Shay--If we don't stand up for whatever current group of people/person is being dismissed/disenfranchised/abused or killed, at some point, it will be US. At some point, the powers that be will turn to us, and we will be dismissed/disenfranchised/abused or killed.
Too many inhumane acts and injustices the world over at this point in time. I don't hold out much hope for the 21st Century right now. The signs and portents are not good.
I'm struggling to find an answer to what happened with Michael Brown and why it happened. I agree it's tragic a young man should be shot, but I think it's tragic whenever this happens.
To me, the real issue is GUNS and human adrenaline. I've seen this happen and it didn't have anything to do with race or age.
When I was a little girl, we left a restaurant and right after we pulled out, a horrible car accident happened. A witness pointed to my father's car and the cops came screaming after us. My dad was jerked out of the car and pushed up against it. The police held guns on him and were screaming at him. He had a serious heart condition and thank goodness this didn't cause another heart attack.
Fortunately, Dad didn't fight back or even argue. Eventually the tension eased. It became clear our car was not involved and later the police acknowledged the witness made a mistake.
I've never forgotten this. While the police were totally wrong in how they handled the situation, it happened because of the heightened emotion brought about by the car accident, which included a young child. Add to the this, the police were armed with guns and you have a combustible situation.
It seems to me police being armed is a major issue in this country, especially since they don't get enough special training in how to deal with high tension confrontations.
Does this mean I don't think the officer who shot Michael shouldn't be punished. Of course not. I think he should pay for what he did, like anyone who shoots someone without justification. On the other hand, if he is a normal human being, he'll pay for this for the rest of his life because he'll never forget what he did.
Hey, I got so busy making my LOOOOONG reply to this post that I forgot to tell you thank you for giving my butterfly a name. I didn't what kind he was and he didn't stay around long enough to tell me:~)
I don't think it made national news, but we had a case similar to the "I can't breathe" incident. Gentleman died. We all seem to be in danger of being protected and served to death.
Amen, sister. This reminds me so much of the Sizties--Rachel Maddow had a chilling flashback segment on Kent State the other night, where the National Guard was directed by the college authorities to 'clear out' a group of antiwar protestors from a building, *STUDENTS* at their own college--and began by beating them insensible with billy clubs and then when that seemed to make things worse--surprise--shot live bullets into the crowd: per vikipedia: 'The guardsmen fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis...'--it seems the battles are never really won, no matter how many people stand up, but I know they certainly can't be won by rolling over for this kind of authoritarian attitude, either. I have nothing but respect for the protesters in Ferguson who even after yesterday's *stupid* provocation, remained peaceful last night. We need the military --and the stupid--OUT of our police force. Thanks for speaking up, Shay.
Some of the photos on facebook are shocking....protestors and police nose to nose, a huge throng of people with their hands up - WTF??? Are we back to having to fight the civil rights movement all over again?
Shay--If we don't stand up for whatever current group of people/person is being dismissed/disenfranchised/abused or killed, at some point, it will be US. At some point, the powers that be will turn to us, and we will be dismissed/disenfranchised/abused or killed.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tragedy...in more ways than one.
Too many inhumane acts and injustices the world over at this point in time. I don't hold out much hope for the 21st Century right now. The signs and portents are not good.
ReplyDeleteI worry about future generations. Our grandchildren. their children .. what kind of world do they inherit?
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling to find an answer to what happened with Michael Brown and why it happened. I agree it's tragic a young man should be shot, but I think it's tragic whenever this happens.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the real issue is GUNS and human adrenaline. I've seen this happen and it didn't have anything to do with race or age.
When I was a little girl, we left a restaurant and right after we pulled out, a horrible car accident happened. A witness pointed to my father's car and the cops came screaming after us. My dad was jerked out of the car and pushed up against it. The police held guns on him and were screaming at him. He had a serious heart condition and thank goodness this didn't cause another heart attack.
Fortunately, Dad didn't fight back or even argue. Eventually the tension eased. It became clear our car was not involved and later the police acknowledged the witness made a mistake.
I've never forgotten this. While the police were totally wrong in how they handled the situation, it happened because of the heightened emotion brought about by the car accident, which included a young child. Add to the this, the police were armed with guns and you have a combustible situation.
It seems to me police being armed is a major issue in this country, especially since they don't get enough special training in how to deal with high tension confrontations.
Does this mean I don't think the officer who shot Michael shouldn't be punished. Of course not. I think he should pay for what he did, like anyone who shoots someone without justification. On the other hand, if he is a normal human being, he'll pay for this for the rest of his life because he'll never forget what he did.
Hey, I got so busy making my LOOOOONG reply to this post that I forgot to tell you thank you for giving my butterfly a name. I didn't what kind he was and he didn't stay around long enough to tell me:~)
ReplyDeleteI don't think it made national news, but we had a case similar to the "I can't breathe" incident. Gentleman died. We all seem to be in danger of being protected and served to death.
ReplyDeletethis is all so sad, disheartening, so tragic. this in the country that i thought would have learned something from their own history.
ReplyDeletethis is what happens when we don't speak out, don't vote, don't get involved.
Amen, sister. This reminds me so much of the Sizties--Rachel Maddow had a chilling flashback segment on Kent State the other night, where the National Guard was directed by the college authorities to 'clear out' a group of antiwar protestors from a building, *STUDENTS* at their own college--and began by beating them insensible with billy clubs and then when that seemed to make things worse--surprise--shot live bullets into the crowd: per vikipedia: 'The guardsmen fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis...'--it seems the battles are never really won, no matter how many people stand up, but I know they certainly can't be won by rolling over for this kind of authoritarian attitude, either. I have nothing but respect for the protesters in Ferguson who even after yesterday's *stupid* provocation, remained peaceful last night. We need the military --and the stupid--OUT of our police force. Thanks for speaking up, Shay.
ReplyDeleteSome of the photos on facebook are shocking....protestors and police nose to nose, a huge throng of people with their hands up - WTF??? Are we back to having to fight the civil rights movement all over again?
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe this is happening only a few miles from where I live. The news footage looks like something from Afghanistan, not America.
ReplyDeleteVery frightening...
Pat
Critter Alley
shout it! shout!
ReplyDelete