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JUSTICE IN FERGUSON, MO POLICE AN LAW ABIDING CITIZENS .......... ,1 THUGS, LOOTERS, SHARPTON, HOLDER... 0 |
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I find it odd that so many are clamoring for "justice" and equate it with denying justice for others and the truth. Justice WAS served, for both Michael Brown and Officer Wilson. But these people never wanted justice anyway. Some wanted vengeance, but more wanted to capitalize on the tragedy resulting from a young man who made unfortunate choices about the actions he would take. GBU, Gavin
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For anyone who thinks in terms of Police 1 Black teenager 0 or any other such glib and flippant statements I would recommend eading the following rather thoughtful piece. It does not state any case in rigidly confrontational language but it does paint a rather sad picture of the reality of the situation from the viewpoint of someone who I feel should command the respect of all. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool spoke with a black female police officer who works in the St Louis area. She discussed her take on the controversy in Ferguson and the realities of race on the force. Out of consideration for her job, she asked not to be identified. Before you joined the police force, what experiences did you have with the police in this area? Experiences that made me feel disrespected, less of a human being. I have been stopped in my car and accused of doing some things I don't think I'd done. The tone was different. In some senses, it is almost as if the officers I had the interactions with could not care less about who I was, that I was beneath him so he didn't have to extend a level of respect. I felt personally attacked. I wanted to join the police to make a difference. I thought I could explain things from a citizen's perspective, and explain things to the community from the law enforcement perspective. Now do you feel like an outsider among your colleagues in the police force? I do, very much so. I don't relate with a lot of them, I haven't lived similar lives to them. It may be a combination of being African American and a woman, but there are certain events I am not included in, or even informed of. Maybe in their growing up they didn't have a lot of interactions with African-American females from the inner city - they're uncomfortable with it, but instead of trying to address it, they avoid it, even fear it. So when black people in Ferguson say the issue is not just about Michael Brown, but the way they have been treated as a community, do you agree? I can completely agree with that. It [the killing of Michael Brown] should be a learning experience. Quite possibly the officer was in fear, as was the young man. It is sad no one is addressing that. Why was he [the police officer] so afraid of him that he had to use such intense force, and why was [Michael Brown] in such fear that it happened [that] way? I don't know who is to blame for these perceptions, but it's almost like a fear-based society. You're told this certain type of people behaves in a certain type of way, and it sticks with you throughout your life. They never take the time to find out if it's true. Do you think that is governing how some officers behave when they take to the streets? I certainly do. And because nothing is being done to force those interactions, it's just grows. It's why communities are divided. Do you think it makes it easier for some of your co-workers to shoot dead a black man? I don't feel they would have that same connection or compassion with that individual, so it may make it easier for them. Do you think what's happened in Ferguson over the last couple of weeks might make some of your white colleagues listen more to the kind of things you and other African-American officers have been saying about their negative dealings with black people? No, absolutely not. It's actually created that divide and made it larger. It's made it harder for me to want to talk to them about it any more. They are so disconnected from it. Their rationale, perception and interpretation of the issues are so far-fetched. The comments they make are very one-sided and show such a lack of compassion and understanding, or even the desire to understand. It's heart-wrenching. It's been very difficult. What do you mean about your white colleagues perception of what has happened in Ferguson as being "far-fetched"? [In Ferguson] I see a hurt group of individuals, and they see a bunch of unruly ignorant people. They are treating it as if this community is full of an angry mob that wants to just tear up everything and they should be satisfied with what they had. But the point is you shouldn't make such an assumption that they should be happy with what they had. They shouldn't. You wouldn't be. I know Ferguson is not a group of ignorant uneducated people that are unruly. They are just a bunch of frustrated people who have tried and tried, but have been met with negative results. You have a few apartment complexes in Ferguson, but there's a lot of neighbourhoods, well kept lawns. Where people work together as a community - they have jobs, work hard every day. They are probably exhausted, they're just trying to build [a] better life for families. What do you think will make your colleagues realise they need to work harder in their relations with the community? It's really hard to say. They're not the minority, they're not the ones that need to be forced to understand it. So, as the minority, you've just got to handle it, you deal with it and you move along and accept it.
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It certainly is a complicated isuue. Much like those people who believe a person is not guilty for an illegal act when. When it can be shown that the upbringing, society, and illegal act perpetrated on that person... contributed to, if not resulted in the illegal act he performs. For many this is just an excuse, we cannot understand the acts committed because we cannot understand the person that commits them. We do not walk in their shoes. Michael Brown was a troubled young man. Who lived in a troubled town and a troubled society. This, however is no excuse for HIS actions. It's called life, and virtually no one is treaty fairly all the time. many can control their actions under negative circumstances We should feel sorry for Michael Brown and his family. however, we cannot justify or excuse his actions which resulted in his death.
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I am at a loss to understand what point you are trying to make here? To which elite groups do you specifically refer here and what is their agenda in this issue? As for myself I know when I am thinking things out for myself and I weigh evidence very carefully - checking out its bonafides in all cases. This is a vital part of being a scientist and logician.
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I agree with Earthy. Poor sad Michael Brown a nd his family. He's dead and the Policeman is alive and looking forward to Thnksgiving. I wonder wh is the lucky one in this case????
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