Really?! After reading the article about 68 police officers being shot to death while on duty this year this seems like a self indulgent cartoon. Remember police officers come in all colors, don’t profile.
Well, maybe in any department following “Arpaio rules”. Isn’t it interesting how folks slam the cops, who get killed way too often in the line of duty, but will vote for politicians who keep sending our kids to war? Also, a lot on Wall Street would have made better “targets”.
Having numerous friends in the police force, I must insist on taking issue with this image. They freely admit that there is a clear imbalance in how people of color are treated, but they tell me that it’s also a self-perpetuating cycle in which mistrust by one side breeds further mistrust on the other. A more appropriate joke would point out that the people hiring and overseeing police officers are all too likely to ignore red flags such as the checked answer in the panel.
When your life is on the line every day, your most basic self-preservation instincts kick in, and defenses go up faster when a person’s most outward characteristics resemble those of others who have hurt or threatened you in the past. And it’s one of our species’ greatest misfortunes that skin color is just about the most obvious of those characteristics.
One friend has remarked about how rotten he feels when he misjudges a person while on duty, but he still insists that “I’d rather hate myself later for wrongly offending someone than not come home that night.” It’s not an excuse. It’s not justification. It’s survival. And until society as a whole can learn to live in harmony, even the kindest, fairest, most empathetic police officer will inevitably end up treating some of his fellow humans unfairly based on their appearance.
ZRXMEM is right. In Florida (where racism is illegal even on the State level), I’ve seen policemen of all races get shot or shot at on the news. However, in any given newscast, I’ve also seen Minorities also get shot up as well.
@agate1: now, now…. Yes, @Lamda is a troll, as I’ve seen in these pages. Just ignore and/or flag him/her and maybe s/he will go away.
Of course in Texas, just walking while black can get you shot in the back, by a neighbor who “suspects” your unarmed body is a valid target. Kill two on a neighbors lawn, call upon the Texas statutes, and you walk.
Foot Kayaker Premium Member over 12 years ago
Really?! After reading the article about 68 police officers being shot to death while on duty this year this seems like a self indulgent cartoon. Remember police officers come in all colors, don’t profile.
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
Well, maybe in any department following “Arpaio rules”. Isn’t it interesting how folks slam the cops, who get killed way too often in the line of duty, but will vote for politicians who keep sending our kids to war? Also, a lot on Wall Street would have made better “targets”.
Seeker149 Premium Member over 12 years ago
Having numerous friends in the police force, I must insist on taking issue with this image. They freely admit that there is a clear imbalance in how people of color are treated, but they tell me that it’s also a self-perpetuating cycle in which mistrust by one side breeds further mistrust on the other. A more appropriate joke would point out that the people hiring and overseeing police officers are all too likely to ignore red flags such as the checked answer in the panel.
When your life is on the line every day, your most basic self-preservation instincts kick in, and defenses go up faster when a person’s most outward characteristics resemble those of others who have hurt or threatened you in the past. And it’s one of our species’ greatest misfortunes that skin color is just about the most obvious of those characteristics.
One friend has remarked about how rotten he feels when he misjudges a person while on duty, but he still insists that “I’d rather hate myself later for wrongly offending someone than not come home that night.” It’s not an excuse. It’s not justification. It’s survival. And until society as a whole can learn to live in harmony, even the kindest, fairest, most empathetic police officer will inevitably end up treating some of his fellow humans unfairly based on their appearance.
Ketira over 12 years ago
ZRXMEM is right. In Florida (where racism is illegal even on the State level), I’ve seen policemen of all races get shot or shot at on the news. However, in any given newscast, I’ve also seen Minorities also get shot up as well.
@agate1: now, now…. Yes, @Lamda is a troll, as I’ve seen in these pages. Just ignore and/or flag him/her and maybe s/he will go away.
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
Of course in Texas, just walking while black can get you shot in the back, by a neighbor who “suspects” your unarmed body is a valid target. Kill two on a neighbors lawn, call upon the Texas statutes, and you walk.
vwdualnomand over 12 years ago
isn’t that arizona sheriff under civil rights investigation for profiling minorities?