Smerker wrote:By all accounts, the police officer seems to be a pretty upstanding guy. I can understand why black Americans are so sensitive to these issues, it boggles my mind how shittily they get treated by the establishment. The only - the only - pride I have in Great Britain is the relative control we have over racism. The fascist bully boys in blue searching anyone with brown skin or a beard not withstanding, compared to America or even Canada (with it's smug, slapping itself on the back attitude to how not racist we're all being) England's really pretty cool in that respect. Well, London is.
We call it playing the race card here. God forbid law enforcement stop someone of a different color. There are people that act like assholes and then wonder why they get a hard time.
If anyone bothered to read the entire account of the incident first and foremost the call was that there were TWO BLACK MALES in this home. Had the Prof not jumpped to the race card and just listened to the officer and explained who he was and showed his credentials, within two minutes everything would have been fine. He chose to become beligerant.
Back in the day when I was not the family man I am today I was rather the "Punk" myself. I was a wiseass. I dressed in pretty much the Ramones garb held together with a few safty pins and well worn with my Doc Martins on. I drove a old Ford Torino and raced around street like an asshole. I was stopped repeatedly, I didn't take well to authority and I was tossed around abit by the cops from time to time, just like any other white skined kid of my day but you don't hear about this in the media because I know was were wrong. I know I brough a few of those whacks on myself for not complying to officers requests.
Then I got a little older. I was still youngish, 25 maybe but I was going to a wedding, wearing a shirt and tie one day and was stopped on the way by a police officer. With my fresh haircut and tie I must have looked the model citzen because he spoke to me in a manner I hadn't seen before, and I was let off with a warning. Ahh tucked away in the back of my skull...be nice to officer-officer will be nicer to you.
In the US it's very simple when an officer of the law stops you....
1) You don't make any sudden movements or reach for your glove box if your documents are in there until he can fully see you and he asks for them.
2) You treat him with respect you usually get respect. Say hello to the officer. When he asks a question answer truthfully. Even if you are in some violation you may get off with a warning. Yes there are some asshole police officers, I come from a family of them and I've joked that they go through an A-Hole 101 training class on the first day. Most verteran officers will not bust your balls.
3) If you happen to have drugs, paraphenalia, open alcohol containers, or no documentation, dont blame the Police for doing their job by hauling your ass away. It's your fault.Don't blame race or your socio economic status or your dad beat you. You got caught take responsibility for your own actions.