...is many of the same African-Americans who are today condemning and denouncing the verdict in the Sean Bell case once were cheering and overjoyed when O.J. was acquited.
Ever be in a room and someone brings up a controversial political topic and you're vastly outnumbered or feel you are and so you say nothing? Happened today, someone brought up the innocent verdict in the Sean Bell case, all cops were acquitted of all the charges brought against them, and so about 4 or 5 people were bemoaning the verdict or maybe we weren't really outnumbered, it's just the rest of us were quiet 'cause we agreed with the verdict and so said nothing. I'm not a big fan of political discussions in the workplace, the people who usually bring it up are so sure of their own moral points of view that this must explain their boldness. Me? save politics for where it belongs (like my blog for instance).
When I saw that verdict, I knew you would mention it today.
It's really a shame that we can't look past race and see the big picture. I'd like to know how some people would feel about a car coming at them as if to run them down? Doesn't sound like a good place to be to me.
Speaking of race in general people like Obama often say let's have a great big open and honest talk about race relations in this country but what you don't often hear said is what is at the root of white racism? I don't think most of them wake up one morning and decide they're gonna hate black people, rather black crime is at the core of much white racism. Doesn't matter if most blacks are honest decent and hardworking, if enough get into a life of crime it's easy enough for whites to generalize...yada yada, you get the point. Now where people like Sharpton and Jackson can have a great and positive influence is to talk to their own communities, the people they say they represent, and emphasize live a good life, get an education, stay out of jail, speak properly, don't treat women as 'hos and don't wear your pants hanging down so low people can see your drawers (Coz can't do all the heavy lifting here). I talked with a correction officer recently and the subject was the criticism often made by the activists that sentences for cocaine and crack use are vastly different, crack is punished far more severely 'cause it's seen as a "black" drug and the correction guy goes "you know what? don't use drugs". Yes, Life is that simple.
I know you have brought up the topic if self-fulfuilling stereotypes before and like you said we can be open here can't we? Although I do try to remember the idea that sometimes you've got to walk a mile in someone's shoes before you can criticize their lifestyle and choices, but over time you would think the cause and effect of certain choices would become apparent and people would try to try to change their course of action.
I try to be as tolerant as I can but what's up with these skeleton jackets I'm seeing everywhere? white kids wear 'em, doesn't matter. Also, in my locale people were seriously considering passing laws against having your drawers showing saying there are limits, it ain't civil. Michael Savage among others have made the point when is tolerance too much tolerance? subwoofers, very annoying and I'm sure they violate most noise ordinances. I'm not against lifestyle choices so long as they don't impinge on our lifestyle choices.
Back to the trial, what alot of people don't get is that in a criminal trial you have to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. For Queens Supreme Court Judge Arthur Cooperman there was way too much of this, everything from the credibility and even bearing of the witnesses to their motivations in the matter. Now the cops may have a harder go of it at their departmental hearings, they may never be on the street again. To reiterate, a cop may make a poor judgement on the street that shouldn't rise to the level of a conviction but may face punishment in house so to speak. Also, whenever cops get off in these type cases they always try to get the feds to go after them on civil rights grounds but I always thought this was double-jeopardy and unconstitutional, maybe some well-versed lawyer can explain.
Good questions you raise, although I don't think any in house punishment will suffice for Rev. Sharpton. I wonder if the Rev. would be upset if Bell had run down the cops and wasn't convicted?
You know our overwhelmingly liberal media here in the tri-state area didn't report certain allegations in this case as attempting to run the cops over for example and so most or many people here see the case as akin to the cops shooting someone coming out of church or foodshopping and not some sleazy strip club notorious for prostitution, guns and drugs. Now Democratic Rep. from Michigan John Conyers, head of the House Judiciary Committee, is heading to the locale where Bell was killed in the hopes of opening up a federal investigation into the tragic incident so why not try somebody ten times until you can convict them? Constitution means nothing anyway.
Soapie and I were musing via e-mail today about us having to hit rock bottom before things improve, issues like this make me think we're damn close to rock bottom.
Rush was talking yesterday also about a group who say they will riot if Obama does not get the nomination. See, how are we suppose to get past race if they do stuff like that? I was accused at my blog of being a racist because I was dissing Obama, even after I said I would vote for Keyes!
Someone accused you of being a racist? I don't even let the r-word bother me, like a duck it slides right off. People who use epithets like that want to cut off real debate and discussion, to pre-empt it. Won't work with the z-man, you can unload here anytime you want. You see the problem I have with the Rev. Sharpton is not his views per se, I disagree with alot of them but the real problem is he can take any bad situation and make it 10X worse, this is his career, his life but if he really wanted to be consistent he'd go to a cop's funeral once in a while.
Ever be in a room and someone brings up a controversial political topic and you're vastly outnumbered or feel you are and so you say nothing? Happened today, someone brought up the innocent verdict in the Sean Bell case, all cops were acquitted of all the charges brought against them, and so about 4 or 5 people were bemoaning the verdict or maybe we weren't really outnumbered, it's just the rest of us were quiet 'cause we agreed with the verdict and so said nothing. I'm not a big fan of political discussions in the workplace, the people who usually bring it up are so sure of their own moral points of view that this must explain their boldness. Me? save politics for where it belongs (like my blog for instance).
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw that verdict, I knew you would mention it today.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a shame that we can't look past race and see the big picture. I'd like to know how some people would feel about a car coming at them as if to run them down? Doesn't sound like a good place to be to me.
Speaking of race in general people like Obama often say let's have a great big open and honest talk about race relations in this country but what you don't often hear said is what is at the root of white racism? I don't think most of them wake up one morning and decide they're gonna hate black people, rather black crime is at the core of much white racism. Doesn't matter if most blacks are honest decent and hardworking, if enough get into a life of crime it's easy enough for whites to generalize...yada yada, you get the point. Now where people like Sharpton and Jackson can have a great and positive influence is to talk to their own communities, the people they say they represent, and emphasize live a good life, get an education, stay out of jail, speak properly, don't treat women as 'hos and don't wear your pants hanging down so low people can see your drawers (Coz can't do all the heavy lifting here). I talked with a correction officer recently and the subject was the criticism often made by the activists that sentences for cocaine and crack use are vastly different, crack is punished far more severely 'cause it's seen as a "black" drug and the correction guy goes "you know what? don't use drugs". Yes, Life is that simple.
ReplyDeleteI know you have brought up the topic if self-fulfuilling stereotypes before and like you said we can be open here can't we? Although I do try to remember the idea that sometimes you've got to walk a mile in someone's shoes before you can criticize their lifestyle and choices, but over time you would think the cause and effect of certain choices would become apparent and people would try to try to change their course of action.
ReplyDeleteI try to be as tolerant as I can but what's up with these skeleton jackets I'm seeing everywhere? white kids wear 'em, doesn't matter. Also, in my locale people were seriously considering passing laws against having your drawers showing saying there are limits, it ain't civil. Michael Savage among others have made the point when is tolerance too much tolerance? subwoofers, very annoying and I'm sure they violate most noise ordinances. I'm not against lifestyle choices so long as they don't impinge on our lifestyle choices.
ReplyDeleteBack to the trial, what alot of people don't get is that in a criminal trial you have to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. For Queens Supreme Court Judge Arthur Cooperman there was way too much of this, everything from the credibility and even bearing of the witnesses to their motivations in the matter. Now the cops may have a harder go of it at their departmental hearings, they may never be on the street again. To reiterate, a cop may make a poor judgement on the street that shouldn't rise to the level of a conviction but may face punishment in house so to speak. Also, whenever cops get off in these type cases they always try to get the feds to go after them on civil rights grounds but I always thought this was double-jeopardy and unconstitutional, maybe some well-versed lawyer can explain.
ReplyDeleteGood questions you raise, although I don't think any in house punishment will suffice for Rev. Sharpton. I wonder if the Rev. would be upset if Bell had run down the cops and wasn't convicted?
ReplyDeleteYou know our overwhelmingly liberal media here in the tri-state area didn't report certain allegations in this case as attempting to run the cops over for example and so most or many people here see the case as akin to the cops shooting someone coming out of church or foodshopping and not some sleazy strip club notorious for prostitution, guns and drugs. Now Democratic Rep. from Michigan John Conyers, head of the House Judiciary Committee, is heading to the locale where Bell was killed in the hopes of opening up a federal investigation into the tragic incident so why not try somebody ten times until you can convict them? Constitution means nothing anyway.
ReplyDeleteSoapie and I were musing via e-mail today about us having to hit rock bottom before things improve, issues like this make me think we're damn close to rock bottom.
ReplyDelete& there's always the Rev. Al taking us to the bottom of the canyon.
ReplyDeleteRush was talking yesterday also about a group who say they will riot if Obama does not get the nomination. See, how are we suppose to get past race if they do stuff like that? I was accused at my blog of being a racist because I was dissing Obama, even after I said I would vote for Keyes!
ReplyDeleteSomeone accused you of being a racist? I don't even let the r-word bother me, like a duck it slides right off. People who use epithets like that want to cut off real debate and discussion, to pre-empt it. Won't work with the z-man, you can unload here anytime you want. You see the problem I have with the Rev. Sharpton is not his views per se, I disagree with alot of them but the real problem is he can take any bad situation and make it 10X worse, this is his career, his life but if he really wanted to be consistent he'd go to a cop's funeral once in a while.
ReplyDelete