tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post116824235067214911..comments2024-03-08T07:09:46.527-07:00Comments on Pro Libertate: A Totalitarian TableauWilliam N. Grigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14368220509514750246noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-91174599158765894462007-01-21T22:34:00.000-07:002007-01-21T22:34:00.000-07:00Thank you for your comments, so boldly and anonymo...Thank you for your comments, so boldly and anonymously offered. <br /><br />Here's one thing I can't understand about your take on this incident: <br /><br />Why did the heroic off-duty cop require the aid of a small platoon of his comrades to subdue one middle-aged "pretentious poofter"? <br /><br />As to the question of righteousness and innocence, when I see someone on the ground surrounded by bullies, my symapthies are with the victim, not the assailants. And as a matter of law, the professor IS innocent, since the charges were thrown out. <br /><br />Your passionate, if poorly focused, riff on Orwell's line about the "Uniforms that Guard" leaves us with the impression that wrestling jaywalkers to the ground is somehow connected to keeping our shores free of the foreign menace du jour.<br /><br />For what it's worth, I'm sure that "logic" plays well among the reality-aversive denizens of FreeRepublic.com and the rest of that ilk.<br /><br />And I'd like to highlight the portion of your comment that reinforces a point I've made here often -- you know, the line about how those damned eeen-tul-LEC-chuls "take extreme umbrage when they have to submit to that part of society that pays their freight...."<br /><br />Leave aside, for the nonce, the seething class resentment at work here (good grief, are we talking about Morlocks and Eloi here?) and focus instead on the key word: SUBMIT. <br /><br />This professor was kicked to the ground and assaulted by a knot of Atlanta's Finest because he wasn't adequately SUBMISSIVE. This had NOTHING to do with picayune violations of silly pedestrian regulations. <br /><br />And the only "danger" this visitor (that's how well-mannered, law-abiding foreigners among us are described by those of us who don't suifer from xenophobia) experienced was at the hands of the badge-wearing degenerate who -- like too many in his profession -- is in to softcore dominance games. <br /><br />Police officers and military personnel are tax consumers. WE pay THEIR freight, as it were, in all but a relative handful of cases in which some of them pay a much higher price. We can be grateful when people who choose to serve us in those roles make sacrifices on our behalf -- but we must not forget who's the servant, and who's the master in this transaction.William N. Grigghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14368220509514750246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-76342236890914590342007-01-21T21:58:00.000-07:002007-01-21T21:58:00.000-07:00Ever consider that some pretentious poofter acting...Ever consider that some pretentious poofter acting superior to a plainly conspicuous officer (wearing a raid jacket that was emblazoned with "POLICE"), after being warned repeatedly to not cross at that point for his own safety and that of others, just MIGHT not be the completely innocent and righteous academe he lays himself out to be?<br /><br />I deal with indivifuals of his ilk altogether too often. They consider themselves the arbiters of what is right and decent, and take extreme umbrage when they have to submit to that part of society that pays their freight and keeps them in a position to espouse their views unfettered by truly totalitarian regimes.<br /><br />He and his mostly unwashed defenders are welcome to not visit Atlanta, or any other part of the US again, if it offends them so. I note with more than a little irony that his greatest concern was the loss of his green card. <br /><br />Although history is said to be written by winners, historians themselves tend to be whores and self-absorbed fools, and Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has done nothing other than reinforce this all-too-true observationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-1168531436840568332007-01-11T09:03:00.000-07:002007-01-11T09:03:00.000-07:00Rick:You said:i like the part where the guy asked ...Rick:<BR/><BR/>You said:<BR/><BR/>i like the part where the guy asked for ID (DL). me, i might have been a smart alek and said, "sorry officer, but i don't need a DL to cross a street". <BR/><BR/>The best response is something like, "I'm sorry officer. Did I do something wrong? Am I under arrest or being detained?" <BR/><BR/>His response MIGHT make it clear to all involved what is happeninig. For if he is detaining you for the purpose of issuing a citation or restricting your freedom of movement to investigate potential criminal activity, you have to stay put. But ID is only needed to investigate a crime or initiate a proceeding (although I've heard of intrusive laws in some states requiring the carrying of some type of ID). Nevertheless, practicing some cool judo move one learned in a movie or on the internet isn't called for.<BR/><BR/>What seems to be the issue here is a tough guy being frustrated by someone he considers to be a threat to his fragile ego. Consider it a knee-jerk reaction of a uniformed biped facing something he believes is challenging him. <BR/><BR/>Was it Thomas Jefferson who said "Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see"? With that in mind, I always wait for more evidence. On the surface, this appears to be yet another abuse of authority. Is there more to the story? I don't know. I'm staying tuned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-1168322853823179002007-01-08T23:07:00.000-07:002007-01-08T23:07:00.000-07:00I never carry ID when out walking or biking, prima...I never carry ID when out walking or biking, primarily because I don't want it to get stolen by ID thieves should I be mugged or robbed, and so the robber won't know which residence my keys unlock.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17639728081770034661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-1168309887005992202007-01-08T19:31:00.000-07:002007-01-08T19:31:00.000-07:00Attention Comrades!Please visit http://ministryofl...Attention Comrades!<BR/>Please visit http://ministryoflove.wordpress.com to learn about our creative protest of the Military Commissions Act. - we're sending a copy of 1984 to everyone who voted for it.<BR/>Regards,<BR/>O'BrienAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-1168308405990738292007-01-08T19:06:00.000-07:002007-01-08T19:06:00.000-07:00Contempt of Cop has been around as long as there h...Contempt of Cop has been around as long as there have been cops with something to prove to themselves. I think it has something to do with having their books knocked out of their hands and lunch money stolen on a daily basis. So it seems like big bad Johnny Law had to show what he had.<BR/><BR/>I'll go out on a limb and say he has been punched, kicked, and spat upon more than most of his co-workers. Some just ask for - and deserve - every kick in the groin they receive.<BR/><BR/>Without proper supervision a clown like this is capable of destroying many lives before he is stopped. <BR/><BR/>There had to be witnesses on such a busy street. Where are they when the professor needs them? They'd sure help him if he was to file a suit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32869165.post-1168278380779409932007-01-08T10:46:00.000-07:002007-01-08T10:46:00.000-07:00I've been coming to the realization that GW isn't ...I've been coming to the realization that GW isn't the progenitor of our ills. But rather he is a symptom of a society that has, for the most part, unchained itself from morality and common sense. Sadly, and I'm certainly not the judge here, but many Christians were led to believe that GW was 'one of us' and that he would fix things... Well, someone once said that 'they will know you by your fruits'. If the fruit is war and torture and death than what was sown must have been deceit and immorality and apathy. If he is the leader that we have, then we more than likely deserved him. Israel always got the leader that they asked for, why would we be any different? <BR/><BR/>As Will said a few days ago, it is time for repentance in a big way.Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17955214419341377532noreply@blogger.com