RIP, Officer John Pawlowski
Story:
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090214_Shooter_had_death_wish__police_say.html
I'd say God damn this city but it looks like the good citizens of Philadelphia have beat Him to it. When is the underclass of this city going to recognize that they represent? And I'm talking social, not racial, class here, because this country is drawn on economic lines. Yet shooter Rasheed represents Black America in the eyes of many the length and breadth of this county, he represents the city in the eyes of suburbanites and rural Americans, he represents the poor in the eyes of the world. This city - this country - will never take a step forward until we realize that while we are busy making political statements there are entire cultures we ignore or marginalize or avoid... to everyone's detriment. You want to talk about racism? The young dudes in the Inner City think every cop is corrupt, every white is racist. I don't exaggerate. I worked there, taught there, lived there. Now I have a white neighbor down the block who thinks every dark-skinned person is beyond reach, even vile. When are Black leaders going to go into the city and try to reach these brothers, instead of worried about unfairly being labeled an Uncle Tom? When are White leaders going to do the same, instead of being worried about the stigma of being unfairly maligned as a racist? Go and tell all these hotheads them to behave themselves, tell them to wake up and see the world not as a harmful place but teach instead teach them Humanity's dearest lesson?
That most of the harm and love that befalls us in this lifetime is of our own doing.
God damn political correctness. Go out into the world and make a difference. Treat people as people and take the time to reach someone beyond your sphere. And hug a cop!!
