Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway
Here are a few of my observations:
1. The good professor was not known very well by his neighbors. Maybe he wasn't very neighborly, which is certainly not a crime.
2. If I had to kick the door in at my house, and a neighbor witnessed what was going on and didn't recognize me........I would WANT them to call the police! That would show that a neighbor cares that something unusual is happening at my house! We call it neighborhood watch in my area!
3. I would not be offended if a police officer of ANY race asked for proof of identity. That is a police officer doing their job! A soft answer turns away wrath. I believe the good professor found an opportunity to get exposure.
I was talking with someone today at lunch and it was brought up about certain people that you have to parse your words with, because they are LOOKING to find something offensive. It appears that the good professor fits into this category. I guess the police officers need training on how to walk on egg shells around certain personalities so they don't hurt their feelings.
4. I believe that neither the police or the good professor were at their best behavior in this incident! Police don't take very well to threats! (neither do most people!)
5. The picture seems to show calm officers and an outraged professor! Is he yelling at the black officer?
I guess my remarks make me a racist! Heaven help us all!
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Mr. Steinway, I'm not sure why you would end your post with "I guess my remarks make me a racist! Heaven help us all". I don't think anyone was going to accuse you of that based on the content of your post. I would not even interject that into the conversation.
Either way, I do agree that neither side probably handled things in the best way possible. My problem is that I don't think we can afford to allow some police the license to "not be on their best behavior". They are basically the ultimate authority when they arrive in some situations and
some abuse that. I don't think we can hold them to the same standard as the average citizen when they are in their official capacity.
However, I am not sure how pleasant my picture would be if I were being led out of my own house in my own neighborhood in handcuffs by a squad of officers after coming home from a long trip and not doing anything illegal. (how's that for a run-on
)
What is also pretty amusing to me in my conversations with people is how some of the same people who were up in arms about perceived police abuse of power in the airport case with
that activist are apparently fine with this.
In the airport case you had a man in a public place that is of very vital and specific security concern and has been proven to be able to be the launching pad of attacks that can cripple the entire country.
In this case you have a man being accosted in his house. I just don't see where in a case when the police were mistaken, it should end in arrest inside someone's home...unless the person maybe physically attacked the police.
Hybrid Mode
