Point is that if we're going to be outraged about police conduct, there's about 100 other incidents that are worse than this in the last two weeks alone, and you don't see them everywhere.
I seriously doubt he faked it. But he's apparently a pro, so who knows. I seriously doubt someone has the balls to do that though. And for what?
Well a couple of things.. 1. I agree they should not have charges against them... 2. They should have given him aide and then they wouldn't be in this situation. The police all over should use these situations as training materials for the entire country on what to and what not to do. So I agree with Newlin about the RETRAINING... T_Man
I don't think they should be charged with assault. The police have a difficult position here. They are ordered to clear the streets (that order may be the problem). If they man is not following a verbal order they have to then arrest him. Instead of arresting him they intimidate him by giving him a shove. I guess they should have said if you don't get out of here this moment you will be arrested. But if they arrest him they may look bad too. Policing isn't easy. On one hand I find it disgusting how they treated this old man. On another, I think the cops have a difficult job and are put in tough situations
There are tens of thousands of incidents over many decades. It's not a game of top this so much as incidents that are well captured and distributed quickly get the most attention in this era of social media. This is nothing new including the character assassination of the victims after the fact.
Absolutely, and I feel like I've made my case clear in this thread, and every other here about this. But this thread is about this issue and this issue alone. Sometimes we need to look at these things in a vacuum.
I feel sorry for your father and can easily imagine what he was concerned about. It was the Chuck Wagon "Incident," which would be better described as a "police riot" (in my opinion) that occurred in November of 1969. The National Guard were observers (thank goodness!) and didn't participate. A lot led up to this. The destruction of 40 very old beautiful oak trees on Waller Creek in October, a place where students often went to study, relax, read a book - the usual stuff, in order to add 15,000 seats to UT Stadium, had students angry. Regent Chairman Frank Erwin (yes, the same fellow the Erwin Center is named after, as I'm sure you know), got a restraining order after students, many up in the trees, were protesting the plan there. The restraining order got the police involved, which was exactly what Erwin wanted. They cleared the area with billy clubs, arrested more than 2 dozen students, and Erwin actually applauded when a tree was bulldozed down. He got to applaud a lot. So the students that were involved politically in their different groups on the Left, and the Hippie/ Counterculture folks, which would include me, had I been going to UT at the time - they weren't in a good humor at all. That was about 20-30% of the students. Most weren't actively involved, but many voted in student elections for the slate supported by The Rag, the alternative student newspaper, or they would go to demonstrations, hauling buns at the sniff of the police. Understandably. The Daily Texan was not at all part of that collective group and neither was the Student Association. Both usually supported the administration in whatever the administration supported. My girlfriend at the time lived in Austin and went to UT. I sat with her under those oaks, so I was familiar with the issue. The Chuck Wagon Cafe in the Student Union was another issue that got people worked up. The Black and Hispanic students that worked there were always doing the dishes, cooking the food, cleaning up. They were paid less than $2 dollars an hour. The people who served you were invariably White and were paid a bit more, and/or got tips. I honestly can't recall the details, except that it was unfair. One other issue was whether non-students could be allowed into the place. Students paid for the Student Union with their fees, including the Chuck Wagon, and thought that their friends visiting from out of town should be allowed in from time to time (which would include me). Shortly before all the stuff went down the administration passed a rule that forbid non-students. So the more politically active students were boycotting the place, picketing, that sort of thing. Erwin was not happy about it. He also wasn't happy about the several hundred students, after the trees were cut down, dragging big limbs and piling them on the Main Mall. He was happy to call in the police, and 25 "stormed" the Student Union/Chuck Wagon, arrested 8 students. They were taken to paddy wagons nearby, which could make one think that it was assumed that a heck of a lot more students would be arrested. From what I heard, it was prevented by the students there. It was chaos. Assuming this is what your Dad was talking about, he might remember some of that. I wasn't there during all of this, but I certainly heard about it. Crazy!
@JayZ750 A black and a white guy say the same thing- but protestors only go after the white guy. You've got to get race and hate out of your heart and be able to see clearly if you want change. Common sense has no race and certainly isn't grounds for a racial attack. This is a non issue and shouldn't be being discussed at all. Just shows how sad and self destructive agitators have become - online and in the real world.
His was a movie quote, and I didn't stake it totally serious, to be honest. I can see why there is controversy, because the video is frightening. But that doesn't change the fault. Both parties are at fault, but as is the famous phrase now, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
He targeted it at me, not you, even though we both saw the situation exactly for what it was. An inability to discuss rational matters with people perceived as the enemy , because they do not share the exact same bias or skin color as you, is it's own form of racism and hurts progress.
In fairness I don't think they were expecting him to be so old and fragile -- he stumbled back extremely awkwardly from a shove that would hardly move most people. The cop freaking out and throwing a dozen punches to a handcuffed suspect deserves charges -- I'm not sure about this one he looked like he was on greased ice skates. Correction: rewatched and they did push him too hard -- he is obviously old no need to shove him just direct him the direction he needs to move. The way he moves is completely unexpected it's like he's on stilts -- not implying he's faking just a stiff old man. Way too much aggression from LEOs on people who are not causing major problems -- save the beat downs for the real bad guys.
Well, to be totally honest, I'd like to think the difference in how I said what I said and how you said what you said is a little bit less gruff and insulting. Lol But yes, he absolutely should not be there. Protesting after curfew is a crime. It is not okay. If the police are clearing a spot after curfew, go home. It's not okay to be there. Looting. Not okay. It's a crime. Spraying tear gas at peaceful protestors. Not okay. It's a violation of constitutional rights. Shooting rubber bullets at peaceful protestors when there's not a curfew. Not okay. We have lost law and order. Just because people are breaking the law, and you see that on the news and online does not make it okay. It just shows that people have lost sight of the mission.
Nobody said he deserved it. I haven't seen anybody say that. What's with all the hyperbole when we disagree with people? That runs rampant in here. Everybody feigns outrage when there's a disagreement. He was definitely not doing what he was supposed to be doing. Some people, including those actually protesting peacefully, were calling him out for exactly that. Sometimes, even those that prop themselves up with the church are not the best of people. Seen any stories about Catholic priests lately? Let's quit using the church to deify people. A church doesn't make you better than anyone else. And I know I've gone overboard with criticizing the guy. I really don't mean to. He's a frail guy that happened to be doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, though he hopefully had good intentions. I truly hope he makes a full recovery. He doesn't deserve to be talked bad about. Neither do these cops in particular, though.
