Very Sad Day in Pakistan..but why didn't Americans burn down buildings and destroy cars when JFK was killed?

Question

I do not understand the mentality of people in foreign lands that riot,and burn things down,whenever something does not go their way.
Is that a civilized way to act?
Americans have had their tragedy's as well but you didn't see people in the streets burning down and destroying public and private property whenever things did not go our way.
Is it because Americans are more civilized and if that is the case,then maybe we should just send our troops back inside our borders and let the rest of the world fight it out amongst themselves.

Figures..I know there would be someone to blame the U.S. for this tragedy.Many people cited MLK riots,and Rodney King,but no one said anything about why there were no riots for JFK and RFK .
I didn't see anyone rioting when George Wallace was gunned down either. (paralyzed not killed).
No one wants to admit that the USA is more civilized than the rest of the world,except for Canada ,and the UK of course.

to kwlxiwvr..or whatever your name is
Americans ARE more civilized..that is my point.

Answer 1

I would beg to differ that the assassination of RFK wasn't political. You can believe the Sirhan Sirhan sh*t all you want, but RFK would have stopped the Vietnam War, and the military/industrial complex that owns the USA didn't want him to do that. How many dead American soldiers would be alive today if RFK had lived and been President.
Before WWII we had no standing army, so to speak. We were caught off guard and had to "catch-up." But ever since the military/industrial complex for WWII was created, we have been in a war to maintain their cash flow. "We have these planes we want to build, and we contributed to your campaign fund, so gives us some contracts and $$ and go find someone to kill!" Will it ever end? I digress....

Answer 2

You may be too quick to judge, my friend. When Martin Luther King was assassinated this country went berzrk for a few days. There were riots in Detroit, Memphis, New York, Philadelphia, LA, and many other major US cities. People were killed and streets were on fire.

Of course, MLK was killed shortly after RFK and a few years after JFK, so maybe the tension was building up for a while.

Anyway, be careful that you do not judge too hastily. I'm not condoning the fearful mess in Pakistan; I'm just saying that the emotional reaction may be quite legitimate from a certain point of view.

Also, be careful to suggest that Americans are allegedly more civilized than other peoples. Much of the problems in that part of the world stem directly from US, and before that British, actions. For example, the US government actually supported Saddam Hussein's war against Iran in the 1980s. As many as a million people were killed, and the US has some blood on its hands for that. Saddam was a tyrant, but for a while he was OUR tyrant, and evidently that made him ok with the powers-that-be in Wash DC.

Maybe we should try exporting peace, rather than attempting to force democracy at the point of a gun. Civilized is as civilized does!

Answer 3

It all goes back to the year 1801.

In that year, an important but often overlooked precedent was established in the United States. In April of that year, John Adams's Federalist Party was turned out of office and the Democratic-Republicans, led by new President Thomas Jefferson, took power. This transfer of power took place without violence, without bloodshed, without strife. And while some transfers of power have been more "delicate" than others (1876 and 2000 come quickly to mind, and there is a strong case to argue that the 1860 election broke this precedent), all of the players in American politics have adhered to the unspoken rule that politics is to be played without the use of force. This precedent has not been set in many places around the world, including Pakistan.

Does that make the US more civilized? An interesting question that hinges on the definition of the term "civilized." For me, that term is nearly meaningless. In the case of political culture, there have been countless "civilizations" in world history whose politics have been dictated through the sword. Were the ancient Chinese uncivilized for revolting against an emperor whom they thought had lost the Mandate of Heaven? Was Julius Caesar uncivilized for refusing to accept the Roman Senate's dictums and crossing the Rubicon to attack his own city? Was George Washington uncivilized for resorting to warfare as a means of settling disputes with Great Britain?

Each society develops its own political culture over a long period of time. That's why imposing American-style republican government on the people of Iraq was a bad idea and is still dogging the Bush administration. Pakistan's political culture is no more or less "civilized" (whatever that term means) - it is simply different. Let's thank our lucky stars that American political culture is not as violent as Pakistan's (though it would surely make the coverage of the 2008 election more interesting...).

Answer 4

Americans DID riot and burn when Martin Luther King was gunned down........ JFK 's death was viewed as being the work of a lone nut job the conspiracy theories came later. In Pakistan t Bhutto's murder is viewed by many as being the work of the work of the Government (ie Musaraf - misspelled) and many in Pakistan feel that the only way to show their anger is to resort to rioting. In many ways it is sheer frustration. And Americans rarely get that passionate about politics - - - now if their favorite sports team loses, that is grounds for rioting!!

But I do agree - - - bring the troops home and secure America's borders. The National Guard is that - - - the US National Guard and should be home not securing oil proffits for Haliburton.

Peace. . o o o p p o o p p o o

Answer 5

You certainly have a point there.
Yes, riots after MLK but they he differed from JFK and RFK in a very important way. If they had been leaders of an embattled section of the community in a time of great turmoil, who knows?
Not the least sign of an uncivilised person is to be quick to blame others for one's own problems.

Answer 6

The two Kennedy assassinations weren't "political killings" in the sense that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto or Martin Luther King was. Few people saw the assassination of either Kennedy as an attempt by some political faction to hold an oppressed group down by killing their leader.

And "WHENEVER things don't go their way"? The assassination of a leader who many hoped would provide a way out from under oppression doesn't happen every day!

Answer 7

People everywhere, including here in England, go on the rampage whenever they feel like it without rhyme or reason.

The people of Pakistan are naturally extremely angry and very upset at the brutal murder of their national Star, the most famous politician in the world, Benazir Bhuto [hope that's how you spell the lady's name].

I do not blame the people of Pakistan for being upset and angry. Their chance for a democracy has been greatly reduced and the elections set for January 2008 may now be postponed - another way of saying 'cancelled'.

Al Qaida are claiming responsibility for the brutal murder of Banazir Bhuto.

I just hope that whoever is responsible for her death will be brought to justice.

Anyone who thinks that rampaging out of control is the exclusive activity of the inhabitans of Pakistan had better think again. Try living here in London where the notorious London Mob can suddenly take it upon itself to go mad. Don't believe me? Then just read through the History of London from Roman times to the present. We're always rioting about something.

I am entirely in sympathy with the people of Pakistan. God bless them all and I hope and pray God they get their democracy and soon.

Answer 8

People are referencing riots after MLK, riots in Watts, riots in Miami, Detroit (is there a commonality here?) and justifying it by saying they understand it.
Wrong, there is no understanding of a mob that is killing and destroying in reaction to something they don't like. You can understand it all you want till the mob hurts your family and destroys your home.

Answer 9

I agree with you in part, but not totally. Remember the L.A. riots over the "Rodney King" arrest? That was a most uncivilized way of behaving.

Alberich

Answer 10

study more about your history. maybe you might be surprised if not only because of the europeans, you won't be like that now. no, all people are civilized. it is only unfortunate in pakistan because their government their is to harsh. they could only express their thoughts there with riots. but i agree with you somehow. always making a riot to solve a problem reflects immaturity on you.