"Garwood, Robin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>
> N.I. Krasnov wrote:
>
> "Suburban culture, meaning the lack of gunfire, and Ghetto culture, meaning no
> lack of gunfire, are equivalent?"
>
> All cultures are equivalent.
They are? Please explain.
> To distill the culture of North Minneapolis to
> the presence of gunfire - perpetuated by a tiny minority of the residents - is
> absolutely, completely absurd. Just as absurd as asserting that there is no
> gunfire in the suburbs.
Obviously it's not benign. Participants on this list complain about the
violence. It exists. West Bloomington is different from West Broadway in
Minneapolis.
You did not quote me accurately. I said "lack of gunfire".
>
> Krasnov again:
>
> "Bridge misunderstandings? Why should it be incumbent on a suburbanite, or a
> resident of any other city neighborhood, to <understand> the horrendous level
> of crap that goes on in north Minneapolis?"
>
> Why should it be incumbent on a resident of North Minneapolis (or
> Cedar-Riverside, or Phillips) to put up with the horrendous level of crap
> coming from the MPD?
They are enforcing the law: that is what their duties are. If there wasn't
such a horrendous level of criminal activity in north Minneapolis, then the
police wouldn't have to use a higher overall levels of force.
> The other answer to that question is that if the
> particular suburbanite in question happens to be an officer of the MPD, it's
> his/her JOB. If one does not want to deal with a horrendous level of crap and
> be reasonably expected to keep one's cool (i.e. not use unnecessary force),
> one can find another line of work. I hear dentistry is nice.
Patrolling a ghetto is not the work of a Constable, it is the work of a
Soldier. Cops want to go home to their families and collect their paychecks
every two weeks like everyone else.
>
> Krasnov:
>
> "I want cops hired based on MERIT. Forget affirmative action, whether based
> on race, gender or culture."
>
> "Punishing officers for not being Somali enough? Oh, <PLEASE>...."
>
> I want meritous cops as well. Unlike you, however, I believe that
> understanding the culture in which you're doing your job is a vitally
> important skill in doing said job well. The ability to communicate with the
> citizenry you're policing is necessary to performing your duties.
Quoting myself:
>> An argument can be made that any immigrant group in the United States must
>> adjust to the dominant culture. Learn another language to communicate is a
>> good way to dissolve cross-cultural boundaries, however, this <is> the
>> United States, and here we speak the English language in common discourse.
>> That said, I'm all for learning a second language, especially that of your
>> neighbors.
<snip>
> I want officers of the Minneapolis Police Department to do their jobs well, as
> it seems you do. But it seems we have a disagreement as to what "well" means.
> Do you believe shooting a fellow police officer with a submachine gun while he
> lies helpless on the ground is a job well done? Beating a defenseless
> fourteen year old boy for so little cause that you can't even trump up a
> charge?
Got any facts, instead of opinions?
>Shooting a mentally ill person every now and then?
>
> Krasnov? Yes:
You're pushing the envelope here. Tread very, very, carefully...Madam.
> "What a police officer is required to share with the citizenry is his sworn
> duty to uphold the laws and Constitution, ethics, morality and objective
> truth."
<snip anecdote>
> But this incident is
> in no way isolated. It's endemic.
Endemic? Because you say so? Because of anecdotes?
> "Police are not there to protect anyone. They are commanded to keep the public
> peace, investigate crime, and if possible, prevent criminal activity. The
> enforce the law. The Courts provide justice."
>
> I think your position - those pretty quotes from the statutes notwithstanding
Our Representatives at the State Capitol will be happy to hear that.
> - is purposefully myopic.
Ok, now support your argument.
> What are laws for? Themselves? I believe we have
> a system of law and justice to protect the vulnerable and/or innocent from
> those who would exploit them and violate their inalienable rights. Law is the
> embodiment of the "negative" rights of the individual: you have the right not
> to be killed, not to be robbed, not to be beaten.
The Bill of Rights, both State and Federal, are restrictions on the
government, not individuals.
> That sounds a whole lot
> like "protection" to me, if the dictionary definition ("To keep from being
> damaged, attacked, stolen, or injured; guard") is correct.
>
> Unfortunately, it appears that some members of the MPD and Police Federation
> agree with you. We therefore find ourselves wondering who will protect us
> from the MPD.
Please read the Minnesota Constitution. Enough of this.
TEMPORARY REMINDER:
1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject
(Mpls-specific, of course.)
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