Could this be "Inflammatory Rhetoric"? It is certainly classist, since a whole class of people, police officers, is labeled with negative stereotypes.
I hope it will be treated as such. I know many, many police officers who are sensitive, well meaning, dedicated people who feel their greatest calling is to help people and be a true public servant. As a philosophical anarchist, I am bothered more than most by authoritarian police officers, but I never condemn the whole "tainted Blue" Andy Driscol says in his post: ---"The twain rarely meets, and, until mental health workers and policymakers in both jurisdictions start understanding that these completely unnecessary deaths at the hands of intellectually bereft and emotionally numb police officers who react like Pavlov's dog instead of creatively when confronted with what can only be mentally ill behavior, mental illness will still be punish with death and dismemberment instead of wisdom and care". ... ---"The clue is in the police federation's labeling of Martha Donald as a murderer. The mind of a police officer is of another world: all is black or white, good or evil and never mind the nuance which constitutes 99% of our lives. Once arrested and/or convicted, officers paint you dirty from that day forward, and all the mitigating circumstances in the world will never change that mind. Even if the courts and other senior people in the system find otherwise, the officers will have tattooed on their brain that the evil ones must be struck down with impunity. I've yet to have a conversation with a police officer that didn't betray that very state of mind regarding "criminal" behavior." ---"For this reason, they lie in wait for the opportunity to arrest - kill, if necessary - men and women who have served time or been shoved through the justice system one way or another. The corrections system feels the same way. Rehabilitation is NOT an option in their eyes, believing as they do that it is only a matter of time before offenders return to their loving care (if they're still alive at the end)." Wow Andy, you need to call Mayor Kelly, because I cannot imagine you would make such gross generalizations without some actual basis and not just "Theory" from watching and reading "Les Mis�rables". Fortunately, we live in Minneapolis, and we in Ventura Village have a good relationship with our police officers. We even give commendations to those who do a really good job. We scream and yell when police do not do a good job, but by and large we have great-dedicated officers who are far more considerate than can be imagined in very trying situations. When an officer just starts to get out of line it is usually a fellow officer reminding that officer of their duties. In fact, we in Ventura Village like police officers so much we are always lobbying to get more of them. Tell you what Andy, you talk to Mayor Kelly and if he is willing, we will trade you a bunch of our Drug Dealers for a few of your Cops. (Heck, we will even throw in a Drug Judge.) Maybe you folks in St. Paul just do not have high enough expectations of your officers to properly appreciate them. After being properly appreciated, I bet your police will be more considerate and do a better job. If you want an employee to do a really good job sometimes you have to show a little appreciation. I know I do a better job when my boss appreciates me. Jim Graham, Ventura Village _______________________________________ 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
