MgoWrestle

August 20th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^

Ahh I the instant reaction of racism from someone who understands zero about policing. So a 60 mph zone is a highway we can agree on that? And to be clocked at a certain speed means the LEO is running laser or radar. This means that officer is pulled off to the side of the roadway. When you run laser you try to lock on to the car from a distance of 1,000 feet or more.. It then registers and you pull out after them. So your assumption says that the officer was able to see the race of the cars occupants from 1,000+ feet, at night, while the car was traveling 73 mph? Even if your assumption says that he saw the occupants as they passed him then I challenge you to go stand on the side of the highway at night and look at the cars as they pass, and tell me what the people inside look like. Interjecting race into every interaction between police and society is poisoning the culture in America and only fueling the flames of the discourse we are currently experiencing. Thing critically about these things before you start claiming racism. Also maybe realize that the players were the ones speeding with drugs and a gun in their car...

Joined: 03/03/2016

MGoPoints: 30

Great Cornholio

August 20th, 2016 at 7:55 PM ^

I don't post very often (here or elsewhere) and when I do it tends to be banal throw-away mini-contributions that don't say much at all. I posted this time, about race, because I think it's a pretty relevant part of the discussion about interactions between police officers and young black men. You may have noticed, it's kind of a national conversation right now. Parts of this thread focused on weed and guns; race doesn't seem too far out of bounds as an additional component of some gravity. It's also something I care about, but I don't often get (or want) to talk about openly in my daily life. I like this blog because the readership seems to (for the most part) be willing to offer up informed and thoughtful opinions on a range of topics, race included. I like reading what other U-M educated people have to offer. It's a nice contrast to, say, MLive or RCMB, to name a couple other (woeful) local forums. I'm a little disappointed that most of the replies so far have been so dismissive of the idea that race is worth talking about here. I'd be interested to hear more from people who agree or disagree that profiling is an issue, particularly for black athletes living in predominately white areas while they're in school. Also, do you think this story would be reported/reacted to any differently if it was a bunch of white kids in that Focus? If you're white, do you think you're able to get away with more, particularly as it relates to police, without being "noticed"?

Joined: 01/23/2013

MGoPoints: 3228

Great Cornholio

August 21st, 2016 at 4:45 PM ^

I drive that much over on the reg, without getting pulled over. When pulled over, I don't worry about getting my vehicle searched, much less getting shot in the head 16 times for looking at the officer the wrong way. It's a privilege I enjoy by virtue of my utter whiteness. That's messed up, is all I'm saying.

Joined: 01/23/2013

MGoPoints: 3228

cali4444

August 20th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^

just don't you dare come looking for government handouts when you're 55 and pathetic. As an RN I see it all the time.  These same old burnouts also have very high rates of "chronic pain" and often become addicted to pain meds.

Joined: 05/08/2009

MGoPoints: 765