STOP enabling a controversy when none is there!

[johnaries]

I swear, sometimes DU is as bad as M$M.

First of all, STOP all the threads that say "all cops are evil and corrupt". It simply shows your own ignorance and your lack of Progressive ideals. No Progressive would paint with such a broad brush. As I have said repeatedly, "Cops are PEOPLE!" Perhaps you would prefer the "RoboCop" approach? (Actually, a movie I would recommend for all progressives, as it explores tongue-in-cheek the consequences of a "privatized" society.)

Yes, there are good cops and bad cops. Yes, even the good cops are subject to making bad decisions. Yes, Professor Gates made some bad decisions himself. And, yes, Obama made some seemingly innocous statements that got blown all out of proportion.

BUT, Obama, Crowley, and Gates have all decided to sit down together calmly, "have a beer", and talk it out.

This is what I love about this President. He is all about "sitting down, and talking about this rationally."

We all know Republicans don't want that, despite Obama's overtures. And that is the genius of Obama's approach. "We tried, they refused."

Eventually, they will have to accept. Or die.

[valerief]

1. All complainers whine. Just changing the subject. nt

[elocs]

2. Yes, sometimes DU is like the M$M and I bet your thread never gets out of

[BlooInBloo]

3. "All" might be going a bit far. I'm sure there's one decent cop out there somewhere...

Who doesn't commit crimes, and turns in cops who do.

I'd definitely like to shake his or her hand.

The rest can fuck off.

[DefenseLawyer]

4. The treatment of people of color in the criminal justice system is a "controversy"

Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. It was a subject we needed to take about before Gates, it is a subject we need to talk about after Gates. You are free to talk about something else or start as many "why I love the police" threads as you wish.

[EFerrari]

5. You're not black, are you?

[obliviously]

6. This thread was done last night

and got about as much enthusiasm.People feel laws and enforcement are unnecessary!

[Th1onein]

7. "Enabling controversy"?

Don't you think that this thing with Gates ought to be the subject of controversy?

You know, I've come on here and talked about cops doing this and cops doing that, and saying that I hate cops. But YOU, and others like you, are putting the words into our mouths, that we hate ALL cops.

Most of us can count on a couple of fingers the "good" cops we've known, or met. And, most of the time, that's not even saying that we know that they're good and just in doing their jobs--they just didn't give US a rash of shit. But most people here, and generally, can probably say that they have had more negative experiences with cops than positive ones. And, that's leaving out the fact that they may get a ticket when they're around a cop. Most cops are assholes. Most cops let the power go to their head, and they throw, at least, common civility out the window when dealing with people, not ALL people, but at least SOME people, and particularly minorities, in their official capacity. Some go really far and kill the people they come into contact with, in their official capacity;, and this happens all too often to the poor and minorities.

I'm not here to demonize all cops. I know a couple of decent cops, but that doesn't say that they are decent to minorities or that they never let their power get in the way of treating their fellow citizens like the public SERVANTS that they are to them.

The fact is, we are seeing this kind of shit happen constantly. It's all over the news. It's all over the internet. It used to be hidden. It's not anymore. When we have to be told not to make any sudden moves, to be polite, to avert our eyes, when dealing with these supposed PUBLIC SERVANTS, something is fucking wrong, wouldn't you agree?

[MADem]

8. Could you point us to "all" the threads that say "all cops are evil and corrupt?"

I've seen the odd ranty single post on those lines, but not entire "threads" averring that.

This apparently hyperbolic thread is unhelpful, because it suggests a "slew" of threads taking that position.

I haven't seen them. Has anyone?

[DefenseLawyer]

11. It is the same old tactic

What did the police union in Cambridge say after the President weighed in on the Gates arrest? That the President owed an apology to ALL law enforcement officers in the country. Because obviously any criticism of any police officer is an attack on all police officers everywhere. Why do you hate America?

[MADem]

13. Well, I am standing with the 'perfesser' and I don't hate all cops.

I just buried a relative who was a former police officer. People are individuals. Some are total jerks, some are nice people--and there's a wide variation between those two extremes.

And sometimes, even nice people can have a lousy, petty day. It happens.

So, if I'm an "America Hater" I think I have good company, eh?

[DefenseLawyer]

15. Obviously no rational person "hates all cops"

Nonetheless, when police misconduct comes to light, you will invariably have police officials and their supporters saying "police have put their lives on the line every day, why don't you appreciate them?", accusing critics of "hating cops" instead of putting any focus on the actual misconduct in question. It is not unlike those who would call anyone critical of the government unpatriotic rather than defending the policies being criticized.

[Hutzpa]

9. ...

:popcorn:

[Fumesucker]

10. Just point us to the large number of police who are blowing the whistle

On their corrupt brother officers..

That should do to end the controversy.

I know it would put *my* mind at ease about police abusing their authority.

[MADem]

16. I just buried a relative who was a whistle blower.

He did have no small amount of agita about doing it, certainly. It is a brotherhood, but there was bad shit going on.

FWIW he died of cancer, not from whistle blowing.

[Fumesucker]

17. Sorry to hear of your loss, my condolences..

It's always a shame when good people die.

[MADem]

18. He was a character, and it was too soon. Not a spring chicken but he should

have had a few more years. Life sucks some times. I feel for his kids and grandkids.

[pipi_k]

12. I think I would rather

see controversy being enabled than to see total mindless acceptance of everything being enabled.

What's wrong with controversy?

[MercutioATC]

14. Got Nomex?

You'd think that simply saying "As in any profession, there are good cops and bad cops" would be recognized as a pretty reasonable statement (one with which I agree, by the way).

DU goes through odd mutations, sometimes. The current one involves racial and anti-establishment crusading.

Make a reasonable statement like this and the responses will vary between "You're just an apologist" to "You don't know history" to "You must not be black", "supported" by any number of legitimate references to examples of racism or heavy-handed authority...none of which have anything to do with the issue at hand.

Keep thinking and don't let the fanatics get you down. This, too, will pass.

[Fire1]

19. I've known and run in to some seemingly decent cops in my

day but fortunately for me, they were black. Even so, I still question their mental stability and think MOST of them are ant-social sociopaths.

edit: to add

[Raineyb]

20. I get real tired of the constant sweeping of problems under the rug.

Do you really think not talking about it will help? Not talking about it is why these events explode like a festering wound that's been lanced on occasion.

[sharesunited]

21. There is a certain Paradox Of The Policeman which posits the premise

that anyone who would want to be a cop is inherently unfit for the job.

Lots of deep seated psychological motives dressed up in noble costume.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. WHEN DID MICHAEL JACKSON DIE!? n/t