Jonathan Ferrell: Killed By Cops While Looking For Help
I think that a lot of the energies of the 19th century, that could fairly be called democratic, have really ebbed away. That can alarm me. The tectonics are always very complex. But I think there are limits to how safe a progressive society can be when its conception of the individual seems to be shrinking and shrinking. It’s very hard to respect the rights of someone you do not respect. I think that we have almost taught ourselves to have a cynical view of other people. So much of the scientism that I complain about is this reductionist notion that people are really very small and simple. That their motives, if you were truly aware of them, would not bring them any credit. That’s so ugly. And so inimical to the best of everything we’ve tried to do as a civilization and so consistent with the worst of everything we’ve ever done as a civilization.
So if I understand:
ReplyDeleteWhen most people (which means white people, I suppose) get upset by black teens beating an old man to death, or a poor disabled homeless guy to death or attacking white people at a state fair--all those white people are racist and being played by...someone.
Yet when you fixate on this tragic event and use it to wash the whole country and especially white people, you're being...
well, what are you being?
The word "hypocrite" springs to mind.
You know what sucks about this story, I get the immense sense that the cops are lying. I've noted many times before that the belligerence of the police to shoot first and ask questions later, if any at all, is because they know they are shielded from prosecution 99% of the time. This has to change. If cops knew they would and could be criminally liable for their actions in a more succinct fashion, things would change. And for the lady that called the cops on this kid, I wonder if she even feels a small pang of remorse. I'm giving this kid the benefit of the doubt until other evidence showing him to be maliciously culpable of being shot dead while unarmed come to light.
ReplyDeleteMeth, what difference does it make if the cops are lying? The shooter has already been arrested and charged.
ReplyDelete