felt bad for what they did and how it tainted perceptions, most would not care. 

It makes me so sad, how the actions of a few can have such far-reaching effects and so greatly affect perceptions. You go to WVU? You must like to burn couches! You are a Ravens fan? You must think it is okay to hit a woman. You are a Republican? You must hate the poor. You are a Catholic? You must think it is okay that priests molest boys.

Racism and discrimination are still happening. Police brutality still exists. People commit crimes. And sometimes people get it wrong.

Be thankful if you are not on the giving or receiving of end of any of the above.


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