I don't remember who it was that hinted at ideology or party affiliation having a relationship to perspective on the Dinkytown affair, but I want to respond to that idea.
First of all, I can understand Mr. Powell's perspective. (Because it's the same as my parents' and some suburban friends'.) The problem with this perspective is its reliance on the assumption that things are done the same way in Minneapolis as they are in Burnsville. I do not hold such an assumption, though I have no data to cite, and therefore will not expound on my theories about their differences. Anyway, I am a very (fiscally) conservative Republican, and sympathize a lot with the attitudes we typically ascribe to suburbanites. (And I ADORE that Patty Awada!) I do not, however, intend to continue defending the MPD, as I have in the past. I believe that we have a preponderance of evidence that something is very, very, fundamentally wrong with the police in this city. Too many mistakes have been made... and I mean tooooooooo many. I don't know if it's an issue of training, leadership, morale, or what, but at this point I'm holding Chief Olson responsible, simply because the buck is supposed to stop there. I like Mr. Cygan's point that we ought to be discussing how the police "should" behave. This is quite a challenge, to be sure. Honestly I have to think about it before I can say. The only thing in my mind at the moment is what they shouldn't have done; like strike a person who wasn't breaking any law. (i.e. the woman previously referenced.) At any rate, whether we are liberal or conservative, urban or suburban, we all have a right to freedom from abuse from the police. That concept IS in the U.S. Constitution... (along with the right to bear arms and protect ourselves from such abuse, I might add.) Connie Nompelis Minneapolis Republican Committee (MRC) Ward 6 - Ventura Village __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________ 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
