Fellow members of NationStates! Lend me your ears!
Recently, following incidents in Fergusson and Cleveland, there's been an evil image of cops, as militaristic, racist, murderers. These allegations are usually preempted by "disclaimers" of saying "I'm sure not all cops are murderers."
Saying this is no worse than saying "I'm sure not all black people steal." Or, "I'm sure not all Mexicans are illegal."
I understand why and how our national attitude motivates us to constantly question authority, and it's possibly one of the best things about America. However, recently it's been taken too far. We express outrage when police use armored trucks and tear gas to suppress riots. Do we honestly expect them to fight the protesters with their bare hands? Because these "peaceful protests" are anything but. Protesters are looting stores, throwing D-batteries, setting police cars on fire, and shooting firearms.
These police officers have devoted their lives to protecting people. And believe it or not, they occasionally get shot, and killed, by people. More often than not, they are killed in "bad neighborhoods." And the people who kill them, the true murderers, are regarded as heroes. This took place most notably in New York this year. A "gangster" killed two police officers. When he was arrested, the people were outraged; they celebrated the officers' murder with shrines to the killer. Rap songs glorify cop killing. And yet, we expect the valiant officers we send into these areas to be completely composed all of the time?
Michael Brown was shot because he just committed a violent robbery, and charged the officer, brawled with him- being nearly twice his size. If Mr. Brown had beaten Wilson to death, would there have been outrage? Would the NAACP denounced his actions? Would there be mobs of people demanding his arrest?
No. As an STL native, I know where I can find stories of police officers being killed in bad neighborhoods. Usually around page 4, slightly smaller than the story over a 5K or high-school play.
I wish to make it clear, I'm not condoning these events. But, police are under assault for defending their lives while rendering a service to the community. The officer that killed a child in Cleveland? That was wrong. But be aware; cops are killed in Cleveland sometimes- even by children.
That's the sad reality of gang-lands and slums. This is not a "black-problem." It's a gang problem. Its a drug problem. You want "white cops to stop killing black babies?" Then stop glorifying gangs. Encourage your children to be police officers. Encourage them to finish high school, get a good job and leave. Kick their a** if they associate with criminals or do drugs. We need more parental responsibility. We need MORE respect for police. We need less glory for gangs. We need the children to acknowledge that "dealing" or "ballin" will not help them.
Then again, who wants to make, buy, or listen to a rap song about going to law/med school, starting a business, responsible parenting, or doing good in school?
I'm ready for the coming wave of insults.
