Although this is a travesty - lopping every individual working with law enforcement under such a negative and hateful view is wrong. I agree, there are some seriously bad apples in uniform, but there are some fantastic people on the force, as well. Recently, a few officers made state headlines. One for risking his own life to yank a man from a burning vehicle and the other catching a woman who jumped off a roof - both of them said they weren’t heroes but were “doing their job.” Some of those men and women you look down on are heroes, have saved lives, and don’t ask for recognition.
We have teachers who have molested kids, firefighters who beat their wives, soldiers who raped and killed civilians, bus drivers operating under the influence… and yet there’s the sentiment that “those degenerates are a few bad eggs” and the overall reputation of the job isn’t damaged.
I understand the media has a huge target on police officers. I realize that the media jumps on every “bad egg” story to promote their anti-law enforcement propaganda. (This probably ties into the anti-gun propaganda… but I digress.) I work in the newsroom, it’s hard not to miss it. Why do we run stories? It’s the same as why we run so many stories about church scandals - they sell. They’re easy to pick on. That’s all. If the public didn’t buy into those type of newscasts, we wouldn’t run them as often. It’s an easy story and a simple message to convey. Hate the police officers: they have power and they all abuse it.
Not every police officer abuses his or her power. Many of them have a great respect for it and use it for good every day - despite the rampant vitriol they receive simply for their job title.
Don’t fall into that mindset just because a few royal idiots managed to get a badge and uniform - and that the media tells you all police officers are rotten. Again, this story is heart breaking and tragic. It also gets me angry. But I am angry at the individual, not the occupation.
I don’t know what has solidified your grudge against the police force, but please don’t shut yourself entirely off from the hardworking men and women who risk not coming home to their families to keep their neighborhoods safe.
I’m sure there are some great police folk in the force. But what are they doing to get rid of the bad folks? What are they doing about the majority of folks incarcerated in prisons today being people of color? Why did that asshole that murdered that man get PAID leave from superiors?
The police make me feel UNSAFE. I fear the police because if even if I’m law abiding at all times, SHIT LIKE THAT COULD STILL HAPPEN TO ME BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. People JUST LIKE ME have been BEATEN and HOSPITALIZED for no reason other than the cops thought they were suspicious. Why did they look suspicious? Oh that’s right, because they are black. I’m a woman too, right. Are they going to be keeping me safe if I’m out at night? Will they protect me? I have my doubts.
This is an issue of racism that goes BEYOND just a few bad apples in the force. And I will continue to hate their system for as long as I damn well please until those good officers you’re talking about start doing some shit to fix their broken system.
(Source: anticapitalist)
