Harvest in Toledo

Holy Toledo! In Toledo, Ohio yesterday (October 15, 2005) a riot ensued in response to a White Supremacist/Neo Nazi demonstration (story here).

This is just the sort of thing one can expect when our society refuses to provide adequate and equitable education. By that, I mean a full education which includes an understanding and respect of the principle that everyone must be allowed to have free speech or else everyone's free speech is in danger.

Such ignorance also leads to the idiocy of neo-Nazism and racism displayed by the original protestors. A lack of knowledge about history and social science leaves a void easily filled with propaganda. Furthermore, these uneducated are more often poor, which results in crime-ridden living conditions, thus fueling animosity...


Above: Ignorance and hatred a common combination.

Not only that, but it is the unequal access to quality education that maintains such class distinctions and alienates impoverished sections of our society. If one wanted to create a group of barbarians, what's being done in this society would be a perfect way to accomplish that...


Above: Barbarians at the gate

There's no doubt that each individual is responsible for his or her actions and should be punished accordingly when breaking the law. But that doesn't change the fact that people are encouraged to take such actions and it behooves us as a society to, at a minimum, not encourage such things by creating these conditions.

You reap what you sow, and it seems it's harvest time in Toledo.