Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<I was a white kid living in an almost totally white suburb 50 years ago, but my father was a lawyer and told me how I needed to behave around cops to avoid trouble.>> <<Lowery talked about how that was the most terrifying part of his encounter and arrest with police. He was doing *exactly* what they told him to do, then they still decided to arrest him, and as he stood there perfectly still, with his hands behind his back, the cops said, "Stop resisting." It was in that moment that he realized it was his word against the cops, and no one in the criminal justice system would believe him if the cops said he was resisting and used force against him, even if he wasn't doing anything wrong.>> Square 'em up, RT. How, exactly, would your father's advice have benefited you in Lowery's situation? He was arrested for being a customer in the local McDonald's near the protest site. He was sent to Ferguson by his EMPLOYER as a PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST to cover the protests. What did he do wrong, RT? Answer: nothing. The police overreached and arrested a journalist for doing his job. So your father's advice would have helped you zilch in Lowery's situation. And that's the problem that many citizens now find themselves facing in encounters with police these days. Gone is the era of Ozzie and Harriet. So you need to drop this "50 years ago" nostalgia nonsense by the wayside and wake up to the reality of our 21st century police state.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think the advice still applies in most situations, and if taken would have saved Brown's life. Riots are a different deal... cops seem to assume that just by being in the area you are causing problems. That is nothing new. I experienced that on the campus of the University of Minnesota in 1971 during protests of the Cambodian Incursion. I was tear-gassed along with everyone else... all I was doing was walking to my on-campus job at the Minnesota Daily.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 The 12 year old in Cleveland didn't have time to comply or not comply with anything.
Originally Posted By barboy4 ///Obviously, the first/// No, not obvious at all to me due to your use of the word 'Sorry' (which looks very much like a mocking concern in front of your karmically laced comment) and your general tone in this topic. You might as well have said the following: "Sorry, but if you're either too stupid or arrogant to follow police orders, then you deserve what you get" Anyway,
Originally Posted By barboy4 ......high time for squad car and body cameras as well as some reeducation.........but law modification to expose police to more criminal culpability is paramount.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***law modification to expose police to more criminal culpability is paramount*** A meaningless gesture if a grand jury declines to prosecute. We need fewer laws, not more of them. Modify the system, I say. The laws work fine if only they are applied with fairness.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>So you need to drop this "50 years ago" nostalgia nonsense by the wayside and wake up to the real<< Agreed 100%. I am white and every time a cop drives behind me I get very nervous and heave a sigh of relief when he or I turn and he is no longer following me. That I should feel that way in the "Land of the Free" indicates that something is very wrong in this country. And I am especially troubled by the militarization of our police forces. The fictional Commander Adama (Battlestar Galactica) once responded to a request to use the military for police work. He basically said that the mission of the military is to fight the enemies of the state, while the mission of the police is to protect the citizenry. If you militarize the police there is one logical outcome: the police will see the people as the enemies of the state. Which is what a police state is. That our police departments are experiencing such a radical transformation (militarization), especially considering how our own government spies on us is very telling.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>and if taken would have saved Brown's life<< I'm dreaming...of a white...privilege... just like the one's I used...to know....
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I agree with fkurucz in #67. The increasing militarization of the police is a definite problem. And yes, white people fear them just like black people do. As I've said, in MO they are a**holes to everyone.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>And yes, white people fear them just like black people do.<< You need to read/talk to more black Americans. A lot more.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm sure it is a different type of fear, but the fear is still there. Especially if you are poor or mentally ill. Two unarmed white people with mental illness were shot by police in Springfield over the past three years.
Originally Posted By Ivan50 I'll tell you what fear is. Its when someone sticks a 9 in your face and is ready to unload. I had that happen to me once, lucky for me he didn't unload otherwise I would have a toe tag.
Originally Posted By Ivan50 That was the day when I decided to have a respect and fixation with the 9. I just had to get one for myself to deal with these Natzi Meyers and terrorist Abdullas. You guys don't know this but those two have been good pals for a century now.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer "I'll tell you what fear is. Its when someone sticks a 9 in your face and is ready to unload. " That's kind of personal, isn't it? Please leave comments about your dating history over on Community and just focus on world events here. Sheesh.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <That was the day when I decided to have a respect and fixation with the 9. > I can also see now what that one meant. Thanks, Tom.
