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Comment by xtrumanx | Hacker News Reader

I hope you're not implying situations found in the Rwandan Genocide are typical in Africa.

Guess what also isn't typical? The treatment of this kid by police prosecutors in the US. The person he replied to sees one isolated incident in Texas, easily the most ass-backwards state in terms of morals and common sense, and assumes it's the case for the entire country of 310 million people.

I find that amusing, considering Austin TX is typically considered to be one of the most progressive regions in the state.

This isn't about Texas, or even Austin. It's about a corrupt police investigation and prosecution.

> one isolated incident in Texas, easily the most ass-backwards state in terms of morals and common sense

Um, yeah, let's judge the entire state of Texas based on one county's prosecutors. Sheesh.

They're not typical in Rwanda, for that matter.

I'm visiting friends there for the second half of March, and one of the first things you're told by online guides, etc. is "don't ask people to talk about the genocide, or what ethnic group they are from".

There was a horrific series of events with long-term repercussions and damage, no one wants to see anything like that again, and no one wants to discuss such things in idle chitchat with tourists.

No, the Rwandan Genocide is not a common event. But my first example was the police beating a confession out of someone.

My objection is when people in USA think USA is as bad as that.

But we can find plenty of videos of US police doing exactly that.

Here's a video of police killing a man. He starts off calmly answering their questions, obeying their stupid instructions. He gets frustrated ar their bullshit. They beat him to the ground and sit on him and yell at him to stop struggling. He can't breathe - of course he's going to struggle. More police turn up. They asume the original officers are in the right and this guy is viole t on drugs, so they sit on him too.

http://www.popehat.com/2014/01/20/kelly-thomas/

It is fucking barbaric.

they aren't typical but they aren't uncommon.

you could say the same thing about europe, though. especially in the 20th century, but there's time yet for the 21st to catch up!

I am afraid you don't know what you're talking about. Genocide is not common in Africa. It's happened, but it's not common.

But didn't you see that movie about the guy with the hotel?

BTW, "Beyond the Gates" (aka "Shooting Dogs") is another film about the Rwandan Genocide, but much more violent than "Hotel Rwanda". It also touches on a bit more of the white/black racism as well.

I think you are referring to Hotel Rwanda. No, I didn't. I am hopeful that this is a joke and not an attempt to disprove my point or a demonstration of your range of knowledge on the subject.

That was the Rwandan genocide. It's the same incident.

that depends on what your interpretation of 'common' is. my measuring stick is europe. it's common there. 3 times in one century is common.

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