Leprechaun, given the contentious nature of this debate, I'm trying to be especially careful about inadvertant offense, printed conversation is damned awkward. It never occurred to me that a COP might be reading this, but doesn't that say something about the way police officers have been pushed out of our social picture? I spoke of the "heavily armed paramilitary soldier" as opposed to the "cop on the beat". The uniform sets the man on the street apart as an authoritative figure, but doesn't dehumanize him, the cruiser on the other hand.... feels like occupation.

I'm talking right off the top of my head now, it's time for me to go to bed, so I hope I'm not embarrassed to read this later. But it occurs to me that we who are not on the front lines tend to view the social gulf from one perspective and not disregard, but not SEE the other. Either we are aware of the horrid conditions which breed the violence and rebellion and cry for change, or we see the vermin predators who would commit their crimes under any circumstances and advocate tougher law. I have no sympathy for bullies no matter what their colors, I've encountered them, there isn't much you need to know about them. I believe policemen have to be members of the community, not foreigners. How we can get back to that under todays circumstances I don't know.

Back at ya later,

Frank i.t.s.