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In reply to the discussion: 'DE BLASIO, OUR BACKS HAVE TURNED TO YOU' Cold war between NYPD cops, de Blasio takes to skies [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)They have the right to free speech.
On the other hand, if you had a job in which you are not working for the government and you turned your back on your boss, what would happen?
We need police, but we need police who don't panic, don't act violently out of anger and who can solve problems wisely, not just react.
Some time ago, Bill Maher talked about the excessive use of force that is so common among American police officers. He compared the amount of ammunition shot by the police in the USA with that in Germany and the carrying of weapons in the UK with that in the USA. It's quite interesting.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017234864
This is not just about the police.
We worship violence in this country. I would dare to say that we should ask ourselves whether we have one very large cult of violence in our country.
Of course, the police, who have to deal with that violent cult on an almost daily basis, are overly nervous and overly violent themselves.
Our children join the cult of violence in pre-school. One kid starts talking about Batman and Spiderman and killing people, and pretty soon every four-year-old in the class is talking and thinking about violence, killing and cruelty.
The police are on the front line of dealing with violence. They need to take responsibility for any part they play in furthering the cult of violence. They need to be the grown-ups here and urge the nation to non-violence.
The back-turning is an immature denial of the role of the police officer. I hope that some enlightened union leaders will see the broader problem for what it is -- the cult of violence in the country that not only endangers peace officers' lives, but those of all Americans, rich and especially poor.
I am very disappointed in the reaction of the officers in New York City. They have an opportunity to change the country for the better. Instead they are pouting.
Of course, it is their right to exercise their free speech -- but is it wise to do it the way they are? No.
They have the right to free speech, but if it goes further into insubordination, then they should be fired. That is my opinion.
I feel great compassion for the families that have lost their loved ones. I note that neither of the slain officers was white, neither had a history of being excessively violent as far as the news reports go, so it is extremely unfair that they were scapegoated for the wrongs of people who probably should not have been in the police force in the first place.
I repeat my message: The police officers should be the first to begin a campaign for non-violence in the US. They are losing the most in this very violent culture.