tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post3302679970772536810..comments2024-03-27T17:03:57.341-04:00Comments on Murder is Everywhere: Bigotry: My Early LessonsOvidia Yuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749549092493567689noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-46587952208627249342020-08-31T19:18:47.272-04:002020-08-31T19:18:47.272-04:00Like you, EvKa, I fear the the divisiveness, which...Like you, EvKa, I fear the the divisiveness, which is so entrenched! So daunting. My side are saying they will bring the country together. I sure hope they get elected, but I can’t see a road that leads to that destination. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-28393736160336341662020-08-31T17:32:31.541-04:002020-08-31T17:32:31.541-04:00Clearly, "group think" is something that...Clearly, "group think" is something that infects many people, and shows its head right now quite clearly with both police ("defend at all costs," as Kwei put it) and politicians (the GOPs NEVER BREAK RANKS, NEVER NEGOTIATE attitude that has been the "law of the land" in Congress for the past 25 years). The only way to change it is to change the leadership at the top, and give them the ability to "break the union" of these lock-step behaviors. I like Kwei's idea of applying medical review processes to the police. But it would have to have teeth, and it would have to involve non-police, also, to peer-review the peer-reviewers, alas.Everett Kaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371555243187874414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-81083585649129677322020-08-31T17:29:23.543-04:002020-08-31T17:29:23.543-04:00This is exactly what I too think is the key, Kwei....This is exactly what I too think is the key, Kwei. The Blue Wall of Silence protects police officers that need to be weeded out, because their deep seated prejudices. Also, the movement that has that COUNTERPRODUCTIVE moniker “Defund the Police,” is really meant to redefine the mission of policing to stop their militaristic, over-weaponized approach. And so that they don’t get called in armed to the teeth for what are basically mental health problems—that they have no training to handle. Or family disputes that do not involve violence. Here in NYS, every municipality that has its own police force is being required to submit a community plan for how they want to reorganize their police department to help the community. ALL interested parties must have input to the plan. These are due to the state by next April or the municipalities will be denied state funding. It will be very interesting to see what comes of this. Fingers crossed that it will help. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-18629328958687740122020-08-31T16:29:52.608-04:002020-08-31T16:29:52.608-04:00In my neighborhood, Sis, turning the other cheek w...In my neighborhood, Sis, turning the other cheek was not an viable alternative for a boy wishing to survive. Frankly, I've no doubt the confrontational survival skills I developed back then still influence my instinctive reaction to bigots.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-65301738883346652312020-08-31T14:16:11.948-04:002020-08-31T14:16:11.948-04:00When I was still practicing as a physician, for a ...When I was still practicing as a physician, for a few years I was a member of a committee called "Peer Review," which examined complaints from patients and their families, patient deaths, missed diagnoses, failure to treat, and so on, and a decision was made whether the actions of the physician in question met the standard of care, SOC. Perhaps police should have something like that: Standard of Conduct, SOC. I was going to say Standard of Behavior, but realized what the initials would spell out!<br /><br />In contrast to the "defend at all costs" approach of police unions and Internal Review, our Peer Review committee did not automatically side with the physician. I reviewed multiple cases that I pronounced as below the SOC. Once that was determined, the physician was notified of the findings and invited to respond either to defend themselves or provide further information. I wonder if there could be something like this for the police. I don't know if it would work as well with them, but most physicians reviewed felt personally affected, leading to modification of behavior.<br /><br />The difference, though, is that whereas patients and doctors were de-identified during the peer review process in order to avoid bias, in high-profile police shootings it would be impossible to "de-identify" those involved because it's all over the news and social media. Also, some of these offending police officers have indeed been cautioned multiple times about their actions, yet they continue to do so.<br /><br />Kwei Quarteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469765268067837660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-30119974253181666152020-08-31T13:53:41.942-04:002020-08-31T13:53:41.942-04:00You are undoubtedly right, Bro. This would likely...You are undoubtedly right, Bro. This would likely have been better left unsaid. But I have been reading that white people in our age group are sitting on the fence about who to vote for in November. I wrote this hoping it might encourage reflection in those undecideds. People who grew up the way we did and perhaps think the pain of bigotry is different today. Or maybe even one of two of those bullies who called us names, might be mature enough to feel a hint of guilt that would open a peephole into their hearts. So I gave it shot. Souls searching, I believe. is beyond the capabilities of the true Tumpites. But there are certainly many middle-of-the-road people who, if they think, will do the right thing and join our team. Anyhow, that was my action goal today.Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-89139263524986046272020-08-31T13:40:52.504-04:002020-08-31T13:40:52.504-04:00Love to you, dearest. My suffering, as I said, was...Love to you, dearest. My suffering, as I said, was minor by comparison. We need to think of and admire all the people who suffered far worse, faced lynching meant to cow them, and bravely stood up for change. And the thousand who are still taking such risks. While so many--police and politicians--make noise about the fact the some of the slain were not perfectly behaved model citizens as excuse for brutality. As if the police should have the right to mete out the death penalty for an attempt to pass a counterfeit twenty.<br /><br />SORRY. I am ranting, but it just listened to five minutes of news. BAD for my soul! Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-47380300128971893692020-08-31T11:25:02.816-04:002020-08-31T11:25:02.816-04:00We are shaped by our experiences, Sis, and yours b...We are shaped by our experiences, Sis, and yours brought you to the right place. As for my experiences growing up as eldest boy of my faith in my urban neighborhood (the others being my two brothers) I shall save them for another time. These times need no more reminiscences of times past, they require action by all of us, lest those times come back in a fury.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-76013491365612068032020-08-31T09:37:54.447-04:002020-08-31T09:37:54.447-04:00I hate that you had to experience bigotry - and th...I hate that you had to experience bigotry - and that any other person has to experience it, especially in what SHOULD be (but sadly is not) a more enlightened age. I weep for the children who suffer this pain, and wish with all my heart that the world did not force anyone to learn such hateful lessons. But beneath it, I am also glad that you rose above and beyond it, and became such a shining light of a person. Love to you, my dear friend.Susan Spannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770560542416086762noreply@blogger.com