Both of these pictures...
U.S. Army soldiers from the 3rd Platoon, 252nd Military Police Company provide security during a meeting with the Iraqi Police at their headquarters in Kut, Iraq, on Nov. 2, 2009. The soldiers visited to discuss ongoing operations in the area. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees, U.S. Army. (Released)
A policemen gear up as they prepare to go the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic on the University of Pittsburgh campus, Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Pittsburgh. A gunman who opened fire after entering the lobby of the psychiatric hospital was armed with two semi-automatic handguns during a shooting that left two people, including the gunman, dead and several others wounded, the Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
The problem is the captions are interchangeable - and, in fact, I have interchanged them. I understand that police want to survive violent encounters. I don't like the fact that the police look so much like soldiers. It's a sliding spectrum, and I think the distinction, even just the visual one, between police and soldiers is trending in bad ways. I've thought that for years - but it's getting worse. I don't want the Army to start policing the streets. But I don't want the police looking like they are occupying soldiers in everything but name, either. Dress and appearance matter. They shape attitudes - internally and externally. Oft times intimidation results in escalation.
Click the top picture to go to the story about the hospital shooting.
Read the complete post at http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2012/03/whats_wrong_wit.html
Posted
Mar 09 2012, 10:09 AM
by
Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..