turtle nate
September 19 2007, 09:43 AM
QUOTE(BillCawley @ September 19 2007, 01:35 PM)
I'm not a fighter. I probably wouldn't have gotten involved. But if I had my goal would have been what the cops goal should have been, to diffuse the situation. Like I said in my first post, they just did a horrible job. My goal in any confrontational situation is to prevent violence.
Bill, I can agree with that. And tazer happy cops need to be dealt with.
I just think the greater crime is setting up the situation for your own benefit. Much like the 'artist' who last year made toddlers cry in order to advance her own political agenda.
the real tami
September 19 2007, 09:52 AM
as i said earlier, as soon as he knew he was out of range of cameras, his demeanor changed.
look, either you abide by the law or you reep what you sow. harsh? maybe. but its reality now. i live in a city covered wall to wall by cctv cameras and i love it. i'm watched everywhere i go. i dont break the law so it doesnt bother me. but the person who stabbed me was caught on camera, it should bother them!
if you are willing to go against the law (refuse to do what a police officer tells you to do) - then you are viewed as someone who should be brought down in any way possible. quickly. you are more of a threat to the public than anyone else at that time. normal people react to a police officer and will stop doing what they are doing when someone of authority tells them to - someone who ignores this - is a problem.
bsteffine
September 19 2007, 09:56 AM
While many in authority really really irritate me, I have to try and understand it from their POV also. Afterall, they are people with hurts, pains, issues, irritations, frustrations, families, husbands, wives, children, taxes, etc., just like everyone else.
And the environment today for a police officer can be very difficult, post 9/11, post Columbine, post Rodney King, post lots of scenarios and media fiascoes that have made their job also tough.
We often like to imagine ourselves doing that job, or any "heroic" deed, much better than what actually transpires. Bill, as a well-trained martial artist (like myself), you can probably visualize that, what we see in our minds as a possible response to any given event (attack) doesn't easily play out realistically. I think it's often the same for people like police officers. Their intentions might be good, but under duress (and the real, active event), things change rapidly and our responses aren't always very good, let alone heroic.
Let's face it, the guy was acting irresponsibly in a fragile environment. This wasn't a college professor lecturing on Politics, but a Senator and presidential hopeful speaking in public. As we all know, anything can happen. There are lots of wackos out there.