Jul 14, 2016 05:55 PM
(Jul 13, 2016 09:09 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote: But, Ben, I'm pretty sure that just being in a high-crime area isn't sufficient grounds for reasonable suspicion, unless, of course, a crime has just occurred in that particular location. It all boils down to racial profiling, doesn't it?I'm a little way into that PDF, it's actually quite good so far.
But you're a little off the point with this comment - it isn't about whether or not racial profiling is good, bad, legal or illegal - it's about why it exists. I'm fairly sure officers are trained in most areas to avoid it, or at least to be aware of it.
The point is that these men and women know full well one of their fellow officers dies in the line of duty every two months or so, every year. They know it's too often a black gunman who is responsible. And if a half dozen are being killed every year, then what else are they going through?
All the training, conditioning and awareness in the world can't compete with that knowledge. I'd imagine a fair amount of eye-rolling occurs every time a seminar or training course is posted on the bulletin board... along with a photo of the latest casualty.
Walking in another man's shoes is a particularly hard thing to do. And there is a lot of difference between sympathy and empathy.
Just seems to me these protesters have a bit of thinking to do... and I doubt they're doing it. I'm not making excuses for some of the heinous actions taken by police over the years, but I do understand them.
Although I think you might get it anyway - that video of Flynn is a good example. The guy was damn near crying. Pure frustration is what I saw - frustration at the complete and utter lack of understanding, empathy and facts shown by the media and those in witness. This whole movement is mass hysteria, in effect. It will achieve nothing constructive at all.
Snap emotional judgments cloud issues.
Rodney King was an arsehole who pretty much deserved everything he got... but it was illegal. So he ends up dying of a drug overdose in his mansion with a pool he bought with his million dollar payout, and the officers concerned lost their jobs (I think).
How is that system workable? Should the officers have lost their jobs? Yes. Should King have ended up in prison? Yes. Should he have got a million dollars? No. Put the money toward something for the community, not him. From what I've read about King, he should have died in the gutter he crawled out from, and some kids should have had a better school.
Rewarding ignorance, violence and stupidity is unworkable, and the only ones who profit in the long run are the lawyers.
Being Australian, it's a bit difficult to imagine what it's like in some of these places.
I was actually surprised the other day when a police car pulled me over (my vehicle licence had expired) and I got out of the car. I always had in the past, and yet this guy put his hand on his holster and ordered me "back into the vehicle". Young fella, just out of the academy by his appearance... Might have been his first pullover, because he was with an older guy who (I saw it) rolled his eyes and smiled when the young one ordered me back into my car.
I mean jeez, when I was young you'd have a bit of a chat with the guy, leaning against the car, while he was writing you up.
Now, it's stay in the car, and produce your licence and registration.
And yet, I know it's not for no reason that these changes have occurred - I also see the type of response and lack of respect most officers get these days even over here. Spat on, sworn at, you name it.
There is even an epidemic of people assaulting ambulance drivers and paramedics attending violent assaults in some of our northern communities. Paramedics being assaulted in the course of trying to help people. The mind boggles.
It's little wonder to me why the police aren't as friendly as they used to be, even here in Australia.
There were always the bad ones, of course. I remember being 17, driving around in a car that... well, kind of stood out, and being sent over the pits nearly every weekend when I'd done nothing wrong. Same officer, every time. Small town. Most of them were fine, of course, but there was this one guy... heh. Wasn't just me of course, all the kids doing what we called "bog laps" copped it on a regular basis.
Bog laps consisted entirely of having a muscle car, and driving it several times around the centre of town to show off. We'd get pulled over for imaginary oil leaks, the tiniest bit of smoke coming from the exhaust, tyres that looked as though they might be a little worn.
The police officer in charge of vehicle inspections would just say "Ratcliffe, right", and we'd nod, he'd smile, give the car a cursory once-over and let us go. Sometimes he'd tell us to fix something before he saw us again next week.
It was common knowledge that Ratcliffe had a daughter who'd died in a car accident being driven in a muscle car by her boyfriend. Of course.
But that's the point, really. There's always a reason, isn't there. But knowing that reason didn't stop us from disliking Rat.
Just makes me sad sometimes that the younger generations don't remember what that was like, and have no idea what damage they've done, and continue to do, simply by being disrespectful. For want of a more appropriate word.
Times change, I suppose. One day in a couple more decades, might be me with a gun in my face because its got to the point where a cop no longer knows if he's going to get shot pulling someone over for an expired licence.
Rambling a bit tonight, I'm afraid. Will have no internet soon, as I'll be on the road shortly, so I thought I'd let lose with a little rant.
See you all when I get back... probably.
