5 ms·

Nothing. In US, people have "too much" respect for military and police. This respect has turned into an almost fanatical devotion. Say anything against these pr

Nothing. In US, people have "too much" respect for military and police. This respect has turned into an almost fanatical devotion. Say anything against these professionals and you will be branded as anti-national. Even the President cannot criticize the police. Unless US citizens realize that policemen are just professionals performing their jobs and not selfless angels, the police in US will always stay above the law.

themartorana 11y ago
I'm pretty sure the president did criticize the police. So had the mayor of NY, among others. The fact is, police have gotten so comfortable in their untouchable-ness that they've stepped over the line that defines the amount of corruption and abuse "we" are willing to look past. Apparently it is somewhere around cops straight up robbing (civil forfeiture) and killing us.
mikeash 11y ago
Your statement doesn't sound familiar to me. It does seem to be true for the military, which enjoys pretty much universal devotion from all. I think it's because we've finally figured out how to disentangle being pro-war from being pro-soldier, so that both warmongers and peaceniks can embrace members of the military. But I don't see anything remotely like it for the police. Respect is common, but far from universal. Where it exists, it tends to be mild.
- lawnchair_larry 11y ago
  Why would those who oppose war embrace the agents of war? You cannot separate soldiers from the wars that they volunteer to participate in.
  - mikeash 11y ago
    For one thing, because many did not volunteer to participate in war. I'm sure you've heard stories about people coming home from Vietnam and being spit on. A lot of those people were drafted. In more recent history, most of the people sent to invade Afghanistan and Iraq joined a peacetime Army with no foreseeable major conflicts. Feel free to criticize the soldiers themselves, of course. I just don't see the point, and I don't think you'll get very far. Even if you vilify utterly in the public mind, you'll accomplish nothing. The people who decide where to send those soldiers are the ones who count.
    - tsotha 11y ago
      Vietnam was the last US war fought with draftees. That was a long time ago.
      - sobkas 11y ago
        When someones only way to have a better or normal life is to get into military it's hard for me to judge them as harsh.
        tsotha 11y ago
        That's not the normal case. The people the military actually accepts are smarter than average and come from a family that's wealthier than average. These are guys (mostly) who are in to pick up marketable skills or they're there because that's what they want to do. If your prospects are that dim it's likely they won't take you.
        icebraining 11y ago
        To corroborate: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2008/08/who-serves-in-the-us-military-the-demographics-of-enlisted-troops-and-officers http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2008/08/who-serves-...
      - mikeash 11y ago
        I did address more modern times too....
    - Peaker 11y ago
      > I'm sure you've heard stories about people coming home from Vietnam and being spit on. That is, by the way, a myth.
      - mikeash 11y ago
        Searching around, it appears to be in dispute, but not conclusive.
- jonlucc 11y ago
  I'd like to live where you live and have your acquaintances. I live in the midwest and the adoration of police is ever so slightly lower than that for the military.
  - mikeash 11y ago
    Interesting. DC area here, which might be it. I do have roots in the midwest and it seems like nobody pays much mind to the police there. Maybe it's even more specifically regional or maybe I just never noticed it.
    - ams6110 11y ago
      Yes, I think you will find the public perception of the police to be much different in urban inner cities than in small midwestern towns.
      - mikeash 11y ago
        There's a lot more to the DC area than the inner city. I happen to live in the suburbs.

themartorana 11y ago

I'm pretty sure the president did criticize the police. So had the mayor of NY, among others. The fact is, police have gotten so comfortable in their untouchable-ness that they've stepped over the line that defines the amount of corruption and abuse "we" are willing to look past. Apparently it is somewhere around cops straight up robbing (civil forfeiture) and killing us.

mikeash 11y ago

Your statement doesn't sound familiar to me. It does seem to be true for the military, which enjoys pretty much universal devotion from all. I think it's because we've finally figured out how to disentangle being pro-war from being pro-soldier, so that both warmongers and peaceniks can embrace members of the military. But I don't see anything remotely like it for the police. Respect is common, but far from universal. Where it exists, it tends to be mild.

lawnchair_larry 11y ago
Why would those who oppose war embrace the agents of war? You cannot separate soldiers from the wars that they volunteer to participate in.
- mikeash 11y ago
  For one thing, because many did not volunteer to participate in war. I'm sure you've heard stories about people coming home from Vietnam and being spit on. A lot of those people were drafted. In more recent history, most of the people sent to invade Afghanistan and Iraq joined a peacetime Army with no foreseeable major conflicts. Feel free to criticize the soldiers themselves, of course. I just don't see the point, and I don't think you'll get very far. Even if you vilify utterly in the public mind, you'll accomplish nothing. The people who decide where to send those soldiers are the ones who count.
  - tsotha 11y ago
    Vietnam was the last US war fought with draftees. That was a long time ago.
    - sobkas 11y ago
      When someones only way to have a better or normal life is to get into military it's hard for me to judge them as harsh.
      - tsotha 11y ago
        That's not the normal case. The people the military actually accepts are smarter than average and come from a family that's wealthier than average. These are guys (mostly) who are in to pick up marketable skills or they're there because that's what they want to do. If your prospects are that dim it's likely they won't take you.
        icebraining 11y ago
        To corroborate: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2008/08/who-serves-in-the-us-military-the-demographics-of-enlisted-troops-and-officers http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2008/08/who-serves-...
    - mikeash 11y ago
      I did address more modern times too....
  - Peaker 11y ago
    > I'm sure you've heard stories about people coming home from Vietnam and being spit on. That is, by the way, a myth.
    - mikeash 11y ago
      Searching around, it appears to be in dispute, but not conclusive.
jonlucc 11y ago
I'd like to live where you live and have your acquaintances. I live in the midwest and the adoration of police is ever so slightly lower than that for the military.
- mikeash 11y ago
  Interesting. DC area here, which might be it. I do have roots in the midwest and it seems like nobody pays much mind to the police there. Maybe it's even more specifically regional or maybe I just never noticed it.
  - ams6110 11y ago
    Yes, I think you will find the public perception of the police to be much different in urban inner cities than in small midwestern towns.
    - mikeash 11y ago
      There's a lot more to the DC area than the inner city. I happen to live in the suburbs.