Obama and Ferguson

[Brian37]

I was thinking a 100 yard dash could be run in 7 seconds. 10 seconds is more reasonable. 150 feet is half the distance of a 100 yard dash...so it can be ran in 5 seconds.

It may not have been immediately apparent that it was a lawful killing, but it was immediately apparent there would be reasonable doubt and only a lynch mob jury would convict.

Why are you assuming that Brown had world class speed? All this demonstrates is that you are desperate to provide a rationalization that exonerates Wilson. You cannot justify shooting an unarmed man 150 feet away. If he continued to charge and got within ten feet, then the situation is entirely different.

Here we go getting stuck on details when the long term issue is why did it get to this point at all.

Um no see this is why I don't like getting stuck on details. 150ft was the distance between the car and Brown's body. Wilson chased brown which means he did NOT shoot him at that distance. Wilson was closer when he shot Brown. Now again, still no justification in any case. Wilson fired at him while he was running away. That also set the tone as to why Brown stopped. I think Wilson misinterpreted his behavior. I believe Brown's friend when he said he was TRYING to give up.

This is precisely why they get away with rationalizing Wilson's actions. I focus on conditions, and I also focus on the starting point, even if we are going to talk about this case.

I believe Brown's friend when he said Wilson cussed him out. And the other point that makes Wilson's story crap is confronting someone from a tactical disadvantage in a seated position. Wilson lit the fuse and it could have been avoided by not reacting to Brown cussing him out after he cussed at Brown. Wilson could have easily backed off an put distance between them before he got out of the car.

I think far too many people have this stupid idea(even if not all, just far too many) that Brown's parents raised him to "hey assault the cop because you are dark skin". I have no doubt that Brown's parents were not excusing their son resisting. They are asking why he ended up dead.

Now the numbers are in as far as who gets killed while unarmed ratio wise. ON AVERAGE 400 dark skin males are killed while unarmed every year. Under similar circumstances if resisting, light skin males are LESS LIKELY to get killed.

Brown's reaction and fear DOES NOT justify him resisting. But the same unfounded fear is the same fear that caused two tea party nuts to fear government and murder cops.

Wilson's power trip and not checking his emotions even if we are not going to call him racist, still does not change the social conditioning that hurts dark skin males more by cops, again that lack of awareness does not have to be intentional.

Ok, so if everyone agrees that none of us want things like this to happen. Then my suggestion is to stop blaming those affected the most by these conditions.

My point is long term. Young males no matter skin tone and no matter size and no matter urban, suburban or rural, do destructive things, I know I did. But until we accept that dark skin males are affected more by law enforcement and more by economic conditions, events like this and lack of trust between law enforcement, and classes and races will be an issue.

So here is my solution.

STOP blaming poor blacks because there are poor whites too. Stop training cops to fear society.

Stop treating guns like porn or candy.

Raise wages for urban communities, invest in urban communities. Invest in suburban and rural middle class and poor so EVERYONE can pay their bills. Economic stability reduces all crime and reduces fear and paranoia.

Stop claiming "blacks commit more crimes". No they do not. They simply get arrested more and punished more harshly.

Stop treating poverty as a crime and treat it as a condition.

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Oh and Cato, I am not saying you are siding with Wilson at all. I am simply saying lets not play their game.