WingColors

But the vast majority of cops do a heroic, tragic, funny, and difficult job extraordinarily well in the vast majority of situations.

What's the difference between philosophy and propaganda?

Good luck with the blog. GooTube and its ilk are good at illustrating the bad things some police do, such as the recent incident on Capitol Hill when the Capitol police arrested a priest who was trying to attend a hearing and subsequently, accidently, broke his leg in the process.

It gives a bad impression and there is little done to provide some balance.

As for Propaganda:

"1 chiefly derogatory information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view : he was charged with distributing enemy propaganda. • the dissemination of such information as a political strategy : the party's leaders believed that a long period of education and propaganda would be necessary . 2 ( Propaganda) a committee of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church responsible for foreign missions, founded in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV."

Philosophy:

"the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, esp. when considered as an academic discipline. See also natural philosophy . • a set of views and theories of a particular philosopher concerning such study or an aspect of it : a clash of rival socialist philosophies. • the study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience : the philosophy of science. • a theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior : don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed, that's my philosophy."

seems pretty clear!

Thanks for the replies. I see your point johnbaker. I guess it is my hope that if 100 bits of negativity are going to be posted, than 100 bits of good news should follow. That might not sell newspapers, but nonetheless the good news is out there if you look for it.

Some kids here were arrested for "disorderly conduct" for not giving up their table at a diner, recently.

jensized, can you quote your source. With out further information, how do we know that the restaurant didn't want them to leave after they had finished eating and they refused. That would be disorderly if you ask me.

Because the diner is itching to turn over a table every hour, and they weren't ready to leave, that makes them disorderly?

I would like to read that story. My experience is that there is almost always something else going on. What was "left out" of the media short that we got fed?

Because there have been several police-community conflicts lately in my town in upstate NY, there is renewed public energy to increase understanding and sensitivity between the two. I think it is the learned decrease respect for authority alluded to earlier that is at work here. Public relations of the police force is not as effective as it could be. The two strategies, started about 5 years ago, that do seem to make a difference are:
1. police officers actually living physically in the city
2. police officers developing programs in the city public elementary schools

Every time I hear of kids thrown out/arrested/harassed when they 'did nothing', there's aaallllwaaaayyys another side to it.

My favorite: I was at a restaurant near my home in Seattle. 4 guys walk in, maybe 17-20 years old. They sit down, order, give the waiter a rash of it, and then proceed to throw food at each other (missing and hitting other patrons).

When the police show up to throw them out, they claim they didn't do anything. The next day, they're in the local paper claiming harassment...

No, seriously.

Memphis Police Commander under investigation for intimidation
MPD inspector retires after incident at The Pancake Shop

Thanks for believing me though. WTF

Auburn, I think it is a wonderful idea to have the cops live in the city they police. There tend to be two problems that come up time after time when that concept gets to the elected officials.

First, the police generally have trouble affording a house in a decent neighborhood in their city (this is usually in the large cities like NY, LA, etc.)

Second, there is the issue of running into someone I arrested last night while shopping at the local store. Then I have my kids there, no backup, no bulletproof vest, etc.

Theoretically I support the concept, though. No one cares more for a town or city than the people who live there.

@jensized

it's not about being believed, just providing additional information to backup the post, that's all! ;o)

CNN Video

Of a young guy being tasered while 5 officers hold him down. Makes you wonder what these guys are being taught in terms of prisoner restraint. Hold him down long enough and he'll get tired and give up. Whacking him with an electric shock is not going to help.

Including the thousands who will see that video that's a lot more people that won't trust the police for a very long time, if ever again.

I'm waaaaay left of center.

But this little schmuck set out to manipulate the situation. He's known for doing it. He's also quite an entertainer.

Now he's being rewarded for it.

Did the cops screw up? Maybe. But would they have screwed up if he hadn't set out, carefully, to manufacture a situation near an ex-presidential candidate, in a perfect scenario where police might overreact? I dunno.

In law school, the first free speech case they teach you is that you "can't yell FIRE in a crowded theater". This guy carefully planned out how close he could get, fighting the police to create a struggle while yelling he'd leave if they let him go. Nice.