If you live in the United States, you should be disgusted with your country

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

Cops suck. End of story. Don't like my attitude, deal with it,

[Flarecobra]

Originally Posted by Kim

In other recent racism news, cop shot and killed a twelve year old black boy for carrying a BB gun. Police have refered to the child as a "man" or "young man" when talking about the incident. Because black boys aren't allowed to be children because children are innocent and cops refuse to believe a black kid could ever be innocent.

Cops disgust me. All of them.

It was an airsoft gun that had the orange identification tags removed. Also, when they told him to put his hands into the air, he started pulling out said gun. I do question why he was shot, because of the rule of escalating force though, but I don't think racism was why this occurred.

Link to an article about the shooting in question.

[tacticslion]

Originally Posted by DaimoMusic

Cops suck. End of story. Don't like my attitude, deal with it,

I'm going to say "No." and "You're attitude is bad and you should feel bad."

Police Officers are people.

Some of them are terrible - terrible - people.

Some of them are phenomenal people.

Some of them are just "meh" people.

The office, the role, the duty, and the purpose is not bad, it's not wrong, and it's not inherently wicked. It serves a much - much - needed purpose.

The specific set up as it currently stands? I dunno. There are probably enough problems with it that it needs to change. I'm not a law expert. I am related to an officer, though.

My father in law is a former police officer from Miami, Florida. There, he was originally a patrol officer for a while, before being moved to S.W.A.T. Team negotiator. His entire job revolved around resolving things peacefully, even when he was shot at with guns (thankfully not as common as it sounds, though it's a thing that happened). He missed many important events in his family's life because he was out trying to convince people not to shoot themselves or others because, in the end, life was still worth living, and people weren't awful in every way.

During his career, he's had people attempt to run him over, shoot at him, attack him, and other sundry assaults because, you know, "[i]Cops. Amirite?!"

He's had more death-threats, harassment, and open-faced disrespect shown to him because, you know, "Cops. Amirite?!"

I mean, it's not like he spent thirty years of his life trying to help people get out of tense situations alive, sacrificing his home life, personal freedoms, and family time because some self-absorbed individual was too drunk or too depressed or too selfish and decided to take some hostages and kill them all and himself in a public way on Christmas (or at least claim that he was going to do so in order to get attention). No, that'd be actually a life of caring and helpfulness. And, of course, Cops can't be like that.

The fact remains that the officers in question should never - never - have shot those boys.

But the virulent hatred of all officers because of the actions of some? That's immoral and needs to end, as it will do nothing but cause everyone more problems. It causes more stress, more tense situations, and generally increases the likelihood that something bad will happen.

Peaceful protests, lobbying to change the rules by which things are played, going through every legal - and respectful - method available to change things? Totally valid, and even encouraged. Address the problems. Talk about them. Seek ways of changing them. This is fine, good, and the right way of handling things.

Outrage, fury, and hatred of someone just because they are in a uniform is entirely silly at best. Prejudice at its finest (although at least it's honest about it, I guess?).

Yes, my Father-in-law is retired. He did that as a favor/Birthday present to his wife (my Mother-in-law) as her health and nerves tended to get really shot right around every Christmas due to the large number of people that tend to go nuts at that time of year. That and, you know, the amount of violence (both provoked and not) directed at police officers (regardless of whether or not they were armed), including my father-in-law, was increasing every year. He, unlike some of his friends, walked out alive after a long, oft-successful, career of talking people into not killing themselves or others. And for that, we're really grateful.

Anyone here who claims "all officers are bad people" (or any permutation thereof), is not only completely incorrect, but desperately needs to change your mind and tune for your sake and for the sake of everyone else.

Weirdly, it seems treating people like, you know, people, is the way to handle people.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

Good for you for defending your family. Wheras everytime I have encountered a cop, they have been rude assholes. They are not people once the uniform goes on. They become tools. That is all they are.

[Kim]

Originally Posted by Flarecobra

It was an airsoft gun that had the orange identification tags removed. Also, when they told him to put his hands into the air, he started pulling out said gun. I do question why he was shot, because of the rule of escalating force though, but I don't think racism was why this occurred.

Link to an article about the shooting in question.

He was a fucking twelve year old child and there are a million non-lethal ways he could have been taken down. He was reaching for the gun to show that it was just an airsoft gun BECAUSE NO FUCKING DUH. If he had been a white kid, he probably wouldn't have even had the cops called on him, let alone be shot to death. So yeah, it's about racism.

Also, all cops are bastards because the job of a cop is protection of property and maintaining the status quo, because the "good cops" always back up the bad ones when this shit goes down, because any actually good cop would see the inherent corruption and racism and stop being a cop.

Fuck cops. All cops. And the idea that this is "prejudice" as tho remotely comparable to you know racism and shit is a fucking joke.

EDIT: Like seriously where are all the "good cops" marching against this shit. Where are the "good cops" fighting for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder. Where are the "good cops" just as furious about this as everyone else.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

There is no such thing as a good cop. They are after all a fraternity. You either go with the status quo, or your life goes to hell.

I wonder when Law and Order will exploit I mean, use this for their show.

[RobinStarwing]

Originally Posted by DaimoMusic

Good for you for defending your family. Wheras everytime I have encountered a cop, they have been rude assholes. They are not people once the uniform goes on. They become tools. That is all they are.

I am actually going to back tacticslion here and point out that those of you who hate on all cops for the actions of a few are in the wrong.

I've seen both sides of this. I've dealt with asshole cops that stuck me in the back of their squad just because I did not have my Driver's License with me. I've also been on good terms with the local police of where I used to live and they were all wonderful, community-oriented people.

I agree that Militarizing the Police is going overboard in many regards.

Also, the state possibly does not and the Federal Government certainly does not have to follow the Grand Jury's verdict in this.

So let's ALL OF US try to remember that many of the men and women who choose to put on a uniform; whether Law Enforcement or even Military...not all of them are horrible monsters of human beings. Some are putting that uniform on to serve as a shield and/or sword for civilization and their fellow Human beings.

I respect the uniforms but I will not respect people who dishonor the tradition of those uniforms. The Officer in Ferguson should be brought before some form of punishment or forced resignation to pay for what he did.

[Marc v4.0]

Originally Posted by Kim

EDIT: Like seriously where are all the "good cops" marching against this shit. Where are the "good cops" fighting for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder. Where are the "good cops" just as furious about this as everyone else.

^^^

[RobinStarwing]

Originally Posted by Marc v4.0

^^^

Did it occur that not doing any of that might be of more help to a tense situation than not? They walk a fine line and doing so might not be the best idea.

Are their officers who disagree with what happened and has happened in Ferguson? Yes, more than likely. But coming out to join the marches might put them on the bad side of a job they love or might cause more problems than it solves.

[Marc v4.0]

Originally Posted by RobinStarwing

Did it occur that not doing any of that might be of more help to a tense situation than not? They walk a fine line and doing so might not be the best idea.

Are their officers who disagree with what happened and has happened in Ferguson? Yes, more than likely. But coming out to join the marches might put them on the bad side of a job they love or might cause more problems than it solves.

Yeah, you're right.

I mean, it's only the safety and security of our citizens, it's only standing up against the injustice, corruption, and abuse that continues to tear communities asunder and ruin lives. It's only about our principles and making it known, with no uncertainty, that this won't be let to stand.

Cowardice and 'brotherhood' is much more important than all of that silly shit.

No, Robin, I don't think any of that nonsense. What people NEED TO SEE is tat there are those on the inside that are willing to stand up, to stand WITH THEM, to vow to fight alongside them to make the changes that need to be made and to fight the battles internally. Not joining with them, not making sure they know you stand with them, all that ever does is tell them that you're not willing to actually serve and protect, that you're ok with watching them suffer for it all.

How could it not be a comfort to everyone, seeing officers denounce this shameful mockery of justice. How could it not give you real hope that it might change, that things might eventually get better.