26 ms·

Probably some cops say (or at least secretly think) exactly the same kinds of things you are saying about black people. "If they would just act right... until t

• eropple 11y ago
  The cops have guns and the power to imprison or kill you without even the pretense of a committed crime. The power imbalance literally-literally leaves it in their hands. But being nice to them won't keep your head from intercepting a Maglite should you be of the wrong skin color. So why should the powerless listen to you at all? Why should I not recognize the pervasive damage that is being caused and provide support (in the form of social approval) to them? Every action that any person ever takes is inherently political in the social context. What you advocate hurts the people least able to afford that hurt, and that's really troubling. Calling for niceties and "respect" to the members of a culture that can't stop killing fellow Americans, while sounding very nice, is tantamount to calling for better servile behaviour. And maybe that doesn't trouble you, but it does trouble me.