This again, only different. Kind of. Follow

Assuming you meant "equated", there's just a few special officers using the military gear that everyone's complaining about too. So yeah, it's worth making the comparison. Point being that those are the guys who are clearing the riot areas, and that's the most dramatic footage, so that's what most people see on the evening news. The problem is that there's so much value in creating a narrative that blames the cops for everything going on that objective evaluation of their actions has gone out the window. Peaceful protesters pass "normal" police dressed in normal gear and not hindering them in anyway. Then they see people running from some altercation a few blocks away and head there to see what's happening. Then they run into the guys with the tactical gear firing tear gas into the street, and wonder why they're being targeted (they aren't, they just deliberately went to where the riot is going on). Then they see looters and rioters and come to the ridiculous conclusion that those people are rioting and looting because the cops are there firing tear gas.

That's what's going on. And the story that gets repeated is how the police are attacking peaceful protesters. And the media laps it up because it matches the narrative. Then people repeat it on forums like this.

What the police are wearing isn't forcing people to riot and loot, and it's absurd to even suggest it. And in my opinion, if your peaceful protest manages to turn violent nearly every single night, maybe you're not doing it right? Just a thought.

What the police are wearing isn't forcing people to riot and loot, and it's absurd to even suggest it. And in my opinion, if your peaceful protest manages to turn violent nearly every single night, maybe you're not doing it right? Just a thought

You clearly aren't. For instance, if you loot some tea and throw it in a harbor and then gather to protest the consequences and someone gets shot, you pretty much deserve it.

Cheerio.

**** cryst.. what restraint? Are we looking at two different towns with the same name? The PD there did everything in their power to pour as much gas on the fire as possible. Most of the white America would have shrugged it off if they didn't **** up so royally on so many fronts..

And here is a way to compare it; a week ago Chicago cop killed a teen, but here are the things that are different:
- the kid had a gun
- police report was actually written
- there is an official investigation just in case
- we knew who the officer was

Now compare it to Ferguson and see me if you can tell me why people got **** off.

Restraint.. there is this old joke of a propaganda movie being made about Stalin. Child sits on his lap. Child says: "Uncle, gimme some sweet!". Stalin says: **** off." and the crew adds a caption:"He coulda killed him!". Restraint...

Edited, Aug 31st 2014 12:18pm by angrymnk

Edited, Aug 31st 2014 12:18pm by angrymnk

There's plenty of things to compare, both sides are ignoring one that happened a week or so ago pretty damn heavily.

What bugs me is, and really highlights the military mentality is that the shot kid was left laying in the road with no medical attention, like he was just an enemy casualty.

Was shot twice in the face. The parts of him required to retain the spark of life were very likely a fine red mist off in the distance somewhere. I don't really have a problem with the lack of urgency. There doesn't seem to be an open question about how long he lived after being shot.

You hit a dog in the road, you know it's dead, but you'll probably still pull over and check and see.

Is that what you people do? I either chuckle in a satisfied manner or yell "who's laughing now dog!"

What are you, a nine year old girl?

Good one.

I haven't seen stuff or anything, but isn't that pretty normal in a confrontation like that? I mean if they had to discharge their weapons any type of medical people aren't going to be allowed on the scene until they're certain the scene is secure, there's no other accomplices, etc. I mean the paramedics' union would have a fit if someone tried to send them into a situation like that, they have to be absolutely certain there's no danger first. Which is usually means plenty of time for someone to die and lay there a while.

No, forget it, I'm not being drawn back into this.

Edited, Sep 2nd 2014 4:01pm by lolgaxe

Yeah, like I said, I'm pretty ignorant of details and such, but it's been a pretty big topic of debate in the paramedic community the last few years. Waiting 20-30 minutes SpoilerEdit: or 30-45 as it seems the case was here. while people bleed out and die because the police aren't certain things are under control doesn't look good. On the other hand your run-of-the-mill paramedic isn't necessarily trained (or willing, or even allowed) to put themselves into a potentially dangerous situation (which is what it would be considered, irregardless of apparent facts on the ground, until the police say the scene is secure). I know there's a couple of different locations that are playing with sending paramedics into unsecured scenes in situation like that. Like I said though, a bit of a hot-button issue in that profession.

Edited, Sep 2nd 2014 1:21pm by someproteinguy

No, this wasn't a battle field. That's the issue. It was one big black kid, who's now lying on the ground. The little threat that there was is lying on the ground with his face blown off - no threat left. It doesn't take a paramedic to see if the guy has a spark of life left in him. The cop can check that. If he did have a pulse, the cop would call the paramedic. Brown wasn't even given that.

In fact, they left his body lying in the road for hours. THAT was stupid. 'Lets let all the townsfolk see what we do to misbehavin' black boys'.

You are reading things into the situation that aren't warranted. Weakens your argument and makes your otherwise righteous outrage appear capricious.

I dunno, clearly they weren't that concerned about maintaining the integrity of the crime scene since they didn't file a friggin' incident report for 12 days. Seems like they could have covered him up, at least.