ShazzieB
ShazzieB's JournalTHIS.
Thisthisthisthisthisthisthis.
This is the crux of the matter right here. I am convinced that this unconscious assumption that all all black people, regardless of their age and other physical characteristics, are highly dangerous and possess superhuman strength is at the root of why so many cops seem ready to go from O to lethal force in the blink of an eye. That's why I never assume a shooting like this was justified based on a few frames of a video.
I'm not saying this shooting wasn't justified. It MAY OR MAY NOT have been justified. We don't have all the facts yet. And given the track record of cops in this country killing poc unnecessarily, I am dismayed by the vehemence with which some people here are defending his actions. I'm not surprised that some think it was a justified shooting, but I am dismayed to see so many people in a forum for democrats and progressives ready to attack and insult those who think it might possibly be debatable.
I am SO sick of this shit. 🤬
"It’s like swaths of the US have been gaslit into believing that lethal force is the correct response to just about anything."
I think it's more like there are way too many cops in the US who seem to operate on the assumption that ALL poc, regardless of age or other physical characteristics, are raging, murderous hellbeasts who are always up to no good and can only be controlled by the use of total, full on lethal force. 
It's disgusting and infuriating nd ludicrous, and it has GOT to stop. Until and unless it does, black people will not be able to safely walk the streets of this country. 
Be that as it may..
"Florida is the top travel destination in the world, relying on tourism to drive its economy more than any other state." https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/011316/floridas-economy-6-industries-driving-gdp-growth.asp
"Tourism is key to Florida’s competitiveness. The truth is that visitors to Florida help 'pay the bills' and help ensure Floridians don’t pay a personal income tax. Florida’s tourism industry brings in more than $6 billion in state taxes, and more than $5 billion in local taxes which in turn helps fund schools, improve healthcare and support other government services." https://www.flchamber.com/tourism-is-key-to-floridas-competitiveness/
Yes, Florida has a diverse economy, but tourism is a very big part of it. As a resident of the state, you may not be personally dependent on the "grace of visitors" in a direct way, but it's impacting your well-being and that of the state as a whole in many more ways than you realize.
Sad but true. 🙁
Although I can truthfully say that I had some hope, I didn't dare get my hopes too high.
Everything about this trial screamed !!!!!GUILTY!!!!! to me, from the prosecution's powerful parade of knowledgeable and credible witnesses to the lackluster and unconvincing defense. But I know better than to assume that a jury will reach what seems to me to be the obviously correct verdict, especially when the murder victim is a black man and the defendant is a white cop.
In this case, I hoped he would be convicted of something, but guilty on all 3 counts? THAT was a wonderful and very welcome surprise! 
I just remembered an interesting (to me) detail.
One of the other prospective jurors said in voir dire that as a Christian, she did not believe she had the right to sit in judgment on anyone else. Yeah, I don't get it, either. 
She was quickly sent home. If I could have, I would have liked to ask her how she thought the guilt or innocence of a person accused of a crime should be determined, and whether she thought all juries should be made up of only non Christians. Her stance made absolutely no sense to me. 
I experienced voir dire once, for a murder case, but was not chosen for the jury.
It was definitely a great learning experience, but serving on the jury would have been an even better one, imo. I was disappointed not to be empaneled.
I've been a registered voter since 1972, and it's a mystery to me why I've only been called for jury duty twice in almost half a century. The first time I got a jury summons, I had just moved to a different jurisdiction and was no longer eligible to serve in the one that sent it. The second time was the experience described above. I really hope I get a chance to actually serve on a jury someday.
Oh, excuse us, Repugnicans.
We forgot that feelings don't matter unless they're GOP feelings. How inconsiderate of us. Our bad! 
.
.
.
.
.
JUST KIDDING! 
How does it feel to be on the losing team, loooozers? Enjoy your stay. Meanwhile, we Democrats will be very busy MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!!!
I think you are absolutely right.
Especially this: "The whatever the suspect does, you have to meet with greater force means you can beat up almost anyone, as long as what they were doing was deemed threatening action."
This is indeed how they appear to operate. If that's the training they're given, it would explain a lot.
The scariest part of this is that whether an action is "deemed threatening" can be a very subjective judgment. From what I've observed, a lot of cops (like Chauvin) seem to "deem" ANY action made by a poc as "threatening," almost by default. That is a very serious problem that badly needs to be addressed.
This is the kind of thing that points up the HUGE contrast
between President Biden and He Who Must Not Be Named.
I can easily imagine Obama and some other presidents doing something like this, too, but I'm sure it wouldn't enter the Traitorous Psychopath's head to pick up a toy even for one of his own kids, let alone somebody else's. The idea of him ever lifting a hand to help a child or anyone else is unimaginable.
Okay, but
I agree that law enforcement does little to deter certain kinds of crimes. But getting rid of it entirely is not the answer. Which is just as well, because there's no way enough people would ever agree to support such a plan.
Lots of reform is needed, for law enforcement and the whole criminal justice system. The way cops are recruited and trained needs to change drastically. And yes, reallocation of some of the money now earmarked for policing is a good idea, But just eliminate law enforcement entirely? No way. Even IF people could somehow be talked into it (fat chance), the results would be chaos.
Ain't gonna happen, and wouldn't have the results you're proposing if it did.
Profile Information
Name: SharonGender: Female
Hometown: Chicago area, IL
Home country: USA
Member since: Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:18 AM
Number of posts: 19,063