Should schools teach students how not to be killed by police?

This is a poorly worded poll to say the least. But what children should be taught is to obey commands given by the police, period. There now was that so hard? Obey police instructions, don't do anything sudden or stupid and you won't be shot or killed. Why would this need to be taught in a school?

 

The problem with commenting about social situations -- from American police behavior to what's happening in Syria, from the reality of inner-city public schools, to the situation in Ukraine -- is that most of us are almost totally ignorant of the actual on-the-ground realities. We rely on the media to give us information, and they really can't be relied on. They provide sensationalist sound-bites, and are subject to the pressure of various lobbies, formal and informal.

Occasionally you get long, in-depth bits of journalism that do provide insight. The Atlantic and the New Yorker magazines are good for this, although both of them, especially the latter, tend to look at the world from the Left.

If you follow publications -- on-line and print -- from both the Right and the Left, you can sometimes 'triangulate' towards something that may be the truth, but .. it's surprising how biased all of them are. If you just read one side, you will be guaranteed to be mis-informed. I'm always surprised when I find people coolly retailing things that they know to be false -- "Jews in Iran will be made to wear yellow stars", "Michael Brown in Ferguson was shot dead with his hands up". I suppose the people who do this think that it's in a good cause, or that this little lie is a way to get across a greater truth.

One way to get a better feel for some aspect of social reality that is distant from you, is to read a good book about it, a first-hand account. Sometimes such books are (literally) fiction, but capture the day-to-day realities.

Which brings me to the police situation: I highly recommend the novels of Joseph Wambaugh (most of them), an ex-LA policeman turned author. He's no doubt somewhat biassed towards the police side, but not overly so: you can learn about 'badge-heavy' policemen, alcoholic policemen, and other less-than-stereotypically-wonderful policemen in his novels. But what you really get some feel for is what it's like to be a policeman ... all the things, good and bad, that they experience in their daily contact with the human race.

In particular, I recommend The New Centurions, The Blue Knight, and Hollywood Precinct. The first two were written fifty years ago, the latter about twenty years ago.

It was by reading The Blue Knight that I learned why Los Angeles police act in a racially-discriminatory manner towards Japanese drivers.

Of course, ideally, every high school student should spend a couple of days riding in a police patrol car. In particular, every shrieking lefty snowflake at Harvard and Yale should patrol for a week with the police in Baltimore or the South Side of Chicago. "Experience keeps a dear school " etc but they might learn something they're not allowed to learn on their sheltered campuses.

 

Arguing with cops sometimes led to the "infraction" being ignored for that time being in my case. If it's done with respect, rationale, and to a cop that's an actual human being, with judgement, it might just work.

I don't know if it would work with the spastic ticket-giving machines they form at the academy these days, tho.

 

Don't forget teaching him to be docile and respectful towards mafia thugs as well, and he won't have any problem testing his mettle.

The meek shall, after all, inherit the Earth.

 

Then who are you blaming?

 

There's no "you poll suck" option. "IDK/Other" just don't convey how much your poll suck.

Didn't vote.

 

How many “mafia thugs” do your kids run into? My kids are taught to be respectful until given a good reason to be otherwise to anybody.

 

I BLM uses violence in their protests or allows others of their group to use violence then they are seen as violent regardless of the color of their skin.

What have the so called "criminal government cops" done to you personally that makes you feel this way.

 

Civilian oversight, just how would that work? Did you know that "we the people" are humans and humans are also the makeup of all those jobs you want them to oversee? As humans we are also fallible and can be bought. Also with the political divide we have in our country and our differences in ideals how would the overseers be able to put that aside to do their jobs effectively? Do you think only liberals should oversee all of this?

 

(see highlighted) You mean like nearly everyone in the US government?

So I suggested a potential remedy and you suggest nothing other than immediate criticism. Not to mention the last question is a loaded red herring.

I started a thread on this subject over 6 months ago. It's a bit off topic here so I'll just provide the link.

http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/proposed-constitutional-amendments.507699/

See #3 above in answer to your 1st question. Feel free to discuss it there.

 

I believe in self-defence and the second amendement, rather than docility and total faith in the authorities. To each his own.

You know what's funny here? It's that I am actually the left-leaning person.

 

Are you saying I should tell my kids to not obey the law? Texas law says that cop can legally disarm me during a traffic stop. Should I shoot my way out? I carry daily as well.

 

Funny how forum right wingers still fail to condemn government police abuses on this thread. Somehow, in their little minds, the victims of police crimes are responsible for the corruption and abuses these cops are committing.

2d Amendment rights, anyone?

Get government off your back, anyone?

Civil liberties, anyone?

Accountability, anyone?

 

Laws are passing things, made by interested men. Laws are made to be contested.

Justice, on the other hand, is divine.

 

1. As a rule -- with very wide applicability -- you should not anger (by arguing or scowling or whatever) any armed man who is confronting you. This applies to police, Mafia thugs, a soldier or Marine, an Islamist militant, a Deprived-and-Racially-Discriminated-Against-Youth from the South Side of Chicago who enters a convenience store holding a sawn-off shotgun ... it's just common sense. If they want your driver's license, give it to them ... or your whole wallet ... give it to them. (Okay, if you really want to win the current pending Darwin Award, make a fast motion towards your waistband or back pocket.)

2. Police are human beings. Human beings are the Third Chimpanzee. Often cruel and nasty. Always interested mainly in their own safety and welfare. If you have the same skin color as those who commit the majority of murders in the US today, the policeman facing you will have automatically raised his alertness level. (And by the way, so will the most radical left wing white liberal or socialist. It's a biological trait programmed into us -- those of our ancestors who ignored it didn't tend to have as many children ... in fact probably ended up as food for other children.)

3. This is true regardless of the nature of the economic system. Nationalize all productive property under workers control and make all incomes equal ... and the police (and I promise you there will be police under this wonderful new system, in fact a lot more of them, especially secret ones) will STILL mis-behave sometimes. Not all of them, or even most, under any system. But it will happen.

4. Perhaps advances in genetic engineering will totally transform our natures. Then police will be sweet and kind at all times. In fact we won't need them. Until then, use common sense, and if you don't like the police, why not move to a place where they don't have any, like Somalia?

 

All I can tell you, mate, is that I mind my own business. I keep my weapons loaded. I lock my doors. I don't go around bothering other people. And I won't tolerate anybody trying to come in an threaten my life or property. That is my simple but effective view on these things.

What are you prepared to do when the criminals come to kick in your front door or kill you on the street or in a store? Sing "Rule Britannia"?

 

This makes me laugh...gun fanatics think everyone should,have a gun to,protect themselves....like teachers. Aren’t they aware that shooters don’t announce themselves? It’s the element of surprise
They don’t wait for you to go to purse to get out your gun

 

post # 188

funny how the forum right wingers side stepped the issues I brought up







Why aren't police taught to stop killing innocents???

 

I find it interesting in that the 19 years old white mass school shooter/murderer was knocked down and taken alive and a black 12 years old playing with a toy gun in a public park was shot down like a dog.

I feel for black parents given how fast police are willing to turn to deadly force when it come to black children,

 

I am prepared to do exactly the same thing you are old son. I live my life by the same principles.

I don't withdraw that threat for those in a uniform either. Be you legal or criminal in intent, I will be the one to take that judgement.

Britain's never, never, never shall be slaves.

 

That is the way I conduct myself as well. I keep my gun loaded and on my side at all times. I keep my doors locked even though I hate that it has come to this. I mind my own business as well except where anyone else's life might be in jeopardy. Like most gun owners I am not afraid of criminals with or without my gun, I just don't leave things to chance or give them an opportunity to prey on me or anyone around me. It is not fear it is merely precaution and preparation for protection while awaiting the police, some can take as long as 20 minutes. I thank God everyday that I haven't had to use my gun but am prepared to do so if need be.

 

Well obviously if someone just walks up to you and shoots you with a gun that has been hidden there is probably nothing you can do about it. But what do you suggest instead? So only the murderers should have weapons and the rest of us should have nothing but happy thoughts?

 

Try to find an example of anyone who was attacked who had a gun in a purse. Try hard.

 

I blame bad cops and bad citizens, but I am saying cops that have deal with bad citizens day in and day out, sometimes become bad, I do not think I could handle that for very long... could you? not everyone is cut out to be a cop.....I'm not

just like society can turn a citizen bad, they can do the same to cops

try to be nice when your dealing with a cop, escalating the situation is not going to help you

 

Clearly the Democrats are as normal, anti cop. But did they want an armed cop at the school in Florida? Would they want an armed cop at Sandy hook?
What about an armed cop at the Las vegas mass killing?

When cops are discussed, why do Democrats make derogatory claims about cops?

Were were the armed cops at Florida? Were they discouraged by Democrats?