Guilty? Yes!

1. 92

   Kenna McHughposted 3 years ago

   A friend wrote: After watching the closing arguments, including the videos, for me, it came down to one question: Would I keep my knee on a man's back who is handcuffed, who is no danger to me, who is crying for his "mama" and who has been saying for the last 15 minutes that he can't breathe? Would I put and keep my knee on him while he lies face down on the concrete? The answer is no way.

   replyreport
2. 68

   Ken Burgessposted 3 years ago

   At the end of the day the only thing I am sure of is that he was guilty of piss poor decision making under pressure.
   
   The episode in its entirety, from the ongoing deliberation with the store owner regarding the phony bill, to the interactions with the arriving police, to ingesting the drugs to keep from being caught with them, to the tragic end that taken alone and out of context, looked like a purely evil act... and was played out as such by the media, a media which never attempted to put it into context, but rather stoked the flames of rage and aggression.... is a tragedy.
   
   The other thing I know, is if the exact same thing had happened to a white man, it would have never become the inflammatory material which was used to light the country (the world) afire... and to be sure such harsh handling by police is acted out on white people who commit crimes and at times ends just as tragically.
   
   The ongoing media assault on police will have an impact on our society, one has to wonder what will become of our neighborhoods and cities when no one is willing to do the thankless and dangerous job of answering the 911 calls to robbery, domestic abuse, assault, etc. especially in cities and states where such animosity has been generated towards them.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Police departments are admonished to have them members act with better judgement. Bad judgement leads to litigiousness and associated costs.
      
      I don't necessary know if this had happened to a white man, video and all, would it gain the attention of the entire world. Brutality was the focus and issue, regardless of race. Your right wing credentials are on display loud and clear, and you are far from being neutral in these matters.
      
      If you can't do your job without excessive and unjustified brutality and sadism, perhaps you had better seek another line of work?
      
      The Right just continues to exaggerate some sort of General angst toward the police by every Democrat and liberal/progressive.
      
      With the ubiquitous body cam and cell phone camera, all is on notice to watch their cabooses in the future.

      replyreport
      1. 68

         Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         You will have to put that into context for me Credence, I wouldn't want to jump to conclusions as to what you are implying.
         
         Whatever my past perspectives, or lack of sensitivity to other perspectives, I understand that the mechanics which society maintains its law and order are under assault from all directions.
         
         I also recognize that this will not benefit you or I, it will lead to the destabilization of our society, not our liberation.
         
         You decry the unfairness and inequities fostered upon the poor, and that these things have been fostered upon people due to race. 
         
         A truth, no doubt.
         
         But the very system that has evolved to the point where we can have in our society Oprah and Obama and LeBron is now being put at risk.
         
         Our media is propagating (deceptively so) narratives that villainize those who are sworn to protect us, and in doing so they are tearing into the pillars which uphold our society.
         
         I see this as purposeful on their part, to conceal from the populace the larger changes (the theft of wealth and freedom) ongoing and to redirect attention as we are all lessened.
         
         This transition that started decades ago, with our politicians passing NAFTA, CAFTA and repealing Glass Steagall, all these things hurt America and Americans, these things only benefited the corporations and banks.
         
         America becoming a lesser nation, in the way the UK and other dominant Economic & Militant nations became throughout history benefits no one in America.
         
         It will mean economic stagnation for the greater populace, there will be little to no upward mobility, there will be increased pressure on the population to make do with less and less.
         
         Without being the world's economic reserve and dominant military, America will fall back to being "just another country" and its people will suffer similar hardships as other powers in the past have when their economy & might declined.
         
         The corporations, banks and billionaires will remain above those hardships, of that you can be certain.

         replyreport
         1. 80

            Credence2posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            "But the very system that has evolved to the point where we can have in our society Oprah and Obama and LeBron is now being put at risk."
            ------
            Token representation... the exceptions are few and far inbetween, I look at the general pattern and trend for the many.
            
            What is wrong with being just "another country"? Do you really think that 5 percent of the world population consuming 25 percent of the world's resources is sustainable in the long term? Do you really believe that a boastful military deterrent really matters in the how competition between nations are conducted today?
            
            Strength is obtained and maintained in many ways, the gunboat diplomacy stuff is material for a previous century.
            
            Yes, we agree that we are going to have to disarm the fat cat of corporate America, who has a great to do with the American decline by simply adhering to the Capitalist mantra of operating at lower costs and increasing profit margins. America as national entity means nothing to them.
            
            The media needs to put light on things that need to improve, conservatives just want to keep unpleasant realities of the society under wraps. The incessant whine of conservatives regarding a desire that  Democrats want to disband police is just right wing propaganda, and we all know that there is always plenty of that.
            
            I want major police departments to look at their officers and procedures to see that unjustified force bordering on brutality by any of their officers toward any citizen is minimized and the department heads and the officers involved be held accountable. Is that asking for so much?
            
            The points in most of your dialogue are starkly very conservative, yet giving the appearance practical neutrality, which is not there in my opinion, of course.

            replyreport
   2. 86

      Sharlee01posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      It will become easy for an officer to make the decision to show up after the crime is well played out, and just sort of mop up the mess, and make a report. Let's face it neighborhoods and cities where crime is always evident that need law enforcement the most., and scream the loudest when a thug is killed by an officer.  The job has few rewards.

      replyreport
      1. 92

         Kenna McHughposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         I've trained police officers as an actor, being a victim or criminal for interrogation or interview practice. I must have worked with hundreds during that time. Based on my knowledge of human reaction and emotion, only two cops out of that period were bad. Being a cop is a tough, tough job.

         replyreport
         1. 68

            Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            The level of "toughness" to being a police officer is well above any other job.
            
            In an environment where the politicians and propaganda machines are willing and wanton to make them the villain, it has become a 'job' only a masochist would endure.
            
            I have worked closely with police at times myself, they constantly have to deal with the worst humanity has to offer, people who are prone to mental instability, violence, drug abuse (and the associated derangement) and desperate people willing to do anything to avoid being detained.
            
            There are some things in life that no amount of consideration, reading, watching tv, or education can give a person true perspective on.
            
            Only walking in those shoes can make one truly aware, anything less makes one ignorant to the reality of the situation.

            replyreport
   3. 92

      Kenna McHughposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      You have a valid point. The media assault on the police and others is prevalent. Certain House of Representatives has acted no differently.
      The officer was in the wrong. He should have controlled his actions. He's trained, educated, and knows better than a criminal. White or black is not the issue, though others beg to differ.

      replyreport
3. 73

   Miebakagh57posted 3 years ago

   Police brutality is something that the law should contained when a criminal has been arrest.                                                      In Floyd case, though arrested and handcuffed behind his back, it seems he had little chance of escaping. But like all arrest law breakers, he was tgnking along the line to escape. The police officer must also thinking along that line to foil the escape.                                        But its a pity that he exceed the application of reasonable force. Such an officer is zealous towards the job.                                                                              Guilty? Yes, guilty. And I'm glad the officer was not hang nor sentensed to life inprisonment. If Floyd had a way of escape, he can kill the officer depending on the circumstance. Many criminals intox with hard drugs are used to such act.

   replyreport