This article is blowing up Philly. And it's about to blow up nationally

[Squinch]

12. I'll defer to your knowledge, as a resident of the community being discussed, BUT

I think your story proves one of my points: all of your black neighbors were horrified by the act and found it unacceptable. But the comments by the people interviewed in the article paint these neighbors with the same brush as the guys who jacked up your car.

In New Canaan, CT, where lots of "too big to fail" guys live, I am sure there were a lot of people culpable for bringing down the world economy, and plenty of their neighbors who were horrified at those actions. Which means there were morally bankrupt people, and people who were not. I don't hear anyone saying that proves that all the whites of New Canaan are morally bankrupt. And let's face it, bringing down the world economy is a much bigger moral failure than stealing tires.

As far as the terminology, it is unfortunate, but might be a function of the anger of people who know that in the minds of a lot of people, they are the same as the guys who jacked up the car.

Clearly you are right. The issue is complex, but I think some aspects of it are less so. I think we have to begin by ditching the generalizations.