Dallas
@RichardMeister (5328)
Otis Orchards, Washington
July 14, 2016 4:15pm CST
Whenever I hear Dallas, Texas, there is one thing that comes to mind. I think this is true of anyone of my generation.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Even though this happened over fifty years ago, and I was just a child at the time, it is still seared into my mind as if it happened yesterday. And whether one believes the Warren Commission got it right, or wrong, the fact still remain this event happened in Dallas, Texas.
So when I heard there was another shooting in Dallas, my mind whirled back to the dark days when our president was shot. I’m sure Dallas has worked hard to try to become a city known for things other than the assassination even though the assassination will always be part of Dallas’ history.
Now our nation is spinning and hurting through more dark days from something that happened in Dallas. Dark days not caused by an assassination of a president but by the killing and wounding of several police officers. Five dead police officers.
There has been much anger directed at the police in the last few years. But is that a reason shoot them?
I think of the old saying, “One rotten apple will spoil the whole bushel.” This seems to be engraved in many people’s minds. A few bad cops equals all cops are bad. This is simply not true.
Is it the lack of communication? The lack of obeying an officer? If an officer says, “Get your hands where I can see them,” that doesn’t mean do something different. It means exactly what the officer says. Not to fiddle around reaching here and there even if the person explains what he or she is reaching for. How does the officer know the person isn’t going to pull a gun on him.
Maybe Chris Rock had it right. If you watch this video be forewarned that it contains foul language:
Really funny video from the Chris Rock show on how not to get your ass kicked by the police. I know they are other versions of this on YouTube but this one i...
3 people like this
3 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Jul 16
That latest Dallas was so awful. Of all the police departments, they had high marks for even handedness. The shooter was full of hate in general and , no doubt, another nutcase.
The day that JFK was shot was my first day in the army as a draftee at Fort Ord, CA. I was 23.
2 people like this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
15 Jul 16
Yes it was awful and the guy did sound like a nutcase. I was still in grade school when JFK got shot.
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Jul 16
Dark days indeed - and sadly not just Dallas. There are bad cops out there, but it's not right to say all are that way. Somehow the layers and layers of various issues (including race, which Chris Rock even touches upon) has built up to how "this" came to be - but now the question is how do we fix this? Too many incidents are happening and it's only getting worse.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
15 Jul 16
Agreed but I do believe a lot of it has to do with people not obeying the police officer. If a cop walks up to me and tells me to reach for the sky and turn around so he can put handcuffs on me, I not going to stand there and argue. My hand will be in the air and I will be turning around. I maybe wondering why I'm being cuffed but those questions can be answered later after the police are sure I'm not going to be able to do them any harm.
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@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Jul 16
@RichardMeister Well that's common sense to people like you and me. We know not to mess with authority - when they say jump, we jump. We don't question it - we just do as we're told - because we know if we just do as they say, things will be ok. But fight back and we know we will suffer the consequences (which we don't want to do).
But perhaps some people feel as if they had to fight the fight all their lives, probably starting from family life. And then because of "history" - or at least their point of view of it, they feel they should question everything and everyone including authority. Perhaps some feel that they are going to lose no matter what - so their reaction is to fight the fight before "they" get to "them".
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@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
15 Jul 16
@much2say That could be. I have never felt that way so yes. But on the other hand people should realize the they are not going to win any battles with the cops because more and more of them are going to keep coming until they have the upper hand. Even if the National Guard has to be called in.
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