The last few months have seen some notable instances of rioting, and it isn’t in protest of multinational corporations or little Cuban boys being returned to their fathers. Instead, people are getting all worked up over … holiday celebrations and their sports teams. The Emerald editorial board would like to urge calm. Actually, we urge the rioters to get a serious grip on it.
The first widespread round of destroying property and drinking and urinating in the streets (along with a little public nudity) took place during Mardi Gras in Seattle; Philadelphia; Fresno, Calif.; and Austin, Texas. There really seemed to be no impetus for these riots, unless it was a little too much to drink, some anger at the police at being told to go home and some anger at their cities for not having all-night Bacchanalian festivities.
The most recent exhibits of destruction and looting (minus the public nudity, as far as we can tell) took place during March Mayhem, the NCAA Tournament. Thousands took to the streets in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, Indiana and Arizona after their college teams lost basketball games. Alcohol may have played a role here, as well.
But really, people, stop the insanity. These are just sporting events. Yes, we know that the big leagues are a riotous inspiration (think Chicago and Detroit in the last 20 years). And our neighbors across the Atlantic are world-renowned for destructive displays of anger after soccer losses (or wins, for that matter). But fans rioting doesn’t make sense. They weren’t even playing the game, they were just upset that some other guys lost. We, again, must urge calm. There’s always next year.
It does make one think, though. The Dionysian aspects of life (rambunctious, chaotic partying and a sense of losing oneself to a very human sort of fleshly mayhem) have been repressed for an awfully long time. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the only place people are allowed all-night carousing in any sort of state-sponsored event. It works well there, too. The people revel in their base humanity, and the next day it gets cleaned up. No excessive destruction, just a little release. Maybe we need more of this.
Whatever the reason, though, it is grotesque and unacceptable to break stuff because of sports losses or bar closures. Get some control.