Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/10/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In an age when children are taught to fight and kill before their age reaches double digits and women gleefully wrap themselves in explosives it would be fatuous to assume that a middle-age couple from Pennsylvania couldn't possible harbor evil intent. I'm sure the September 11 hijackers seemed like nice guys to someone. I know and have known a number of law enforcement officers, local, state, and federal, and I have been one myself, albeit in a somewhat different context. I am occasionally put off by their attitude but I have come to realize that one thing that allows them to do their job and remain alive is to always anticipate the worst. To some this may make them seem a little silly or threatening but it's an edge that helps keep them safe. Unfortunately this is often communicated to the people they deal with and that can be quite off-putting. The public demands that they do their job, that they are infinitely competent and patient and that they intuitively can sort out bad from good. Great idea but not too realistic. Cops are just people after all. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how you would be knowing that you need to be armed and wear body armor just to do the job you are being underpaid for. This isn't meant to excuse bad behavior or poor judgement, just to help others see things in a different light. Dave Richards Centennial, Colorado > We were courteous and very understanding, didn't have much of a choice. > I think if I was anything but courteous they would have forced me to > unload the entire car. The Canadian agents were very polite and > efficient. I found the U.S. agents were similar to what I've > encountered with police in small towns in southern New Jersey; a bit too > Rambo-esque toward toward the least dangerous members of society. Last > time I checked middle-aged couples from suburban Philadelphia haven't > posed much of a security risk. This is the same kind of treatment we've > encountered at airports recently. > > > Mike - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html