Rosalind Nelson wrote: > I think that it would be better for everyone, even the officers themselves, > if police could learn to observe ordinary social conventions (especially > those regarding violence) when dealing with most of us.
I certainly agree that it would be nice if police officers could be both courteous and effective. I even believe that these goals may be achievable with the right training and management. On the other hand, I understand how difficult it is for normal human beings to react with ordinary social conventions when their job entails trying to differentiate between good and evil given that the distinctions maybe very supple. Take McVey for instance. How could the officer who stopped him for a traffic violation tell the difference between an average citizen and a mass murder? When you spend your working hours dealing with the ugly side of human nature it's sometimes difficult to see that the good side still exists. In the same vein, I hope that the next time Ms. Nelson or Ms. Garwood receives a traffic ticket they can smile and say, "Thank you for reminding me that I wasn't driving safely." Michael Atherton Prospect Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
