The comments on the National Fascist make my fists itch. Yes he could've said something that has been reported he could've not heard instructions and thus been seen as a threat but releasing someone with no coat into a winter storm is damn near tantamount to attempted murder.
Yes, have been a lot of obnoxious comments everywhere I've seen it written about - even on Watts's own blog.
And the thing I find most maddening about them is that people seem compelled to try and squish everything into a simplistic "Person X was right, Person Y was wrong" or vice-versa framework.
From my perspective, it doesn't matter if he said or did something mildly stupid, like getting out of the car or making a snarky remark or whatever. Sure, those things were probably not good ideas... BUT, nothing about that justifies the brutality of the response. Using that level of physical violence is not even remotely appropriate unless arresting someone violent and dangerous who could not be subdued any other way. Sarcasm and/or bad manners is NOT adequate grounds. And as you say, dumping someone out in a winter storm without a coat is unacceptable no matter WHAT they'd been charged with.
It seems like there's a substantial percentage of the population that believe that if someone can be shown to have done anything wrong, no matter how minor, then they deserve every bad thing that could possibly happen to them. It's like some kind of fucked-up gender-neutral variant of "Well, what was she doing walking home by herself/wearing a skirt that short/etc.?"
But one of the things this whole situation really brings home to me is that it really is no longer safe - if it ever was - to assume that the same basic customs, rights, etc. apply in the US as in Canada or many other western nations, when dealing with any form of law enforcement down there. It really is more like travelling through central America or something in some respects -- specifically, that you need to approach any interaction with cops or other officials as if you were being held up by armed thugs who could go psychotically violent at any moment, and just swallow your pride and do whatever they say in hopes of getting out with your skin intact. The idea that the US is a civilized country with the same civil liberties you'd enjoy here or anywhere else no longer applies... if indeed it ever really did.
lets see people I trust who've met the man say he's a sweetheart, and total strangers who heard he was beaten up by customs officers think he's a jerk because he must have been to be beaten up and since he is clearly a jerk let's call into doubt every single aspect of his story. uuuhhh.... yeah... and he really shouldn't've been wearing that short a skirt!
*headdesk headdesk headdesk*
So yes I agree with you totally, I just felt like a little more venting. :)
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And the thing I find most maddening about them is that people seem compelled to try and squish everything into a simplistic "Person X was right, Person Y was wrong" or vice-versa framework.
From my perspective, it doesn't matter if he said or did something mildly stupid, like getting out of the car or making a snarky remark or whatever. Sure, those things were probably not good ideas... BUT, nothing about that justifies the brutality of the response. Using that level of physical violence is not even remotely appropriate unless arresting someone violent and dangerous who could not be subdued any other way. Sarcasm and/or bad manners is NOT adequate grounds. And as you say, dumping someone out in a winter storm without a coat is unacceptable no matter WHAT they'd been charged with.
It seems like there's a substantial percentage of the population that believe that if someone can be shown to have done anything wrong, no matter how minor, then they deserve every bad thing that could possibly happen to them. It's like some kind of fucked-up gender-neutral variant of "Well, what was she doing walking home by herself/wearing a skirt that short/etc.?"
But one of the things this whole situation really brings home to me is that it really is no longer safe - if it ever was - to assume that the same basic customs, rights, etc. apply in the US as in Canada or many other western nations, when dealing with any form of law enforcement down there. It really is more like travelling through central America or something in some respects -- specifically, that you need to approach any interaction with cops or other officials as if you were being held up by armed thugs who could go psychotically violent at any moment, and just swallow your pride and do whatever they say in hopes of getting out with your skin intact. The idea that the US is a civilized country with the same civil liberties you'd enjoy here or anywhere else no longer applies... if indeed it ever really did.
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*headdesk headdesk headdesk*
So yes I agree with you totally, I just felt like a little more venting. :)