General Discussion

Igel

(37,541 posts)

167. They died in the line of duty.

Wed Jul 13, 2016, 10:55 PM

Jul 2016

And that duty was protecting people. For some, that makes them heroes.

White-supremacist Ahrens died at the hands of a black bigoted murder while providing security to BLM.

On the other hand, he was a victim. This line of attack not only serves to demote him from honorary hero status but strip him of victimhood: He deserved to die for possible beliefs. Then there are others trying to say that Johnson shouldn't have died, even though he said he was a racist murderer who committed a hate crime.

Why? Because the hero's and the murderer's skin colors don't match up with what the narrative must be. Therefore, the roles must be reverse. Hate-filled murderer, justified by our faith in him; police officer, made into a symbol of guilt by the same sort of faith.

Gotta love in-group and out-group dynamics.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

242 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Slain Dallas Cop Might�ve Been A White Supremacist: Still A Hero? [View all] HipChick Jul 2016 OP

shit... well,... better out their ass's right now, the 2006 FBI report wasn't written for nothing uponit7771 Jul 2016 #1

Well, does that mean he deserved to be shot? TeddyR Jul 2016 #2

Well, do you mean this should go undiscussed? ret5hd Jul 2016 #10

Of course not TeddyR Jul 2016 #18

So it's OK to discuss it but not write about it, or just not here on DU? ret5hd Jul 2016 #22

If the point is to tarnish the name TeddyR Jul 2016 #29

How is it tarnishing his name? Statistical Jul 2016 #39

I dunno... ret5hd Jul 2016 #42

To be clear, I didn't say you called him a hero TeddyR Jul 2016 #76

Let me interject here between you two. The cop being a white supremacist is . . . brush Jul 2016 #106

Yeah seems like being a cop is a dream job for white supremacists they literally get to craigmatic Jul 2016 #163

omfg... this is OP worthy!!! uponit7771 Jul 2016 #174

EDIT: The cop involved with the shooting of Alton wasn't the guy in the story who posted racist text uponit7771 Jul 2016 #177

He sure pumped those bullets into Sterling's chest quickly, even though . . . brush Jul 2016 #186

+1, on the pumping lead into the guys chest... the other LEO had Altons hand... seemed like a bad uponit7771 Jul 2016 #189

You are mistaken Vattel Jul 2016 #216

I saw the video. I saw a cop, already on top of a black man, with assistance from . . . brush Jul 2016 #223

Turds. AngryAmish Jul 2016 #146

Go get em' TeddyR..I'm right behind you. nt clarice Jul 2016 #56

.that^ 840high Jul 2016 #62

When a black kid gets shot by the police... Teamster Jeff Jul 2016 #74

Yes, the double standard always shocks me.. HipChick Jul 2016 #98

Not only that zz-la Jul 2016 #99

^^^THIS^^^^ Literally happens, MSNBC pulled up Castile's traffic tickets !!!! uponit7771 Jul 2016 #110

I thought that was to show that he had been hassled by the cops unfairly for years oberliner Jul 2016 #148

Yes, but things like facts don't interfere with rage or beliefs. n/t Igel Jul 2016 #158

Or things like they said nothing about harrasment in this context, they did it to dig up dirt on his uponit7771 Jul 2016 #166

Not the first time right after he was shot, they said during the segment that they researched his uponit7771 Jul 2016 #165

Gotcha oberliner Jul 2016 #203

Excellent observation. Hoyt Jul 2016 #188

I doubt he would have considered being called a white supremacist tarnishing his name shawn703 Jul 2016 #85

Based on what? Throd Jul 2016 #92

Preconceived notions... TipTok Jul 2016 #200

One of the problems in this nation gopiscrap Jul 2016 #145

there is long term KKK membership HipChick Jul 2016 #183

Innuendo and tenuous circumstancial 'evidence'... TipTok Jul 2016 #201

it usually does when it suits the gop gopiscrap Jul 2016 #210

So you even admit it's flimsy but perpetuate a smear against a dead cop... TipTok Jul 2016 #218

yup gopiscrap Jul 2016 #229

Classy... TipTok Jul 2016 #230

Not here to be classy gopiscrap Jul 2016 #236

That sounds... TipTok Jul 2016 #237

we only have Thanksgiving with like minded friends gopiscrap Jul 2016 #238

Maybe you could clone yourself.... TipTok Jul 2016 #239

Should we discuss Alton Sterling and his sordid past? oberliner Jul 2016 #31

Alton Sterling wasn't a paid public employee gopiscrap Jul 2016 #147

Lorne Ahrens is dead oberliner Jul 2016 #149

but we had the Pres, a former pres, a vp and god knows gopiscrap Jul 2016 #152

There were five cops murdered by a deranged sniper in a domestic terror attack oberliner Jul 2016 #204

No. But he shouldn't be hailed as a hero either. puffy socks Jul 2016 #25

Unless there's a documented history of corruption or wrongdoing, police killed in whathehell Jul 2016 #83

That's true and we shouldn't puffy socks Jul 2016 #170

Not sure I agree.. whathehell Jul 2016 #196

Not true. puffy socks Jul 2016 #214

I'll believe it when I see links for both.. whathehell Jul 2016 #220

My husband is an FDNY 9/11 survivor. annavictorious Jul 2016 #227

totally agree with you gopiscrap Jul 2016 #154

Where specifically was that premise implied? LanternWaste Jul 2016 #38

It may mean that he deserved to be stopped. Had the police departments been run as jtuck004 Jul 2016 #70

No, it means we need to weed the supremacists out of PDs across the country. CrispyQ Jul 2016 #81

+1,000,000 AgadorSparticus Jul 2016 #88

"No, it means we need to weed the supremacists out of PDs across the country." I disagree. cstanleytech Jul 2016 #95

Yep KKK groups have been infiltrating PD's since at least the Nixon administration zz-la Jul 2016 #100

So no answer to if he is still a hero? Just dodge the question and move on? Rex Jul 2016 #94

No he's not a hero gopiscrap Jul 2016 #151

Why is it gunners support white wingers, george zimmerman, darren wilson, etc. Don't believe he Hoyt Jul 2016 #102

he was the huge one? AntiBank Jul 2016 #3

I've been waiting all week for this thread! bonemachine Jul 2016 #4

Uh oh... tallahasseedem Jul 2016 #5

K&R Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #6

When I want to know something I turn to "internet sleuths." NaturalHigh Jul 2016 #7

When unarmed African Americans are killed by racist cops.... Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #8

+1 n/t jaysunb Jul 2016 #14

Unless it is materially relevant to his death mythology Jul 2016 #16

But it *is* always an issue with minorities. Every time. LanternWaste Jul 2016 #40

+1 n/t IL Lib Jul 2016 #86

+1 uponit7771 Jul 2016 #119

Little Bobby down the street did it... TipTok Jul 2016 #157

It's an issue when it's relevant. Igel Jul 2016 #164

Shit, some people are making a big deal about Philando Castile being cited over 50 MillennialDem Jul 2016 #215

It's extremely relevant to the entire discussion. toddwv Jul 2016 #231

Some progressives, too! 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2016 #17

How about they are both bad things to do? oberliner Jul 2016 #23

I dunno...why do you do that? ret5hd Jul 2016 #47

I don't understand the question oberliner Jul 2016 #132

Yes they do go after the victims past that is no lie and not just rw, usually MSM that shows it too Person 2713 Jul 2016 #68

Agree... HipChick Jul 2016 #69

It is absolutely wrong to do this to victims of police killings, Chemisse Jul 2016 #73

I must be missing something. Pacifist Patriot Jul 2016 #234

Hell the right wingers were trying to show that little Tamar Rice was in a gang zz-la Jul 2016 #101

Are u sure u replied to the right person? Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #103

Sorry Cali I was trying to back up your point zz-la Jul 2016 #104

No problem Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #107

Yeah, but we're not Right Wingers here.. whathehell Jul 2016 #197

I would agree with that zz-la Jul 2016 #242

On principle I agree but better analogy maybe is predator and a prey? lostnfound Jul 2016 #202

And I believe everything the MSM says. ohnoyoudidnt Jul 2016 #207

Blue Lives Matter . . . unless they're White Supremacists - nt KingCharlemagne Jul 2016 #9

No Blue Lives don't matter gopiscrap Jul 2016 #153

Sorry, but that doesn't work either.. whathehell Jul 2016 #198

So you're saying that he was no angel? (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2016 #11

All those cops need to be publicly scrutinized mwrguy Jul 2016 #12

The murdered ones? oberliner Jul 2016 #21

This one turned out to be a white supremacist mwrguy Jul 2016 #45

Did he? I thought it said he may have been. WillowTree Jul 2016 #54

One blogger is making the allegation lapucelle Jul 2016 #80

one of their points of justification was that he attended a baptist church. n/t Calista241 Jul 2016 #125

No he didn't oberliner Jul 2016 #133

Agreed craigmatic Jul 2016 #161

Being killed doesn't automatically make you a hero Warpy Jul 2016 #13

It doesn't automatically make you a martyr either Leontius Jul 2016 #71

It could be relevant (NOT justified), if Johnson knew this, and targeted Ahrens on that basis LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #15

Slain Dallas Cop Might�ve Been A White Supremacist: sarisataka Jul 2016 #19

Alton Sterling was a registered sex offender oberliner Jul 2016 #20

Except nobody has really called Alton Sterling a hero. Especially not the media Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #24

Another (young black hero) bites the dust (Alton Sterling) oberliner Jul 2016 #26

postcount.net? Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #27

That was the site that broke the story oberliner Jul 2016 #28

I can't even access the site because my work firewall has it blocked. Cali_Democrat Jul 2016 #32

The President as well Bok_Tukalo Jul 2016 #33

Some random blogger on the internet, with no evidence whatsoever, B2G Jul 2016 #35

Some random person with a cell phone video oberliner Jul 2016 #113

Yes. And that is evidence. B2G Jul 2016 #117

Agreed oberliner Jul 2016 #131

He could have been the world's biggest criminal Warpy Jul 2016 #37

And neither should these cops in Dallas have been executed oberliner Jul 2016 #126

But not the post I replied to. Warpy Jul 2016 #182

Unless there's documented corruption, police killed in the line of duty whathehell Jul 2016 #79

They died in the line of duty. Igel Jul 2016 #167

I looked into this and here is what I found. jaysunb Jul 2016 #90

I completely agree with your point oberliner Jul 2016 #130

I gotcha. :) n/t jaysunb Jul 2016 #156

Which has nothing to do with the fact that he was living his life zz-la Jul 2016 #105

Both were murdered for no reason oberliner Jul 2016 #127

And I am fine with that zz-la Jul 2016 #134

So he deserved to be shot to death? tenderfoot Jul 2016 #118

Of course not oberliner Jul 2016 #128

Strawman, no one called him a hero ... just human and didn't deserve to be shot like that regardless uponit7771 Jul 2016 #120

Fair point oberliner Jul 2016 #129

Unnn, I read the article... if Sterling had a past that showed he'd kill white cops and then got... uponit7771 Jul 2016 #136

It's relevant if a cop is a white supremacist. Gormy Cuss Jul 2016 #219

Why not focus on those cops who are still alive and might be white supremacists? oberliner Jul 2016 #221

Why ignore it in one who was gunned down? Gormy Cuss Jul 2016 #222

Common decency? oberliner Jul 2016 #224

I hate to keep beating this drum Uponthegears Jul 2016 #138

+1, I don't think people read the article... this shit is disturbing... he has a like of tRump ... uponit7771 Jul 2016 #141

Hard as it may be to take, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. WillowTree Jul 2016 #30

Make no mistake: white supremacists think black people should die or be slaves. So why is KingCharlemagne Jul 2016 #36

I don't think your statement holds up logically. Deserving to die a non-hero's death is not the... yawnmaster Jul 2016 #50

The majority of the people at that demonstration were black. WillowTree Jul 2016 #58

Thank you whathehell Jul 2016 #84

These cops were hero's. They were protecting the folks protesting the cops! Wayburn Jul 2016 #34

That's what we do now, right? Full vetting of the murdered. alcibiades_mystery Jul 2016 #41

Oh My malaise Jul 2016 #43

+1, His FB has a like of UIC... wtf... I would at LEAST be having a sit down with this guy if he uponit7771 Jul 2016 #137

False premise. Being murdered is not heroic. REP Jul 2016 #44

"But what if the sniper accidentally shot somebody who might have been an asshole?" struggle4progress Jul 2016 #46

Still a murder victim. nt redwitch Jul 2016 #48

Probably should not go there. kacekwl Jul 2016 #49

Mixed feelings Bradical79 Jul 2016 #51

My god, this is gross. Marr Jul 2016 #52

...!100++++ 840high Jul 2016 #64

It's the same HuffPo blog site lapucelle Jul 2016 #82

Thank you. cwydro Jul 2016 #112

HuffPo has been garbage for a while. Oneironaut Jul 2016 #115

If it's true than he redeemed himself with this Karma and can move on. n/t Lance Bass esquire Jul 2016 #53

He even shaved his head Separation Jul 2016 #55

Based on your last two threads, I have to wonder what planet you live on. I've never seen such hate clarice Jul 2016 #57

+1 (nt) LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #89

Derelict FOXMSNBCCNN billhicks76 Jul 2016 #59

For the media a slain cop is a symbol, not a real person. Binkie The Clown Jul 2016 #60

Nobody deserves to be killed. 840high Jul 2016 #61

Yep, this thread represents an unproductive, if not counter-productive, endeavor. nt 63splitwindow Jul 2016 #63

this op deserves to be trashed. 840high Jul 2016 #66

Not even Hitler? - nt KingCharlemagne Jul 2016 #195

Post removed Post removed Jul 2016 #65

It DOES appear to be a "fanning the flames" attempt. nt 63splitwindow Jul 2016 #67

The writer cites very little evidence other that of "Internet sleuths" lapucelle Jul 2016 #72

This is false, his face book page likes is enough... a like of UIC is worthy of a sit down by itself uponit7771 Jul 2016 #139

Nil mortuii dire nisi bonum .. DemoTex Jul 2016 #75

This message was self-deleted by its author matt819 Jul 2016 #77

Really? Are we smearing the victim to makes his death sort of okay - here on DU? Chemisse Jul 2016 #78

Do you think he would have considered the label a smear shawn703 Jul 2016 #87

We cannot ask him because he was murdered; so, your post simply continues the smear (nt) LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #91

Blaming the victim of a crime because of his unrelated beliefs or actions is despicable. Chemisse Jul 2016 #176

Amen. 840high Jul 2016 #241

If you did deep enough you will find that most people are not perfect and have issues which is cstanleytech Jul 2016 #93

A person doesn't have to be a hero for their murder to be tragic. BainsBane Jul 2016 #96

To paraphrase Bogart's character RIck, Ahrens got a lucky break. . . DinahMoeHum Jul 2016 #97

So it appears this cop was no angel? MohRokTah Jul 2016 #108

Victim shaming either way is wrong radical noodle Jul 2016 #109

Not too long ago, okasha Jul 2016 #111

+1 (nt) LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #114

Hell it could be a surfers cross. B2G Jul 2016 #121

I had no idea there was such a thing as a surfer's cross. okasha Jul 2016 #123

Yep. Big with the surf crowd years ago. B2G Jul 2016 #124

That's why we say we like "critical thinking." Igel Jul 2016 #169

That wasn't the only symbol and you know it, he has a like of the UIC on his FB page!! That in and uponit7771 Jul 2016 #142

There was no point to this article than clickbait. Oneironaut Jul 2016 #116

I disagree, I read the article and if a black man had 3 - 4 symbols of black supremacist signs ... uponit7771 Jul 2016 #135

+1,000 malaise Jul 2016 #140

yes...amazing double standards.. HipChick Jul 2016 #162

+1000....Yeap, more demonetization of anything afrocentric uponit7771 Jul 2016 #168

On his main Facebook page. Igel Jul 2016 #172

Right. Igel Jul 2016 #171

Pourquoi avez-vous rendu le po�me en fran�ais ? lapucelle Jul 2016 #225

I agree, the HuffPo article is completely disgusting. OhioBlue Jul 2016 #194

Dancing on graves, a common sight here nt DustyJoe Jul 2016 #122

In this case, the grave has a parquet floor and the Glenn Miller Band standing by... VOX Jul 2016 #178

This guy is an asshole melman Jul 2016 #143

figures gopiscrap Jul 2016 #144

Actually, when I heard his wife speak a chill went over me. She didn't sound like a grieving wife. glennward Jul 2016 #150

agreed gopiscrap Jul 2016 #155

No he was no hero and given time he probably would've killed innocent minorities craigmatic Jul 2016 #159

Some of the amazing 'facts' included in this in depth investigation include nuggets like this... TipTok Jul 2016 #160

Well yeah... you're right... lets just ignore the UIC like, tRump like and all the other 88er tats.. uponit7771 Jul 2016 #173

It just shows an ignorance of the culture... TipTok Jul 2016 #175

I agree, those ALONE don't mean a lot but none of them are alone and we both know that... uponit7771 Jul 2016 #187

Their case is circumstancial at best... TipTok Jul 2016 #193

after reading this HUFF POST ARTICLE.... i think officer Ahrens was an evil man. Racist & trueblue2007 Jul 2016 #179

Post removed Post removed Jul 2016 #180

"The day before his death, he bought dinner for a homeless man and his dog, LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #181

There are a lot of people being dismissive about the FBI study too. uponit7771 Jul 2016 #191

I read the article bluestateguy Jul 2016 #184

I think there should be no maybe at all... I see those signs after being pulled over and I'm going.. uponit7771 Jul 2016 #190

Racism can be a view of the world HipChick Jul 2016 #199

guess we will just have to wait til the movie comes out dembotoz Jul 2016 #185

A Texas cop "might" have been a white supremacist? ContinentalOp Jul 2016 #192

The same people on this thread giving you flack for giftedgirl77 Jul 2016 #205

Excellent observation... HipChick Jul 2016 #206

... giftedgirl77 Jul 2016 #208

You guys are every bit as bad as Trump LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #228

If you say so. giftedgirl77 Jul 2016 #233

Not only is the point being made sailing way over your head... Pacifist Patriot Jul 2016 #235

Their point is vile, and this OP crosses the line, IMO (nt) LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #240

This message was self-deleted by its author seabeyond Jul 2016 #209

So the shooter knew this before he killed Ahrens? ileus Jul 2016 #211

and DU sinks to a new low Vattel Jul 2016 #212

I suppose if you kill 1000 cops, and one was a bad guy it was worth it. ileus Jul 2016 #213

The commentors at PuffingtonHost agreeing with the writer is incredible. BKH70041 Jul 2016 #217

I am sure the author of the artricle whistler162 Jul 2016 #226

Being a victim doesn't make one a hero Martin Eden Jul 2016 #232