But everybody follows them differently, and everyone is convinced the way they follow them is the only right way and that the other side plays by no rules at all.

As for the "antifa", I take it that means any group that labels itself "anti-fascist", which counts me in 100%. Now I'll be willing to concede that maybe some people I sympathize with go to far...that goes without saying, But listen to the way you phrase your sentences; " The most extreme example of disdain for authority is Antifa." Maybe I don't agree with that. Maybe I believe that even though there may be a few extremists and troublemakers on the left, most Antifas are OK by me. I believe the Occupy movement was doing the right thing, it wasn't obvious to me they were Communist rabble-rousers. And I do agree that "Black Lives Matter"--no exceptions or mealy-mouthed excuses or qualifications. You then follow that up by; " I’m sure you’re aware of their tactics." Well, no, I'm not. You and other conservatives just like to point out the ones that you think illustrate your prejudices. And you make up labels to prove your point. "They are all alike, that proves we must be right". The others just get lumped in with the rest.

You get very upset when all conservatives are broad-brushed as racists, klansmen, anti-semites and neo-Nazi skinheads, but white conservatives do the same kind of stereotyping all the time and seem flabbergasted when anybody calls you on it. And you're not even aware you're doing it.

Cops police black neighborhoods, and shoot black kids, under circumstances they would never get away with if the neighborhoods and kids were white. And yes, some blacks are thugs, gangstas, druggies and criminals who have convinced themselves the cops are a racist occupying army that needs to be ambushed. And the problem is a self-fulfilling prophecy; when a decent, law-abiding black gets profiled and roughed up by the police he suddenly gets radicalized (or arrested and his life is ruined), and every good cop who gets shot at or sees his partner murdered suddenly starts seeing all blacks as dangerous animals that need to be quarantined or rounded up. It feeds on itself, which is exactly what people who want to keep the races separate (and want to sell both sides guns) want.

Remember Trayvon Martin? A black teenager goes out for a soda and gets shot by an armed thug with no uniform, badge, or genuine authority who stopped him on the street and demanded he kiss his ass. If the skin colors had been reversed Martin would have been in jail for murder. You know that. And all the indignant whites who supported Zimmerman know it too.

The point I'm trying to make is that familiarity with other cultures than your own makes you open-minded, you can see the flaws in your own tribe and the good points of others. You make allowances and you see a clearer picture. The problem is that white Americans just don't understand the concept of "other cultures". They think everybody should be just like them and when they are not that is all the evidence they need to convince them the other tribe is evil, savage or wasn't 'hammered with respect for other people's property. the elderly, educators and the police'. Americans think that just because their last name is Italian or their grandmother was born in Ireland that they are diverse and multicultural. They are not. They are just "white people", as far as those who are "colored" can see.

Americans are tribal, even the black ones, due to centuries of segregation, and what's really sad is they don't even realize it.
God Dammit, I come from a part of the country were it used to be considered OK to bomb black churches and lynch black people who were too "uppity". Its not ancient history, I'm old enough to remember those days. I was there, and even though I know most white people weren't like that, I also knew perfectly well I wasn't white. I could pass for white with my good English and light skin, and most of my white friends didn't hold it against me (because I knew how to "act white"). But I was always aware I was an outsider, without saying a word they never let me forget it. There's a reason why I constantly harp on this concept of multiculturalism. I understand it by my birthright and heritage, and I still hope that the kind of people who follow this chat room are smart enough to pick up on what I'm saying.

But what's really sad is that the white folks, even the nice decent, friendly, tolerant ones who were ashamed of the Klan and racism, had no fucking clue what was really going on.

Not much has changed.