Rob,
1) You're right. The reaction to this shooting is exacerbated by the fact that
(apparently) white cops shot a black man - a man who probably had a guilty
conscience for lying on his immigration papers.
The racial overtones and exploitation by minority groups of this incident is
hypocritical and contrary to their stated goals but politically rewarding.
Perhaps there is some value in such “venting” but the only justification can
be a fear by the minority that the shooters, in this case the police, will
escape the legal process because of Diallo’s race. (Aside: I wonder who
would speak up if Diallo had been an Anglo...)
2) I am sure you never meant to imply that the shooting would have been
okay if Diallo were white - only that Jesse Jackson wouldn’t have cared.
Right? But let’s also agree that Jesse Jackson and others making a racial
thing of this does not justify the shooting!
3) Law enforcement officials shot an unarmed man who presented no
threat to them. Diallo pulling his wallet out is clearly an innocent act in
retrospect. There was no actual threat to the officer - it was the “perceived”
threat (by Diallo) that caused the first officer to open fire.
I have agreed that this fatal perception was Diallo’s fault because of his
inappropriate action (or “reaction”). Unfortunately for Diallo AND the police,
we can not determine whether Diallo acted out of stupidity, fear, lack of
understanding or because of instructions he may have received from
Immigration (eg. “You must always show the police officer your papers” or
some similar instruction).
The officers’ reactions after the shooting (eg. weeping, inability to speak,
etc.) strongly suggest their own knowledge that the shooting was neither
justified nor necessary.
4) Here’s where we may disagree - the definition of “support”.
4a) Anyone who supports law enforcement by saying "They're right because
they're police!" encourages lawlessness. If said supporter is a police officer,
it is in violation of his oath because such blind support disregards the law.
This path leads to the type of law enforcement (eg. KGB, Gestapo, etc.) that
Cornered Rat so aptly described and (apparently) fears. It creates and
justifies lawlessness, (eg. Waco, Ruby Ridge, etc.).
4b) Anyone who supports law enforcement by saying “They’re innocent until
proven guilty - just like any other person in America” encourages the rule of
law. If said supporter is a police officer, he should ensure every activity
follows legal procedures. The accused officers should be given the moral
support of their fellow officers and the general public. Investigators should
go to great efforts to determine the truth - the real, honest to God truth.
Police are Americans just like those whom they "serve and protect". As they
so often tell us, "We don't MAKE the laws. We only enforce them." They do
not enjoy some form of "immunity" because of their profession. Frankly,
IMO, they should be held to a higher standard than the people they serve -
taking into consideration the dangers of their job. However, let’s not forget
that police officers are not “drafted”. They are “volunteers” just like the
convenience store clerks, firefighters, and even North Pacific fishermen
(among others) who suffer a higher on-the-job death rate than do police
officers.
Supporting the police, in this case, means ensuring a fair and complete
investigation and subsequent action only as appropriate - just as the law
applies to ANY American. If the police do not have the same level of faith in
our legal system they require of the public, that shows a severe need for
some kind of corrective action - in the law, in its enforcement, and/or in the
judiciary process.
5. Unfortunately members of some local police departments have
whitewashed their own illegal and immoral activities so often that the Feds
see an opportunity to fill that supposed "moral vacuum". While we may hate
that federal intervention, the local departments, all too often, have brought
it on themselves.
6. In this case, it may help to draw a parallel. If someone is standing in
your front yard and if you go out to ask who he is and why he is there, I
recommend you don’t shoot him for pulling a wallet.