This is something I penned two years ago. Other than the immediate subject (copy killing Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri), I think it still has a great deal of relevance going forward… lot of people have been killed by cops before and since.
Here’s the deal with all this distraction we find ourselves viewing in Ferguson, Missouri… and why we (all of us… black, white, brown, yellow, whatever) are fucked no matter what “truth” is revealed. Even if there is clear and convincing evidence (you know, evidence that would convince most anyone that this or that actually happened) that Mike Brown actually assaulted the police officer and was in the process of attempting another assault when he was shot and killed by the police officer, that “clear and convincing evidence” will not sway the “protestors” in their fight for “justice.”
For you see, whether or not Mike Brown was a “gentle giant” or a “supreme 'gang-stah,” has no bearing on the atmosphere that evidently exists and persists in Ferguson, Missouri and other parts of the country. This shooting in Ferguson, Missouri was just an opportunity for those “protestors” (and others) to “protest” their dissatisfaction with police behavior and tactics that are perceived to be, or perhaps actually are, discriminatory, perhaps racist in nature, or just plain wrong. The “justice” being sought runs much deeper than this one particular incident.
White cops (or just white individuals in general) shooting black individuals will most always be viewed as a racial incident and motivated by raciest views. If you think otherwise, you just aren’t being honest with yourself. Now, I don’t know how many of you have been keeping up over the past few years with all the police “brutality,” “unprofessionalism,” “violation of citizens’ rights,” etc., that has been reported via social media on the Internet and even in the main stream media on TV. From what I have seen, it appears that the cops have had a decent amount of bad publicity when it comes to their interactions with the general populace, no matter of what race. People are being exposed to the “bad” things police do on a daily basis, not just in minority communities, but across the board.
I have had a number of black and latino acquaintances tell me that what we now see on the Internet and TV with respect to cops’ behavior is nothing new to them… it has just now (within the last few years) been exposed to main stream America. So, believe it or not, there seems to be a somewhat pervasive distrust of law enforcement in minority communities… but now that distrust has spread into the main stream of America… to the extent that many are viewing the behavior and tactics of cops as that of a Police State.
And that is where we all are fucked, because we all, no matter our race or color, become “gang-stahs” in the eyes of law enforcement. We become a citizenry not entitled, worthy, or “endowed… with certain unalienable rights.” Cops feel justified in whatever behavior they exhibit or action they take and they are generally supported by those who are really in control… politicians and government bureaucrats – no matter THEIR color or race. We become a citizenry that can only be controlled and subdued by force and violence. Welcome to the Police State ya’ll.
Police seem to be taught that everyone should be treated as a criminal until proven otherwise. They're taught a lot of power games, and a lot of toxic authoritarian mentalities. I remember once in an airport, I was questioning a security guard on the legality of her asking to search my bags, to do a random bomb test, and at one point in the conversation she said something like: "Everyone is a potential terrorist. You're a potential terrorist." That's the kind of bizarre adversarial attitude that people in law enforcement seem to have, and of course she was trained to think that way.
Slight tangent, but it reminds me of this popular post from Tumblr, about double standards:
Thanks for posting. A little tip though: use at least one picture in your post, as that will help it get attention when it comes up on the Steemit feed, as well as when you share it on Facebook. Here's one site you can use for royalty-free images: pixabay.com
Also, an "introduceyourself" post is a good way to tell people who you are and give them the opportunity to follow you.
Welcome to Steemit and have a good one
Great comment. I've always had an issue with the "respect" thing. The Tumblr quote you posted explained it well!
I been in the states for awhile but now in canada thank god, but i know a lot on this subject. Well the cops in the usa need more training, its very easy to be a cop there. Also they pick hard heads, people with temper issues, and people who live outside the city. Now white people in the usa are known to be racists to some race. Your going to have to wait till those baby boomers die off and people that are in there 20's and under to take over cause there not racist like there parents or grandparents.
Other than that live your life, do what you gotta do to get a head. I lived in Detroit for a bit, I dealt with state troopers many times on i-95 and Detroit police on gratiot avenue... Just answer every question with your hands still, if you reach for anything talk through what your doing. Yeah it sucks, but if your not white you gotta do that, or you'll end up on tv.
Seems to me most of those who are becoming cops today are "in there [their?] 20's [20s?]".
Maybe if people judged each other individually ("... by the content of their character." ~ MLK), and not by their race, we would have a lot less hate. For instance, you accused all Whites of being racist (especially "baby boomers", of which I am one). Don't you think it might be wiser to know the person before judging the person?
The entire institution of law enforcement is flawed from it's very core. What's the solution? Maybe privatized security for now. The only way I can see that future generations can do better for humanity is if they get rid of the "authority" superstition. Cops get their power through our obedience. If no one believed they had "authority" over the rest of humanity they would be absolutely powerless. To rid humanity of this "authority" myth, we need to reevaluate how kids get their education. What we have are public schools of indoctrination where kids are taught above everything else - to obey "authority."
“A cop's JOB is to violently enforce upon the rest of us whatever arbitrary bullshit the political parasites declare to be "law." It is, therefore, impossible to be a "law enforcer" and behave morally, for the same reason one can't be a moral car-jacker.”
― Larken Rose
Interesting
I will follow you to see your future posts! +vote
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