Sad Commentary All the Way Around

Trey Smith

More than 100 law enforcement officers in riot gear broke up an out-of-control crowd waiting to buy a new Nike brand basketball shoe timed to be released during the NBA All-Star Game in Orlando.

About 1,000 shoppers gathered for the shoe release an at Orlando mall late Thursday, reports CBS affiliate WKMG. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said almost 200 deputies went to the Florida Mall around 9:45 p.m. to deal with the massive crowd, which became unruly after Foot Locker canceled the release of the limited-edition Nike Air Foamposite One "Galaxy" shoes.
~ from Nike Air Foamposite One Galaxy Shoe Release Spurs Riot at Florida Mall via CBS News ~

Episodes like this provide a sad commentary all the way around.

For starters, this isn't about something that's needed like food or heating oil. These people were getting all out of sorts over shoes and fancy shoes at that. There's nothing wrong with wanting to look nice, but people, GET REAL! There are millions of your fellow citizens out of work and around the globe people starve to death everyday. Trendy shoes shouldn't be that damn important. If they are, you really, really, really need to reexamine your priorities.

On the other hand, what were the police thinking by sending 100 officers in riot gear!! Our domestic police forces have become so militarized that they seem to address almost every situation these days with overkill. There were no reports that anyone in the crowd was brandishing a weapon and yet local law enforcement sent 100 cops with shields, body armor, guns and clubs to calm people down(?).