Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The OP's point (I think) is that there are pages and pages and pages more about a black person being shot by a cop, a black girl that's put on the ground by a cop, riots,protests and race hucksters out the wahzoo and yet crickets when the same things happen to a white person.
I think it's a valid point, uncomfortable for some and downright heresy for others but certainly worth a discussion in a rational society...
Yes, there are quite a lot of racist posters here, and they post a lot. Moderators too! It's been pretty eye-opening, actually. It would be great to get a more diverse point of view on this board and a better platform for discussion.
So what? He could have been mentally ill too. Does that justify shooting an unarmed man? I have a hearing impaired friend and I fear for her life. What if a cop told her to get on the ground for no reason and she didn't respond?
Another rhetorical question based on race, gee what a shocker...
Of course his and everyone else's life matters. If you feel that there should be protests in the name of his death than why are you sitting here? You should be taking action.
What about 28 year old Ryan Keith Bolinger? Why is his life any less important than a group of misbehaving teenagers who weren't even injured? Why is his story less important than someone who decides to be a woman at 65 and turns it into a Reality Show?
Where are the protests? Where are the lawyers?
You already know the answer. He's a white guy, and the media ignores police brutality when it's directed at anyone who's not black. They want to push the racism angle, because that distracts people from having a larger -- and more relevant -- discussion of police brutality, unaccountability, and militarization.
I mean, just look at the link you posted. It came from the Guardian, a UK newspaper.
Why is it when an LEO blows away an unarmed person for the oh-so-threatening behavior of having, and I quote the Des Moines Police, 'walked with purpose' towards the officer, legions of police apologists descend to begin rationalizing the killing of the unarmed person?
Is that really the America in which you want to live? One in which the government decides "Hey, that person's walking towards one of us in a way we don't like - kill him!"?
It must be, considering how eager you are to run interference for those agents of the state who do precisely that.
No kidding. It's not the kind of world I want to live in.
Did the guy wield a weapon? No. Are these cops unable of subduing people anymore? A Taser or a shot to the kneecap could be just as effective. Cops are turning into a bunch of trigger-happy cowards. Not every threat needs to be addressed with deadly force.
So you are blaming the victim and saying he caused his own death?
What I'm saying is that this thread title mirrors that web site's anti-cop slant.
If that's not true, please cite the section of that state's penal code which criminalizes "walking with purpose," and support your claim that "walking with purpose" is a capital offense.
[crickets]...for yet another emotional thread title.
While I abhor LE becoming militarized and programmed to think much of domestic population is potential terrorist - this story - from what has been disclosed in the article, sounds as if you can't fix stupid.
All lives matter - stupid lives less so when their own action makes them a target.
Blocking in a Police Officer cruiser while in midst of serving a separate violation. (Strike One)
Leading said police on low speed chase when pursued for strange behavior. (Strike Two)
Getting out of vehicle dancing around like an idiot (Strike Three)
Moving toward same police cruiser 'with purpose' as if trying to do who knows what (You can't fix stupid)
Perhaps we'll find the deceased was on meds, or is psychologically unstable - who knows - sounds like a cop suicide.
Perhaps the cops should have used less lethal force for the situation.
Sad part is that the deceased didn't care enough about his wife and child to not behave in such an idiotic manner in todays purposeful media and politically fueled anti LE climate.
Look at it this way, if he was employed, there's a job opening for someone perhaps more suitable. If he wasn't, that's one less person getting unemployment from taxpayer coffers.
As for LE, I feel sorry for the majority who took oaths to serve and protect and then are told to be revenue generators that prey on productive citizens or to be social workers for a large swath of medicated, and psychological disabled who have been released into regular society who likely shouldn't be there, and then asked to show ever more concern for the criminal's 'rights' lest they hurt someone's feelings.
As a citizen I'd prefer law enforcement removed (and sometimes eliminate) criminals from the general population as their primary directive.
Do LE need better training for situations? Absolutely.
Do citizens need to respect LE going about their job? Absolutely.
Interesting responses. Although I've defended the police many times on City-Data, if I have a point of view I want to express, I'm suddenly a cop hater. If I care that an unarmed man with no criminal history was killed, then I'm a &^%$ liberal.
In any case, it's next to impossible to have a reasonable discussion about a story without being attacked by people who disagree.
Automatically people are assuming an unarmed man who has no criminal record deserved to be shot and that I'm calling all police officers murderers.
Until we get more information about this shooting, we don't know what really happened. There is both a dash cam video and audio recording of the incident so an investigation or grand jury might bring more facts to light. Remember the cop who shot a man 8 times in the back in SC? Investigators said they found several inconsistencies in the officer's report.
After living in FL for many years and reading stories about citizen "Stand Your Ground" cases, I know a "perceived threat" is very subjective. So much can go wrong. I realize police officers are trained to discern if deadly force is necessary, but they are also human. For example, in 2013 Jonathan Ferrell was shot 12 times by a police officer in Charlotte NC. He had no criminal record and was unarmed. The police officer said Ferrell was walking toward him, so he felt threatened. Just before he was shot, Ferrell was in a car crash and knocked on a door to get help. A woman who was home alone with her baby became alarmed and called 911 saying a man was trying to break into her home. That was her perception. So 2 people had the wrong "perception" and a man was shot to death.
The OP's point (I think) is that there are pages and pages and pages more about a black person being shot by a cop, a black girl that's put on the ground by a cop, riots,protests and race hucksters out the wahzoo and yet crickets when the same things happen to a white person.
I think it's a valid point, uncomfortable for some and downright heresy for others but certainly worth a discussion in a rational society...
Exactly. That white lives don't matter to the media is something some people don't want to deal with, as opposed to the hyperventilating over some black girl being thrown to the ground because she was mouthing off.
Some people would rather go through life being obtuse to the bizarre racial world of Obama's America.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thanks:
