THERE
LIKELY WILL always be nitwits out there who think they can shout down the
existence of anything that isn’t exactly like themselves.
But
this incident, which the woman used a video camera to capture for all of us to
see, sticks out in my mind because of the presence in the background of that officer
with the Cook County Forest Preserve District police.
He’s
the guy in uniform (and body armor, in case a gun-wielding nutcase hiding out
in the woods tries to attack him) who can be seen watching the incident and
doing nothing about it.
Not
even after the woman, who actually obtained the proper permit to use the picnic
area at the Caldwell Woods forest preserve, pointed out to him that the drunken
jerk was trying to harass her. Personally, I always thought more highly of the
Forest Preserve cops (I have an uncle who is a retired officer) than that!
 |
| PRECKWINKLE: Pushing for investigation |
I
SUPPOSE SOME people will say this is evidence of how times have changed for the
better. Because there probably would have been a time when the police officer
would have seen the incident, heard the woman complain, and would have chosen
to arrest HER on the grounds that she was offending the sensibilities of the
man and had the nerve to claim offense for herself.
For
what it’s worth, more Forest Preserve District police officers arrived at the
scene later, and the man with the boorish behavior ultimately got arrested. He
now has charges of assault and disorderly conduct pending against him – charges
for which he likely will get hit with some sort of fine.
But
it means that the split of our society seems to also exist within our law
enforcement – and we have to hope that if confronted by such an incident, the
cop who winds up coming to our “aid” is one with a proper sensibility.
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| GARCIA; Wants 'hate' crimes charges added |
And
not somebody who thinks he exists to protect the rights of the troublemakers.
WHICH
IS WHY I’m pleased to learn that Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle
herself has taken in interest in the on-the-job behavior of the law enforcement
types on the county payroll.
Although
I also don’t doubt that the officer in question (who submitted his resignation Wednesday before police disciplinary hearings could be held) probably thinks he’s being
harassed and that if we had REAL government officials in charge, they’d be
backing him up!
There
may even be people out there in total agreement with that train of thought.
Wondering why our society has gone so loony as to be backing this woman with
her Puerto Rico-motif t-shirt. Even though I suspect many of those are also the
types who think there’s some legitimacy to that “heritage” argument people make
when defending Confederate battle flag wearers.
Personally,
I’d say her “heritage” is a part of the United States (Puerto Ricans are U.S.
citizens by birth) while the other pays tribute to a movement to split away
from this nation’s ideals.
I
AM INCLINED to think that focusing too much attention on this loud-mouthed guy
misses the point. I’m not inclined to get worked up like Congressional candidate
Jesus Garcia, currently a Cook County Board member, who says he wants the charges
against him upgraded to include a “hate” crime.
 |
| ROSSELLO: Demanded an apology |
Or
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who has been vocal in his disgust that
someone would face harassment because of her ethnic origins.
The
guy is a nitwit who probably has read too many Donald Trump-written Twitter
tweets and ultimately will have to live with his contemptable self. Punishment
enough. But that officer. He, and other officers like him, are the ones we’re
going to have to rely on for protection.
Not
all cops are alike – there are those who do act nobly with the best intentions
of protecting society. We just have to hope they’re the ones who respond when
called to our incidents; which amounts to a real crapshoot along the lines of a
Las Vegas slot machine.
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