Barbarians in Tucson

Barbarians in Tucson

Dear Editor:

Last night I watched a band of barbarians rampaging through the streets of Tucson. These were not primitive types from some tropical jungle or wild nomads from the deserts, they were young Arizonans, fans of UA's Wildcats basketball team.

These brigands had no fear of law officers or justice as they destroyed several hundred thousand dollars worth of private property and set fires that destroyed vehicles, a motor home and a business.

After observing the barbarians at work, the police finally came in and dispersed them. They were most kind and considerate, with only 6 arrests and no physical subduing or detaining.

The barbarians especially enjoyed the audience the TV lights and cameras provided and put forth a special effort to provide action-filled entertainment for the viewing audience. The anchors on Channel 12 agonized over the role their camera crews played, but kept on broadcasting the exciting pictures.

This local event reminds us that our veneer of civilization is tissue thin. Like the skin of an onion, it is easily peeled away. When that membrane of civilized restraints is scratched we are exposed to the raw, vicious, destructive violence of evil. The TV images revealed that the barbarous spirit is not peculiar to any ethnic group. Whites, Blacks and Hispanics all were featured participants. For barbarians, any excuse is sufficient to trigger a riot.

The response of the police to this outrageous behavior was troubling. They stood by observing as cars were overturned, motor homes were savagely attacked and destroyed and fires were set. Only after the fires began go get out of hand did they move in to disperse the mob.

While our young barbarians have been fed, groomed and trained for their day in the arena, our policemen have been intimidated, tamed and handcuffed by the anti-law-enforcement elements of our society. Since Kent State law enforcement around universities has been under severe restraints. The ACLU and her sister pro-criminal organizations keep unceasing pressure on law officers to go easy on the criminals lest they find themselves accused and charged with using excessive force in dealing with the lawless darlings. Nor should we overlook the never-sleeping eye of the media who especially love a picture or a rumor of a cop roughing a ruffian. So, thoroughly intimidated, the officers meekly waited till the barbarians had finished with they play before they gently pushed them off the streets.

We would do well to consider the ten thousand lessons of history that cry out, "Either you subdue the barbarians or they will subdue you."

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