> I seriously doubt anybody here fails to at least vaguely understand the condition of US inner cities: they're war zones. > St Louis had a 65 per 100k murder

> I seriously doubt anybody here fails to at least vaguely understand the condition of US inner cities: they're war zones. > St Louis had a 65 per 100k murder rate in 2019. Baltimore was 58. Birmingham was 50. Detroit was 41. Those are war zones. > They're de facto war zones I won't for a moment pretend that there isn't a huge problem to talk about - there is a very big problem - but I don't feel that this kind of hyperbole is helpful. Not only is it inaccurate, it also serves to demonize the people who live in these places and can be used to justify unhelpful policing tactics. There are no bombings; there are no troops on the street; it is not occupied territory. We can and should discuss problems in our society without falling into this rhetorical trap.