Actually, I do wear a uniform and badge, as a reserve officer, and my father was a fire fighter before he got into drugs.
---- Begin Original Message ---- Oh please!!! I put my life on the line every day just going to work, and being a member of the human race. Do I believe that my life is less valuable than a police officer's or a firefighter's? Absolutely NOT! It is measured exactly the same. If my life were taken just doing community work, my children would mourn me no less because I was not wearing a badge. And Russell, if you died at the same time as my children did, would their life be more valuable? To me, yes, because I am their mother. It does not mean overall that you did not count as much. And, I believe I made this statement months earlier, and it bears repeating. Just because one happens to make the decision to be a cop does not warrant any special honor from me. It is simply the profession that THEY chose. And some people are good at their profession and some are not. If they do great, they earn my respect. If they do not, well, that is another post. But do they belong in a Hall of Immortality? NO!!! It doesn't mean that I don't care that they are out protecting us, I am just not going to put them on any pedestals. And there are many reasons why people are not becoming cops. One among them is that people do not see cops in a manner in which they used to - all powerful. Some cops need that ego trip, and it is evident in the way some cops do their job. And families are not like the Cleavers, marriages are not like Ozzy and Harriet, all kinds of violent behavior is coming to light, etc. My reason for not becoming a cop is nothing more than simply personal choice. I was not interested in that field. My guess is that many other gifted people fall into this same category. We are making a contribution to the planet in other ways. May I ask why you are not out wearing a cape and protecting the universe? Pamela Taylor (Somebody Darn Special in Clearwater, FL who has Very Special Children and Grandchildren living in Minneapolis) -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Russell Sasaoka Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 2:14 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Mpls] Lee, the police federation and death ---- Begin Included Message ---- Before cm Lee's comments came out, I was thinking the samething...what a shame two people are dead. Responsibility does count, a life is a life. A cop's life is not worth more than anyone else's, contrary to popular belief. Robert Yorga new3 _______________________________________ If that is the case that a cop's life is not worth more than anyone else's, then why should someone put their life on the line for someone that doesn't care? Same with a firefighter? I believe that the reason more and more people are not selecting to go into law enforcement is the lack of appreciation, the lack of support and the salary. With less officers you increase the level of stress and also increase the unnessary use of excessive force. Let me put it this way, would you try to stop drug dealers from selling drugs, make traffic stops because someone was speeding, go to a domestic call and try to resolve it, investigate a murder, escort drunks to a detox center? or would you rather have a cop do it because they are paid to take risk that you wouldn't? If that is the case, then I do say that a cop's life is worth more than the average citizen but not to the point of letting a citizen die for them. Same goes for a firefighter. Russell Sasaoka Coon Rapids (Formerly of Loring Park) Working in Minneapolis Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail _______________________________________ 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 ---- End Original Message ---- Russell Sasaoka Coon Rapids (Formerly of Loring Park) Working in Minneapolis Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail _______________________________________ 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
