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Something that looked like a Molotov cocktail hurled through window of black, gay South Boston resident
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Where are we, The South?
Where are we, The South? Come on Boston, in general, we are better than this.
This occurred in the Boston
This occurred in the Boston area. What are you talking about?
Where are you from?
Where are you from? And don't lie UniversalHub tracks IP address of cemments.
I'm going to wait until the official reports are in.
This story, and I'll take it at face value for now, does have some odd aspects to it.
"“We didn’t notice anything was awry until this morning,” said the resident of the home"
"The woman said her fiancee’s parents, in town to go wedding-dress shopping with their daughter, first noticed the broken window when they arrived at the house"
"“We started cleaning it up, and then, that’s when I saw the plastic bottle. It looked like a Molotov cocktail pretty much,” the woman said. “It was plastic, not glass, and it has the cloth in it and it was burnt.”
"Several neighbors said they heard what sounded like glass breaking in the middle of the night."
"The woman said the cloth had gone out on its own and nothing else caught fire in the basement that she and her fiancee use as a living room."
Okay. Apparently it was tossed against a cellar window. If it was a sealed double glazed window, well, a plastic bottle breaking it is a little difficult to imagine. Also, you can make the little soda 'bombs' out of plastic, but a real Molotov might melt the plastic before it gets to its destination. The lack of burning of the accelerant is also an odd thing. So, it probably wasn't gasoline or rubbing alcohol or something like that. It is good for the occupants that it self-extinguished before it could spread. It will be interesting to see the arson squad report on this one.
"Several neighbors said they heard what sounded like glass breaking in the middle of the night." I'll assume they were outside because everyone had their windows closed last night, making it more difficult to hear glass breaking. It was cold out last night. I assume the occupants were asleep or something and didn't hear the glass breaking. Which is odd, because glass breaking is loud. Brian JD would probably back me up on that. Glass breaking can be louder than fire engines.
"Yesterday, investigators — including a police dog — went in and out of the home, and broken glass from the basement window littered the sidewalk."
Hmmmnnn...the sidewalk?
OK. It happened. It's just odd the way it happened.
EDIT: All quoted comments are from the Herald story.
You sound confused
" I'm going to wait for the official reports are in" when I read this title of this comment, I said this is a smart, intelligent, and fair just person. However as I continued to read I came to realize in a very hidden kind of way this person still formulated an opinion. Reading through the bullshit, I came to realize this person has alluded that this couple is lying. What the fuck. Racism is still hidden in all kinds of ways. You speak in a foreign tongue kemosabe. Please cut me some slack . I was always told "say what you mean mean what you say." For me anything less than that is suspect such as the above comment.
Almost made it a week without
Almost made it a week without stirring up racial controversy. You couldn't resist could you?
Mwa-ha-ha!
Yeah, you know I just sit here waiting for civil-rights stories to show up in that noted left-wing socialist Bernie Sanders-loving journal, the Boston Herald.
If you don't talk about the hate crimes ...
They will just go away!
Just like people didn't used to talk about child rape, pedophile priests, etc. And then those things never happened!
Problem:
The 'hate' crimes talked about are very arbitrarily chosen, usually if they neatly fit in with a political ideology narrative. This incident quite honestly could be a real hate crime, could be faked (for obvious reasons; the victim may not even be in on it. MANY 'hate' crimes turn out faux, especially when there are no reliable independent witnesses or clear video footage.).
For the other poster who mentioned the south: The south has by far the largest black population in the country, and many black people love living there, consider themselves 'southern', and embrace southern culture. Many non-southerners who ridicule and stereotype southerners as racists, come from places with far smaller black populations. I reminded of a professor from Vermont I had who liked to lecture students about racism. I pointed out to her that although I'm white, I grew up mostly in majority minority city neighborhoods, and didn't need any lectures on race from someone from Vermont.
Problem
Boston has a sad history of race relations dating back decades. And we've had some issues with accepting LGBT residents as well. There's a reason the state has specific laws relating to civil-rights violations.
I am constantly amazed that when I write about a crime allegedly committed by a black person, some commenters here instantly judge them guilty and want them thrown away for a long time. But when a crime is allegedly committed against a black person, some commenters here instantly judge the crime a hoax and want them thrown away for a long time.
What is also amazing is when
What is also amazing is when you post about shootings in black neighborhoods you get a few comments but once something happens in Southie and blacks are involved, it is automatically labeled a "hate crime".
If you're unable to see the difference ...
Between a gang shooting and a Molotov cocktail thrown into somebody's living room, there's not much point in trying to explain things, is there?
Only your ideas on what's
Only your ideas on what's "racist" or not is true and matters, right adamg? What do your many many African American close friends think about all this racism in Boston? A true journalist in the flesh you are...
Racism
As some have suggested, yes, we don't have the full story here. At the same time, what we do know is enough to at least ask questions. That you don't see that, meh, I have better things to do than explain it in detail, like posting photos of chairs at the curb in Allston.
As for asking my black friends about racism in Boston, a) I don't have to, because I already know how they feel about it; b) reporters who interview or even just write about their friends for stories are really pretty lazy and generally only write advice columns for Cosmo and c) you flatter me by calling me a journalist (yeah, yeah, you didn't, but work with me here) when all I did was link to a story in the Herald, which did the actual journalism of sending a reporter and a photographer to the scene (you did click on the link and saw the photo of Ray Flynn comforting his neighbor, no?).
ridiculous assumption: threat of violence = hate crime
wbur:
wustl:
nytimes:
You could never
As a white man you could never in your entire life ever feel or understand what it is or how it feels to be a person of color, shame on you for even making such a ignorant statement.
LMAO OMG smfh
Ignorance alive and well.
Do you ever think there are many reasons why this may be the case even if it may not be factual. I have an honest question to ask you hypothetically speaking what race of people do you think predominantly make comments in this forum. Could answer of this question have an effect on your statement, opinion, or comment. I couldn't even answer your question or your observation unproven as it may be. Why do you think this might be the case? I'm curious of your answer.
Personally I feel because the new diverse look of South Boston, some of us are now grown accustomed to not hearing of this type of incident occurring in South Boston. So when it does happen many of us all surprise of the severity of this type of incident. And for some of us I can bring up some very painful hurtful tragic memories hence stimulating a response.
Gramps
This isn't the 60s or the 70s - next thing we know you'll throw slavery into the mix.
Why not, sonny?
Depends how you define slavery, kiddo.
In any case, it seems to be white people in South Boston who keep bringing up the 1974 busing crisis, whenever they're feeling particularly put upon; why should the rest of us be denied that right, buckaroo?
Can we agree that Molotov cocktails, at least in Boston, in the year 2016, are pretty rare, lad? And that rare crimes are noteworthy, young man? And that when it happens to a black family in a neighborhood that, yes, has historically objected to such people (and hey, ancient history and all, but I actually went to school with the second black person to move into a South Boston housing project - she moved out after her car was firebombed), it's why BPD might launch a civil-rights investigation?
C'mon Adam. Racism is over
For starters, we elected a black president and no one freaked out. Well. no one except for Republicans and conservatives that have tried to nullify his presidency, both rhetorically and functionally.
Birthers like Donald Trump challenged Obama's legitimacy as a qualified office holder and Republicans decided, on the day he won his election, that they would vote against everything he proposed just to deny him any legislative accomplishments.
You might ask, They'd do this in spite of the American people? And I say, they did.
No, Racism here in the United States is not over...at all.
It's still very much alive...and overt here in the United States. The fact that a bi-racial POTUS was elected by the United States at large really doesn't account for a whole hell of a lot, imho.
Boston's history of race relations isno different
Than any other city. In fact, Boston is remarkably diverse.It also managed to maintain a large, even majority white population when many other cities became majority minority, or even just majoriry black. This is not an unhealthy or racist fact, in fact, I'd say the places that have become majority black, in a country with only a 12-13% Black population, are the result of racism more so than a majority white city, which should be considered normal in a country with a majority white population. Todayx Boston is around 50% white.
Boston's alleged racist recent past is grotesquely exaggerated by those with a political ideological axe to grind. Ironic sincex in fact this city and state is at the forefront of liberal social policies, most notably gay rights, healthcare (thank a Republican governor for that), etc. Some people will always find something to complain about.
Sorry, you're just not right
Yes, Boston is still roughly 50% white. By itself, that doesn't mean we have reached the pinnacle of race relations. All it means is that Boston never really became a destination for blacks fleeing the south immediately before and after World War II. You might want to ask why that is (no, it's not all racism; aside from the boom of the war effort, Boston was in the middle of what was several decades of economic stagnation; no real reason for anybody, white or black, to move here).
And you might want to ask why black students at BLS might object to an English teacher asking them "What's up, nigger?" even in the context of a discussion of Twain's work. Acknowledging that Boston has a long history of bigotry and racism - against pretty much every non-WASP group, not just blacks - doesn't mean that you or other whites are to blame, but it does mean that you need to be mindful of why minority residents might have issues.
Also, hate to break it to you, but current trends show the US becoming minority majority by 2050.
Amen Amen and Amen
Your comment hit it right on the nail. I agree with you 100 100x percent. Once again that hidden malign racism. There are some commenters here not really need to do some self-introspection and soul-searching. Let It be known that's your hidden racism can be seen. You may not have the white hood on but your words speak volumes. Let's add this fact into this incident. Last year there was a big controversy surrounding the LGBT community Marching In the st. Patrick's parade isn't it a coincidence just before the st. Patty's parade we have this incident is it just a coincidence or is it acknowledgement of the ongoing racist mentality and some individuals.
I would never condemned the whole South Boston Neighborhood in fact every neighborhood in the city of Boston has grown from that most dark time in the city's history however I am no fool to not believe that racism has been eradicated. I am no fool to not believe that racism is only whites against people of color it also goes the other way .
Ouch
Ouch is the word minority a hidden racist word or is the new politically correct way identifying is, people of color. Sadly to say the word minority has a very negative connotation to it. Personally I choose not to use it anymore because of its definition history is ugly undermining term . Consider people of color or inner a city.
You make a compelling point, anon
Adam's definitely race-baiting by presenting the news , as reported by the city's notoriously right-leaning paper, without any further commentary than "this happened".
Tell you what. Publish your address for us, and I promise that when we hurl a Molotov cocktail through *your* window, no one will call it a hate crime.
erik proposes tit for tat
erik proposes tit for tat just so you know what it feels like.
Bad
Pretty bad that anyone would try to burn someone's house down, minority demographics or not.
I hope whoever did this is caught, and fast. Also very glad the women said they've otherwise been welcomed.
And as for the Anon who asked, 'What are we, the South?", I'll just add that no place is perfect by a long shot, but Atlanta's had a few black mayors and Republican, Indian-Americans are/have been governors in SC and LA, while I only see white guys in City Hall and the State House. The South also has a much larger black middle class. So while you're complaining about a possible hate crime, don't twist your own arm patting your Northeastern Liberal self on the back, ok?
And yeah, it deserves some news coverage.
You only see white guys in the state house?
Did you just get here?
We are smarter than this
You have to use glass, gasoline, and throw it hard enough to break the bottle. The fire cloth isn't a wick or fuse, it's just being carried to the destination by the bottle.
Come on, Boston, we're the Athens of America. If we're going to attempt arson, we should at least do it competently.
I would hope there is complete
and continued coverage of this incident. I'd like more details, and hopefully police will find out what really happened or at least what most likely occurred. And hopefully Adam will follow up. As it is, what little is known is very vague. A tossed bottle that smashed a cellar window? Bottles and cans tossed in the early AM, late night, especially weekends, is commonplace, even in nice neighborhoods. A smashed cellar window in homes like you find in city neighborhoods where they are often right on the sidewalk, no front yard or buffer, like where I grew up, is not particularly unusual. People, kids, often drunk, toss them while walking by or even from passing vehicles. And I don't know how a plastic bottle would break a cellar window. Very unusual. I suppose it's possible if thrown with enough force, and of course not empty, which would all make enough noise in the early AM to wake the dead. Accelerant use should be easy to determine.
Anybody can make an otherwise vague claim like this, either sincere or deceitful., similar to those who claim they found offensive graffiti on their home, car, school locker, fill-in-the-blank.
Please don't end with this, but follow up.