The set was a single bedroom apartment house in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City in the ’60s.  It was 328 Chauncery St. to be exact.  The Kramden’s and the Norton’s lived there.

Outside, in the real world 1960’s, there were marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots for civil rights for minorities across the nation.  In space, America flew and eventually landed on the moon.

On the set, and more than once, Ralph had had it with Alice.  “You’re a riot Alice,  You’re a regular riot.  Hope they like those jokes on the moon, ’cause that’s where you’re goin.'”

This past Saturday America launched two astronauts into space with some fanfare.  This past Saturday “regular” riots broke out across the nation for civil justice and the like.

It’s been 50 plus years and nothing has really changed, has it?  We want to go back to the moon all the while the nation’s (pick from any or all of the following) “oppressed,” “underserved,” “prejudiced against,” “minority,” or “African Americans” are yelling that they are being targeted and/or left behind.

The George Floyd killing is another terrible reminder of how far we think we have come and how far so many think we have to go.  We wonder if both groups are right on some level.  But does the looting, the burning, and the violence from coast to coast lose the real message in the tear gas?

Friday night two looters tried desperately to balance five flat-screen TVs on a Target Store pull cart. They must share an apartment bigger than the Kramden’s had in Bensonhurst.   Saturday night a woman helped herself to an entire cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory in Seattle.  She didn’t even bother to put it in a to-go box.  Last evening in Austin, thugs (what else do you want to call them?) set fire to a homeless man’s possessions right before his eyes. Once lit, they threw his mattress in just to stoke the flames.

Speaking of stoking the flames, the Minneapolis mayor threw gasoline on the situation calling what he saw on the video “a murder” and suggesting that “the cop should be arrested right now.”  Does anyone disagree?  No.  But if ever a case needed to be sure that “t’s” were crossed and “I’s” were dotted, it’s this one.  No mistakes in the procedure to secure an arrest warrant could be made.  If the case was ever thrown out on a technicality, lookout.

But he jumped the gun, and it swung the door wide open to take to the streets.  He told the cops to stand down.  And, when he pulled the cops from the Third District Station, that was subsequently burned down, he effectively gave the keys to the city to the inflamed.  The subsequent arrest of the rogue cop is lost as an afterthought now.

The very noble cry of ending unjust acts of violence on the innocent was drowned out by people committing unjust acts of violence on the innocent.  Ninety-nine point nine percent of America watched.  It’s the 0.1% that should be tossed in jail.

The wash, rinse, and repeat reminds us of “gun control.”  Somebody shoots and kills way too many people in a school, church, or club.  “We need gun control reform in America!”  “No, we don’t.”  After a week, the noise dies down, and we go back to what we were doing.

If America is that bad to live in, maybe some who feel that way should leave?  We aren’t suggesting it.  We wonder why they don’t.  People from many walks of life walk to our border to get in, not out.   If you want to stay, burning it down isn’t the answer any more than putting your knee on someone’s throat is.

Will this time be any different?  We can hope, but that won’t do much.  Before you know it another 50 years will have passed by.

“One day Alice, one day.”