There's a serious lack of "walk a mile in someone elses shoes" around these days. My respect for cops and my willingness to cooperate even when my rights do not require me to stems in large part from my understanding of the other point of view. It's really sad to me that so many people think their rights trump everything and either can't comprehend or just don't care about what cops have to deal with all too frequently. Personally I LIKE seeing cops. Their very presence helps to lessen crime and makes my family safer whether or not I am there. Lack of cops would lead to anarchy to one degree or another. And anyone who fails to see the danger in that is a damn fool. So, even though a cop in my rear wiew mirror still gives me the puckers, I know it's a holdover from my younger, more ticket prone days than from cops being inherently bad or negative.
As for cops being perceived as assholes, well some few are. But most are just normal guys doing a damn hard job for inadequate pay and precious little appreciation. The ones who break laws, abuse their power and make asses of themselves are tragic and overnoted when the majority who garner no notice are great people. Sad. I remember when I was a young GI in Germany some friends and I went into a small Italian restaurant for dinner and on the tables was a sign that said "American's welcome but please do not drink too much and become drunk and make trouble". I made it my personal goal to become an ambassador for young drunk GIs from that moment on. As a result, the owner, Papa Santo took the signs down and we became friends. He, unlike many here, took to heart the positive example of those of us who tried to be decent as the rule and the jackasses as the exception whereas some guys look at the bad examples and try to say that the bad is the rule and the good the exception.
The way I see it is if cops are your enemy you are probably living wrong to start with. Live within the laws and cops have no beef with you.
As for cops being perceived as assholes, well some few are. But most are just normal guys doing a damn hard job for inadequate pay and precious little appreciation. The ones who break laws, abuse their power and make asses of themselves are tragic and overnoted when the majority who garner no notice are great people. Sad. I remember when I was a young GI in Germany some friends and I went into a small Italian restaurant for dinner and on the tables was a sign that said "American's welcome but please do not drink too much and become drunk and make trouble". I made it my personal goal to become an ambassador for young drunk GIs from that moment on. As a result, the owner, Papa Santo took the signs down and we became friends. He, unlike many here, took to heart the positive example of those of us who tried to be decent as the rule and the jackasses as the exception whereas some guys look at the bad examples and try to say that the bad is the rule and the good the exception.
The way I see it is if cops are your enemy you are probably living wrong to start with. Live within the laws and cops have no beef with you.
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