The Old Folks Home

[Ol Grey Mare]

It is very hard for me to keep quiet about this. I will only make one comment. The officers that are there are risking their lives to protect the lives and property of the locals. They are likely more heartbroken about the death of that young man than the majority of that crowd. The incident could have been the result of a mean, or untrained, or misinformed, or careless, or frightened officer. It is also possible that the details have not come out and only the "witness" accounts are being publicized. It is a tragety (how is that spelled? Brain and spell check not working this morning!) that is being perpetuated by people who wish to carry out their own agenda. Please don't sympathize with the crowd, only with the ones who were directly impacted by the shooting. My prayers are with the family of the young man, and the family of the officer. Both are facing the loss of a loved one.

So well said!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I remember my first trip to jail. It was 1992. I was at our jr/sr prom. As we were leaving i decided to urinate on the principals car. I didnt see the cop standing behind me. I got charged with minor in possession of alcohol, indescent exposure, and criminal mischeif.

I've been to jail twice in Kansas City for an outstanding parking ticket.
That's right twice for the same ticket. The judge said he would take care of it when I went before him but he didn't. A couple months later, I was walking out of my apartment and a tow truck was hooking up to my truck. When I confronted the driver, a cop came up behind me and cuffed me. I was clueless as to what I did. I said what is this about and he said "outstanding parking ticket". I told him I had already been to court but he wouldn't listen.

 

[chickadoodles]

It should improve once the investigations are done. Hopefully, at least. The county police and the FBI are conducting separate investigations with the justice department looking over shoulders. I hope the whole truth comes out. Hopefully someone has video.

Hopefully someone will offer video to help.

 

[vehve]

Quote: I agree.

I have a problem understanding racially motivated reactions. Even if the original shooting was a hate crime, isn't a reaction where all law enforcement officials are labelled as racists also a form of racism? The difference being that instead of skin color, they are labelled by the color of their uniforms. And while I'm sure there are police officers who are racist, I'm guessing while on the job, most policemen (and women) would consider themselves blue above everything else. I guess growing up in a very homogeneously populated country just makes it difficult for me to understand the underlying tensions in a situation like this.

 

[vehve]

Well, that killed the conversation.

 

[subhanalah]

Well, that killed the conversation.

I think right now is when everyone is sleeeeeping.
lol.
other than us...As usual.

 

[vehve]

Quote: They are weak.

But perhaps a little nap at the old folks home is acceptable.

 

[bamadude]

Oh, Bama, you are still the number one bad boy of the thread.  It's just that since you are not riding your mower for the neighbors (for fear of being sent to ban land) you have not been commanding as much attention.  We'll try to do better.  Maybe you need to post a couple of recent pics for us to ooooo and ahhhhhh over...... no, wait, nevermind, chicken pics are all we need, just chicken pics from you, my friend.  We like having you around too much to risk it.............

how bout a chicken on a mower...

 

[vehve]

Those are nice looking feathers, bama. Someone seems to be lurking behind the mower too.

 

[Bunnylady]

Sometimes it's better to hold your tongue. I've been following a raw milk debate in another thread, and I have to admit to having to click that "Clear the Editor" button a couple of times.

Ah, the tirades and biting commentaries that have vanished into the ether with the click of that button! So many things unsaid, so many points unearned.

Quote:
The long arm of the law, eh? It'll catch up to you when you least expect it. We had an employee that got picked up at 4 a.m. just walking home, because a police officer saw him and said to his partner, "I'll bet he's wanted for something." He was, for "failure to pay child support."

Quote: I agree.

I have a problem understanding racially motivated reactions. Even if the original shooting was a hate crime, isn't a reaction where all law enforcement officials are labelled as racists also a form of racism? The difference being that instead of skin color, they are labelled by the color of their uniforms. And while I'm sure there are police officers who are racist, I'm guessing while on the job, most policemen (and women) would consider themselves blue above everything else. I guess growing up in a very homogeneously populated country just makes it difficult for me to understand the underlying tensions in a situation like this.

Look at the part that I highlighted in Wisher's post, and there you have your answer. Most of the people in this situation are merely sheep, doing what someone has told them is the thing to do. They don't think, they just react. If you were to ask them why they are doing what they are doing, their answer would most likely be a bunch of catchphrases and slogans without as much as a single original thought, or even a common thread tying it all together. It's the old "us versus them" mentality; so much safer than actually thinking about another person as a person, with thoughts and feelings and aspirations and a home and loved ones and all those other things that define us as human. It's disgustingly common, and ironically, some of the most "racist" people you will find are themselves members of that race.
(How did that wind up in the quote box? Oh, well.)

We had an incident that happened here a few years ago, that nearly lost a teacher her job. A certain word was used in her classroom, a word with Scandinavian roots, that bore an unfortunate similarity of spelling and pronunciation with a certain racial slur. The two words have totally different meanings. but that didn't matter; the mother of one of the students took offence, and Rev. Al Sharpton flew into town to rally to her defense. It was preposterous, really, but when you are dealing with a person that has a certain mindset, rationality and perspective go right out the window.