There is corruption everywhere. It is unavoidable, but there is no reason to ever generalize any group of people. Not every person from the Middle East is a terrorist, not every Christian is a homophobe, not every Southern white person is an ignorant racist, and not every law enforcement officer is “out to get you.”
Police officers risk their lives to protect us. They have been through more than most people will ever go through, and have seen more than most will ever have to see. Obviously every system is flawed. There will always be a dash of bad in a sea of good intentions, but it would be idiotic to blame the entire force for the mistakes of a select few.
A common phrase I have heard way too many individuals say or post on social media is “F*** 12” when they see cops. That is honestly the most unnerving thing you can say. Yes, cops will pull you over if you are speeding; yes, they will ticket you if you are underage drinking; yes, they will arrest you if you have illegal drugs. All of these things are against the law. Whether you do them or not is up to you, but blaming the officers for doing their jobs is ridiculous. Why would you hate a group of people for doing what they are paid to do?
I understand there has been numerous cases throughout the United States of prejudice in the system against people of different skin colors. Some truly were situations of prejudice, but not all of them. We as a people need to stop blaming officers for every single encounter we have with them. If you are disrespectful or rude to an officer while they have you pulled over, obviously they’re going to get frustrated. They are humans, they get offended and they get upset. It happens. You arguing and telling them no and they can’t do anything isn’t going to get you off the hook for the illegal things you are most likely trying to conceal, let alone get you out of a ticket.
I know I have seen one too many posts on Facebook and Twitter of people holding signs to their window saying, “I don’t have to show you my I.D.” and, “I don’t have to roll down my window.” What is the point of you trying to defy these officers that want nothing more than to briefly check your identification in their vehicle? The worst that could happen is you receive a ticket, which you most likely would have deserved in order for you to get pulled over in the first place.
This generation is so frustrating to be a part of at times. People are so babied and spoiled by their parents, which makes them believe they can do no wrong. They don’t have jobs, they are lazy and they feel as if everything should be handed to them on a golden platter. School, jobs, money, everything. You have to work for those things -- they aren’t meant to be easily attainable things.
On a separate but similar note, I understand that Ferguson is a very touchy situation for some people. But people need to realize that on the night of the incident, Michael Brown had robbed a gas station, was smoking marijuana and ran from the police. All illegal things. Now there are arguments about whether he was armed or why he was shot so many times, and I understand that. Like I said, there is corruption in the system. It will happen. But he was not innocent. He committed several crimes. Yet people rioted for him? Saying he was innocent and cops are pigs? At the anniversary of the incident, which turned into a huge riot of people breaking into stores and being violent, some rioters roasted a pig and named it after the officer who shot Brown. These same people were publicly on the news stating how they “hate police” and how they “hope the police won’t start anything tonight.” The police were there because of the crime that they know accompanies the kind of behavior they were exhibiting.
People just feel they are too entitled to answer to anyone. Well, here is your wake up call America: You are not above answering to the consequences for the crimes you commit, and you are definitely not above the law. Officers are there to protect you and enforce the laws our country has in place. So quit whining on Facebook about how corrupt the system is and how “all cops are out to get you.” It makes you look a whole new level of ignorant, and sets a bad example for future generations.
