Donald Rumsfeld: one can understand the pent-up feelings that may result from decades of repression

[Cali_Democrat]

In 2003, Donald Rumsfeld gave a perfect explanation for why people riot

When Iraqis looted hospitals and businesses in Baghdad after the US invasion in 2003, the conservative secretary of defense at the time, Donald Rumsfeld, suggested that looting was a result of legitimate, pent-up anger — a comment that closely mirrors how many protesters feel about the rioting that erupted in Baltimore this week after Freddie Gray's funeral.

Rumsfeld said, according to Pentagon correspondent Pamela Hess at UPI:

While no one condones looting, on the other hand, one can understand the pent-up feelings that may result from decades of repression and people who have had members of their family killed by that regime, for them to be taking their feelings out on that regime. And I don't think there's anyone in any of those pictures … [who wouldn't] accept it as part of the price of getting from a repressed regime to freedom.

http://www.vox.com/2015/5/1/8528593/donald-rumsfeld-riots

[blm]

1. Great catch.

.

[malthaussen]

2. It's one of those perfect examples of American Exceptionalism in action.

I was discussing this in reference to the film "Cry Freedom" earlier. Too many of us, especially scions of white-boy privilege (which include my humble self), have a peculiar blind spot when it comes to things that happen here and don't fit the accepted narrative. It is really gag-worthy for me, because it is usually accompanied by smug complacency. Although in fairness, there are large numbers who are simply ignorant.

-- Mal