(Jtg, straggling back into the bar from the storeroom, where he was hiding out and reading a book, knowing full well that closing time was comeing right soon and he needed to get the mop and bucket)

I, too, wish you a quick and complete recovery and will pray for the Lord’s help in that.

I make no promise to refrain from Baptist jokes. Hey, my Mom was one, but I think my failings are not her fault.

No, you made no comment supporting the cop. Here’s what you did say: “The cop above was way out of line but the kid got a taste of real consequences of her behavior.” Whether it’s intentional or not, your phrasing appears pretty flippant and certainly makes it appear that regardless of the legitimacy of the officer’s actions, you definitely have no sympathy for the girl – in fact, she probably shoulda known better.

I’m not painting you as anything. Really. I’m not assuming that you’d take any sort of pleasure in anyone else’s wrongdoing. Really. But you’re the one who threw John Wayne’s famous quote in there, which causes one to conclude that you think that stupid LA-honkers kinda get what’s comin’ to ‘em. My point was simply to say that the consequences should fit the action – and one aspect of justice is to ensure that this balance is maintained.

For the record, I completely agree with you re. the “abdication of responsibility” by parents today, and how it leaves their children woefully unprepared for real world applications. That said, I don’t think many people would’ve been prepared for THAT kind of a response from a cop – in other words, you should be raised to respect law enforcement cuz it’s the right thing to do, not b/c you’re afraid they’re gonna give you a beatdown if you don’t.

Thanks for the discussion – glad we were able to keep it civil.
Thanks also for the good wishes – I’m mending, but slowly. The prognosis is good, however.
-MajH

I believe it was Marine “Sergeant Striker” who said: ” Life is tough. Life is tougher if you are stupid” in the Sands of Iwo Jima. I just like my version better.

Best,

geo6

Ok. I concede that using the term “idealist’ was provocative. Apparently we all have prizms we see things thru and this is one example. I don’t see any comment of my supporting the behavior of that cop in the vid. None. Nadda. Just because I didn’t express immediate outrage at his behavior I come across as sympathetic to the cop? Couldn’t be farther from the truth. As for the Boot analogy, who said anything about an abusive D.I.? You know they can make you miserable enough without being abusive.
Next, why do you assume I would take some sort of pleasure if someone was shot in a case of road rage even though they were stupid? You are quick to paint me as some sort of barbaric insensitive horse’s backside. But understanding your “Marine-ness”, the best defense is an aggressive offense.

Reality was the point and I was not offering a commentary on proper behavior of the cop- as you mention- we are to expect it, it is in their job description, nor should we accept anything less. My thoughts on the teenaged girl are more a critical appraisal of what the current culture produces and its impact with abdication of responsibility by many parents in raising their kids today. The girl’s life experience and upbringing didn’t prepare her for the consequences of her actions in the “real” world outside her high school, social circle or home life. Probably it was the first time she ever experienced a negative consequence to her behavior and BTW, she DID have a choice on how to act whether to a thoroughly professional policeman or the bully in the video.
Life is hard enough, you don’t have to go out and look for trouble. Enough finds you on its own without you looking for it, as you so recently and painfully experienced. BTW, hope you are mending well and quickly.

Yes, in boot camp I did my best to be the “gray man” and not stand out – but a mistake on my part in no way condones an overly abusive response by the DI, right?

Maybe you’re trying to inject a dose of what you’d call “reality” into the situation, but comments such as “the kid got a taste of real consequences of her behavior” appear to cast you as more sympathetic to the cop than the girl. If that’s not your intent (and I don’t think it is), than I’d suggest balancing your statement a bit more. Expecting our cops to behave appropriately doesn’t make one an idealist, IMHO.