Days that reached the boiling point

Published: Monday, May 1, 1995

By Joshua Silverman

In 1992 I was an atypical freshman at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo: I was white, male and politically liberal. I was often at odds with my conservative classmates concerning race relations and the state of economic opportunity in America.

On April 29, 1992 when I returned to my dorm, I flipped on the television to discover the most intense civil uprising of my lifetime. One of my neighbors dropped by to witness the events depicted on the screen. He reacted in amazement, like everyone who watched on my floor, but then looked over to me and said, "look at 'em, what do you think of your boys now?"

Already saddened that the anger of the people in South Central Los Angeles had reached this form of expression, I was then forced to deal with the sort of ideology that had helped to create the rage and desperation we were witnessing. His statement paralleled the ideology of propaganda that was used to justify slavery in America. He supported a racist notion that certain ethnic groups are inferior human beings, not able to control or constructively express their emotions and urges, and thus, those active during the riots were displaying their "true colors." To this budding fascist, the L.A. riots reaffirmed his fears and misunderstandings and provided evidence for the need of an increased police presence.

The Los Angeles riots represent a boiling point for a group of Americans who have been systematically denied access to sufficient education, housing and employment. The riots should serve as a wake-up call for Americans of all economic classes to strive toward communication, to avoid violence that gets to the heart of the anger we were seeing in 1992 and continue to see today. However, as the politicians and mass media of this country continue to indulge in paranoia, many passive, uninformed Americans follow their lead.

Mayor Richard Riordan's proposed budget cuts 1,200 city jobs and plans to hire an additional 600 police officers. However, the paranoia many Americans are feeling is not relieved by more police and prisons. The National Rifle Association's top lobbyist, Steve Helsley, is actively pushing legislation which would virtually allow any adult to carry a concealed gun for self-protection. He has seen tremendous support mainly from the Republicans on Capitol Hill.

We are in the midst of a dangerous trend of scapegoating and hate and a semi-military state is now perceived by many as a viable solution to whatever the politicians view as our country's threatening agent.

I ask you to challenge this swing to the right our country is experiencing with intelligent, free communication with those representing all points of view. Silence = Death. If the police responded with excessive force concerning the celebration of a basketball game, what will they do when people gather for something worth fighting for?

Silverman, a junior, is an English/American studies student.