As Idiot as Anybody Can Be
Man being both rational and irrational animal is capable of emotional outburst, anger and violence. These irrational behaviors if uncontrolled can result to tragic consequences. When people started to live in groups thus giving birth to early civilizations, they felt the need for a certain group of people, maybe the fast and the burly ones, to maintain peace and order within the group. This people would also be responsible for securing the integrity of the group from outside invasion. The first policemen were thus born. Today, policemen in most civilized society are held in high regard and respect because of the inherent danger of their work and the great contribution they have in the progress of society. No society in modern time can prosper without first maintaining peace and order within. Policemen are, therefore, needed for modern civilization to thrive.
The art of policing was created because there was a great need to secure peace and order within a group. Policemen until today are seen as people society can rely on for protection. Because of this obligation, we cannot help but look up to them with much awe and admiration. Just lately, however, the world has seen a new art of policing. Instead of protect-ing the people, they have become the instrument of pain, shame and death to others. When the wife of a famous Filipino broadcaster was shoot, all the suspected housemates and the husband were plucked unceremon-iously from either at home or in the hospital by the police. During the aborted ASEAN Summit which was held in Pataya, Thailand, the police were supposed to secure the heads of state of the Southeast Asian nations. They failed miserably to utter shame of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. To date five people died after the G20 Summit in London purportedly because of police manhandling of the Summit protesters. Families were hurt, leaders were shamed and people died. Could this be the new art of policing?
When news broke that the wife of Ted Failon was shoot in the head, I was surprised, as if this things could not happen to people like them. A letter showing telltale signs of disturbed thinking was left behind. I have no doubt it was suicide, but this still has to be proven wrong. When everyone including the husband was grieving, the policemen led by their arrogant arresting officer plucked unceremoniously the husband, the sister, the house helpers and the driver of the victim. Along the course of the chaotic investigation, suspects were arrested without reading them their rights as accused. Still grieving for the loss of a sister, Pamela was arrested in the hospital for obstruction of justice. A brother was also arrested for obstructing arrest. All these were done with extraordinary use of brute force. Arrests can be done without hurting the accused. The policemen, who looked like idiots to me, had only hurting people in their minds when the arrest was made. They are now a subject of too many investigations. Well in good!
Every two years heads of state of the Southeast Asian nations meet in a forum aptly named the ASEAN Summit. They discuss problems of the region and course its future in relation with the whole world. The organization is one of the strongest among nations in the world. Sadly, this year's summit in Pataya, Thailand was aborted because of disorderly violent behavior of the protesters. Why were there protesters near the venue of the summit? According to report, the police were not able to contain the protesters. The protesters were unruly and violent; however, the police (I think) were told to adopt maximum tolerance against them. But when people become violent, shouldn't it be that violence begets violence. I am not for violence, but the police could have shown more determination and brawn to ward off the protesters before their number could have escalated into something beyond control. The new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has no other option but to abort the summit to protect the leaders. This to his embarrassment to ASEAN and the whole world. He was left with no other option but to declare a state of emergency. This incident would not have happened if the Thai police were not as idiot as they looked on TV screen. What a shame!
Like the ASEAN, the group of 20 first world countries also meet regularly for the G20 Summit. This year London was the host and one of their main agenda was the global economic recession. Unlike the Thai police, the London counterpart did a much better job of warding off the protesters. From news reports, however, the G20 protesters were less unruly and violent. They were easily contained and the summit ended with minimal problem, as I thought. But I was wrong. To date there were five deaths related to police manhandling of the protesters. What really saddened me was the news of a family man who died because of internal bleeding. He was not a protester. Only that his path going home would have him crossing beyond the police barricade. He insisted on crossing but was shoved to the concrete pavement. Later on that day, he collapsed. They thought he died of heart attack. Post mortem examination showed he died of massive internal bleeding which could have been triggered by his fall. When an innocent family man died in the hands of the police, this should be investigated. How come people we are supposed to run to for help are now hurting us?
With all these police manhandling and lapses, are we now seeing the advent of Robocops - cops with muscle sans the brain and the heart. In early civilization, the police were to maintain peace and order. They are the people's protector. In modern times people have changed though that in some not so civil society, the police even needs the people's protection. This, however, goes against the very essence of the police and its function. What the modern world needs are policemen with brute force that is tempered down by rational decision and a kind heart. We cannot afford a weakling to police us, but we cannot also allow muscle and brawn without brain and heart to roam the street hurting the innocent people instead of protecting them. The world has to wake up now. Could it be possible that there is also a summit for policemen and the art of policing. I read that there is one, but how many of the millions of policemen attended? The Philippines sent a few delegation to Russia, but brought with them thousands of euros. Are policemen corrupt too? This is another story obviously.
Man being both rational and irrational animal is capable of emotional outburst, anger and violence. These irrational behaviors if uncontrolled can result to tragic consequences. When people started to live in groups thus giving birth to early civilizations, they felt the need for a certain group of people, maybe the fast and the burly ones, to maintain peace and order within the group. This people would also be responsible for securing the integrity of the group from outside invasion. The first policemen were thus born. Today, policemen in most civilized society are held in high regard and respect because of the inherent danger of their work and the great contribution they have in the progress of society. No society in modern time can prosper without first maintaining peace and order within. Policemen are, therefore, needed for modern civilization to thrive.
The art of policing was created because there was a great need to secure peace and order within a group. Policemen until today are seen as people society can rely on for protection. Because of this obligation, we cannot help but look up to them with much awe and admiration. Just lately, however, the world has seen a new art of policing. Instead of protect-ing the people, they have become the instrument of pain, shame and death to others. When the wife of a famous Filipino broadcaster was shoot, all the suspected housemates and the husband were plucked unceremon-iously from either at home or in the hospital by the police. During the aborted ASEAN Summit which was held in Pataya, Thailand, the police were supposed to secure the heads of state of the Southeast Asian nations. They failed miserably to utter shame of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. To date five people died after the G20 Summit in London purportedly because of police manhandling of the Summit protesters. Families were hurt, leaders were shamed and people died. Could this be the new art of policing?
When news broke that the wife of Ted Failon was shoot in the head, I was surprised, as if this things could not happen to people like them. A letter showing telltale signs of disturbed thinking was left behind. I have no doubt it was suicide, but this still has to be proven wrong. When everyone including the husband was grieving, the policemen led by their arrogant arresting officer plucked unceremoniously the husband, the sister, the house helpers and the driver of the victim. Along the course of the chaotic investigation, suspects were arrested without reading them their rights as accused. Still grieving for the loss of a sister, Pamela was arrested in the hospital for obstruction of justice. A brother was also arrested for obstructing arrest. All these were done with extraordinary use of brute force. Arrests can be done without hurting the accused. The policemen, who looked like idiots to me, had only hurting people in their minds when the arrest was made. They are now a subject of too many investigations. Well in good!
Every two years heads of state of the Southeast Asian nations meet in a forum aptly named the ASEAN Summit. They discuss problems of the region and course its future in relation with the whole world. The organization is one of the strongest among nations in the world. Sadly, this year's summit in Pataya, Thailand was aborted because of disorderly violent behavior of the protesters. Why were there protesters near the venue of the summit? According to report, the police were not able to contain the protesters. The protesters were unruly and violent; however, the police (I think) were told to adopt maximum tolerance against them. But when people become violent, shouldn't it be that violence begets violence. I am not for violence, but the police could have shown more determination and brawn to ward off the protesters before their number could have escalated into something beyond control. The new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has no other option but to abort the summit to protect the leaders. This to his embarrassment to ASEAN and the whole world. He was left with no other option but to declare a state of emergency. This incident would not have happened if the Thai police were not as idiot as they looked on TV screen. What a shame!
Like the ASEAN, the group of 20 first world countries also meet regularly for the G20 Summit. This year London was the host and one of their main agenda was the global economic recession. Unlike the Thai police, the London counterpart did a much better job of warding off the protesters. From news reports, however, the G20 protesters were less unruly and violent. They were easily contained and the summit ended with minimal problem, as I thought. But I was wrong. To date there were five deaths related to police manhandling of the protesters. What really saddened me was the news of a family man who died because of internal bleeding. He was not a protester. Only that his path going home would have him crossing beyond the police barricade. He insisted on crossing but was shoved to the concrete pavement. Later on that day, he collapsed. They thought he died of heart attack. Post mortem examination showed he died of massive internal bleeding which could have been triggered by his fall. When an innocent family man died in the hands of the police, this should be investigated. How come people we are supposed to run to for help are now hurting us?
With all these police manhandling and lapses, are we now seeing the advent of Robocops - cops with muscle sans the brain and the heart. In early civilization, the police were to maintain peace and order. They are the people's protector. In modern times people have changed though that in some not so civil society, the police even needs the people's protection. This, however, goes against the very essence of the police and its function. What the modern world needs are policemen with brute force that is tempered down by rational decision and a kind heart. We cannot afford a weakling to police us, but we cannot also allow muscle and brawn without brain and heart to roam the street hurting the innocent people instead of protecting them. The world has to wake up now. Could it be possible that there is also a summit for policemen and the art of policing. I read that there is one, but how many of the millions of policemen attended? The Philippines sent a few delegation to Russia, but brought with them thousands of euros. Are policemen corrupt too? This is another story obviously.
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