General Discussion

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts) Tue Jan 21, 2014, 12:29 AM Jan 2014

262

This has got to stop. All this awful stuff. [View all]

What have we done?

I was surfing the net during a break at the office today and saw a story again that we're all familiar with: Kelly Thomas, a young homeless man with schizophrenia was beaten to death in Fullerton CA. An explosion of horror and terror as he apologized and screamed for the help of his father, who was not at the scene but was in Kelly's heart as his splintered thoughts were methodically snuffed out by the powerful blows of savages. Beaten and tased in the face for nearly ten minutes.

A mentally ill man, not being violent, beaten to death for ten minutes while apologizing and screaming for his daddy.

His executioners, Fullerton Police Department officers Manuel Ramos, Jay Cicinelli, Joseph Wolfe are now free men.

I see these things in the media every day, and have become hardened to them. But today, reading this again I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the evil that we can do to each other. I broke down.

A mentally ill man, not being violent, beaten to death for ten minutes while apologizing and screaming for daddy.

What have we become that we do these things to each other? How do we open hearts?

I guess this was Dr. King's expertise. Perhaps I need to do some studying.

115 replies

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Highlight:

This has got to stop. All this awful stuff. [View all] MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 OP

I'm about to go watch Fruitvale Station. Initech Jan 2014 #1

The movie was very good davidpdx Jan 2014 #25

Oscar Grant wasn't tortured like this guy, they had thomas begging for daddy as they Jesus Malverde Jan 2014 #44

Really? That's what you are taking away cliffordu Jan 2014 #87

That poster was simply responding to the other person who compared the two cui bono Jan 2014 #90

Thanks, I wasn't sure what to make of his post Jesus Malverde Jan 2014 #98

Has to stop, seconded. kickysnana Jan 2014 #2

We should also be asking "what have we become that we allow them to get away with it?" nt ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2014 #3

I agree. I think that's the most important point. LuvNewcastle Jan 2014 #31

Inching ever closer to that NAZI ideal where people actually are nothing Enthusiast Jan 2014 #37

I agree. If the bottom really falls out of the economy and there's civil unrest, LuvNewcastle Jan 2014 #39

Actually, three police were arrested and two tried, Progressive dog Jan 2014 #43

Do you see a problem here? MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #45

Yes I do, the use of Nazi to attack our constitutional Progressive dog Jan 2014 #49

Do you see a problem with the beating and death? nt MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #54

Yeah I do, but there are lots of bad deeds that go unpunished Progressive dog Jan 2014 #60

The Nazis, too, had an intact judiciary until 1942 IIRC MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #65

The Nazis had Nazi laws, Progressive dog Jan 2014 #72

Before the Germany had Nazi laws, they didn't. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #80

Oh my you figured that out all by yourself Progressive dog Jan 2014 #81

Oh my, you're stooping to ad hominem attack. Game over. Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #83

And juries dutifully followed those Nazi laws. MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #89

We can both agree that something was wrong, Progressive dog Jan 2014 #111

+10 (nt) reACTIONary Jan 2014 #101

Reasonable doubt? damnedifIknow Jan 2014 #46

The jurors acquitted, no retrials under our laws Progressive dog Jan 2014 #50

Could be re-tried on new charges MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #55

That night be possible Progressive dog Jan 2014 #58

I read it. I also saw the video of the murder. sulphurdunn Jan 2014 #75

One should not conflate Nazism with a bad verdict Progressive dog Jan 2014 #78

I live in America sulphurdunn Jan 2014 #91

You defended the Nazi statement in the post I replied to Progressive dog Jan 2014 #106

The cops in the Rodney King beating were acquitted too. You really think they were innocent? cui bono Jan 2014 #93

They should just use you as the jury in all cases Progressive dog Jan 2014 #107

Well they'd certainly get a fair verdict if that were the case. cui bono Jan 2014 #112

It is exactly what you have been saying Progressive dog Jan 2014 #115

+10 (nt) reACTIONary Jan 2014 #99

+10 (nt) reACTIONary Jan 2014 #100

It only "works" for the authoritarians that get off on police violence. rhett o rick Jan 2014 #109

So you would overturn the jury, because you know better Progressive dog Jan 2014 #110

I agree and there are posts in this thread that will support it. ctsnowman Jan 2014 #61

It's beyond damnedifIknow Jan 2014 #4

Manny, Mnemosyne Jan 2014 #5

I'm in the very, very, red middle of PA (the twilight zone). sammythecat Jan 2014 #56

I've become almost a recluse to avoid the meanness. I grok you. Mnemosyne Jan 2014 #114

........ daleanime Jan 2014 #6

Dear God, I just looked at the photos. WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2014 #7

Those that were involved in letting the police off on this, may they all rot in hell. nm rhett o rick Jan 2014 #15

+ a shit load! nt Enthusiast Jan 2014 #105

Oh God that's so sad! ananda Jan 2014 #35

President Obama asked if we want a society in which we are all in this alone... Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #8

It will stop..... DeSwiss Jan 2014 #9

I share your agony, Manny pscot Jan 2014 #10

I believe you are absolutely right. defacto7 Jan 2014 #27

When didn't we used to be this way? OnlinePoker Jan 2014 #88

Thanks for posting this, Manny. And thank you for your outrage, which I share 100% loudsue Jan 2014 #11

I watched the video - I wish I hadnt. davidthegnome Jan 2014 #12

I was thinking about this today. Stonepounder Jan 2014 #13

When I saw that video I thought what the hell has our society come to that we accept that rhett o rick Jan 2014 #14

Incomprehensible Samantha Jan 2014 #16

Death Squad PowerToThePeople Jan 2014 #17

The officers were aquitted because "they were doing what they were trained to do" mountain grammy Jan 2014 #18

There is much blame to go around here. The prosecutors managed to elicit false testimony . . . SleeplessinSoCal Jan 2014 #19

The "Voice of OC" is the best source for news about this case and others. SleeplessinSoCal Jan 2014 #97

As long as we defend torture and war and drone killings and call dead children sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #20

So something comes to mind here which 2naSalit Jan 2014 #21

People who have owned and listened to police scanners report that truedelphi Jan 2014 #28

I think you pretty much nailed it Locrian Jan 2014 #36

Good points... the media and glorification of our "wars." KoKo Jan 2014 #48

. BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2014 #57

This is proof, once again, that "liberal" politicians must NEVER appease the "law & order" crowd. Ken Burch Jan 2014 #22

+1. jsr Jan 2014 #41

Meanwhile the War on Drugs continues... YoungDemCA Jan 2014 #84

And on Sunday in NYC, there was this . . . markpkessinger Jan 2014 #23

Didn't speak English... maybe he had it coming? MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #40

I am fairly disgustsed with DeBlasio's response . . . markpkessinger Jan 2014 #92

Since when do they care about jaywalking in NYC??? cui bono Jan 2014 #94

Or maybe his hearing is poor or has deficits. Ilsa Jan 2014 #95

Thank you, Manny. woo me with science Jan 2014 #24

+1 davidpdx Jan 2014 #26

... defacto7 Jan 2014 #29

k&r nt bananas Jan 2014 #30

We are Frogs in a frying pan people sorefeet Jan 2014 #32

savages Enthusiast Jan 2014 #33

Recommended X 1000! Enthusiast Jan 2014 #34

How many times? theHandpuppet Jan 2014 #38

Rodney King... Blanks Jan 2014 #42

It's rule by oligarchy ... Auggie Jan 2014 #47

I think we get angry and struggle because there is a belief that we live in a civilized society Glassunion Jan 2014 #51

The veneer of society is very thin. L0oniX Jan 2014 #53

you are correct... handmade34 Jan 2014 #71

The jurors who let the cops walk LibDemAlways Jan 2014 #52

Not Having Observed The Case Personally... Laxman Jan 2014 #67

Yes dreamnightwind Jan 2014 #70

Yes They Would... Laxman Jan 2014 #82

Yes, I get the part about the excuses dreamnightwind Jan 2014 #103

We are a violent culture taught_me_patience Jan 2014 #59

Father, Protesters Speak Out Against Not Guilty Verdicts damnedifIknow Jan 2014 #62

Thank you - good to know there is some action. nt MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #66

Don't worry, The Wall Street gang will take care of the homeless... adirondacker Jan 2014 #63

HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Jan 2014 #64

It is obvious they are trying to kill him if you watch/listen to the video. Rex Jan 2014 #68

School's out, brother, lessons are over for now. It's time for those who really care to assume our Zorra Jan 2014 #69

Oh well, whatever, Zorra Jan 2014 #74

This should also shine some light on illachick Jan 2014 #73

OK, this is going to hurt me some while I write this due to memeries, but... Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2014 #76

fucking asshole cops have been gopiscrap Jan 2014 #77

Yes, another heart breaking story. blkmusclmachine Jan 2014 #79

What was wrong with that jury? alarimer Jan 2014 #85

Go read policeone.com. Dawson Leery Jan 2014 #102

Even animals do not kill like this without reason! How very terrible!!! hue Jan 2014 #86

Totally incomprehensible verdict. marble falls Jan 2014 #96

I still remember how the Fullerton police beat and pepper sprayed college and high school suffragette Jan 2014 #104

Impotence breeds more fear and enemies... Eleanors38 Jan 2014 #108

short of aliens landing and telling us to knock it the fck off, elehhhhna Jan 2014 #113