There are a lot of good things about living in the greater Washington DC area: museums, historical sites, theater, music, and good food, just to name a few.
Then there's the murder thing. Lots of people get murdered in DC. In particular, there's a community called Trinidad which has had so much violence that the police have instituted checkpoints around the neighborhood to search for weapons and wanted persons.
As you might imagine, this has resulted in howls of outrage from the residents of the community. They don't want checkpoints, they say, they want a steady police presence.
I can understand this. Speaking with absolutely no authority on the topic, I firmly believe that uniformed cops walking neighborhood beats are one of the best ways of keeping crime of all sorts down. The traditional "beat cop" who knows everyone on his turf and understands the "feel" of the street can establish relationships and levels of trust that police cruising by in cars can't manage. Nowadays it's called "community policing," and I don't think there's a better way for the police to support the community.
But a steady police presence only solves half the problem.
The same people who are loudly yelling that the mayor and the police aren't doing enough to get crime under control are the same ass-clowns who warn each other not to "snitch" - it's more important to show solidarity with your fellows, no matter how vicious and evil they are - than to help the police help the community by taking these psychos off the street.
What are you morons thinking?? You want the police to protect you, while at the same time you perpetuate the stupid idea that helping the police do their job is something dishonorable. If you believe this, you get the deadly environment you deserve.
The Supreme Court has done its part to help the situation by ensuring that even more guns can be pumped onto DC streets. Yes, it was the right decision from a Constitutional perspective, but as I've often written here, the Constitution was drafted in the 18th century and we're living in the 21st. Things have changed, and perhaps our quasi-religious tendency to worship at the festooned altar of firearms needs to be rethought.
But I'm a realist, and I know that won't happen in my lifetime...or in any other lifetimes that will be cut short by the easy availability, legally or illegally, of guns.
In the meantime, those of you who live in the high crime areas need to pull your heads out of your backsides. Bitching that the police aren't doing enough to protect you isn't going to do anything. Protecting the people who are killing your families will just keep the agony going. You may not love, or even like, the police, but they're your protection against the evil bastards who want to rule your streets and take your lives.
Stop the ass-clownery. Do the right thing. Protect the children who need protection...not the vicious criminals.
Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
8 comments:
I'm no expert either, but it seems that you may be using a pretty broad brush there. My experience is that the actions of a vocal few can really skew the perception of the reality. Isn't it possible that the group of people who advocate not snitching and the group of people who want a permanent police presence have a very small overlap? That is, why do you believe the same people are saying both things?
I like your new word, ass-clownery! I may have to start using it myself :)
Gilahi - you are correct in your analysis of my broadside. It is entirely possible that there are two distinct groups of people advocating different points of view. Nevertheless, I stand by my general point that crime will not be brought under control until the people in the affected neighborhoods start recognizing the importance of cooperating with the police for their own safety and security.
Andrea - "ass-clownery" is a term I picked up from one of my co-workers. Along with its variant "ass-clown," it's an extraordinarily useful term, and it rolls well off the tongue. Have at it!
FWIW (again, I'm no expert), I agree with your general point.
"Ass-clown" reminds me of one of my former colleagues' favorite descriptions of people. He would refer to someone as a CRI (Cranio-Rectal Invert).
Its the same over here in Malaysia (although not so much for murder). People will complain about things but will never give out any information that will help solve the problem. They don't want to be found out as the 'fingerpointer' because its bad for business.
I agree with this - I am also for the checkpoints - but they cry about those also - you want crime to go down, increase police presence --
There is $$$$$ a reason that $$$$$$ there aren't more $$$$$$$$ police on the $$$$$ street. I can't $$$$$ think of it $$$$$$ right now $$$$$ but when it comes $$$$$$$ back to me $$$$$$$$ I'll post $$$$$$ it.
Amanda - it's sad to think that things are like this all over...
Zipcode - we're singing in the same choir on this one!
Mike - I think that taking some pudgy cops out of gas-burning cars and having them actually walk beats would have two short term results: fewer $$$$$ spent on gas and auto maintenance (that could be used to hire more cops); and fitter cops because they're actually walking around getting exercise rather than sitting on their doopas in their cars. Money is an issue for everybody - when the problem is this big, they need to start being creative about how to solve it.
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