Are These Good Values?
Since when is the Bill of Rights un-American? And, since when is the disregard of humanity good values?
In case you were wondering, I’m speaking about the Andrew Meyer incident that’s been all the rage on the news (and in the blogosphere) lately. I’ve had so many differing opinions on what happened – it’s hard to tell what the real news story is. Or, even if there is one … everything seems to be getting a little out of focus.
Just in case you don’t know what I am talking about – Andrew Meyer is the Florida University student who was tasered by the police when he became disruptive following a John Kerry speech. (Google it if you haven’t seen all the footage yet.)
What really pissed me off came from the Right Wing News blog post entitled Andrew Meyer Deserved To Be Tazered.
Granted, I could be wrong – but aren’t the “Right Wing” folks supposed to be all about good values? It’s what we keep hearing from them… and it’s hard to not read anything from the “right wing” that doesn’t contain words like “family values” or “Christian values”… And I’m just curious as to what kind of values it is when abusive police tactics are warranted.
If you read the Right Wing News post, it makes it clear that (in their opinion) Andrew Meyer was merely exercising his right to free speech. Sure, he was annoying. Yes, he was causing a disturbance. However, can you honestly tell me that you’ve never seen anyone do anything like that before at a political event? Come on – it happens all the time.
I have also heard many say he was resisting arrest. Yet, between the footage shown on the news (and on YouTube), and the RWN post – that theory gets blasted to bits. Seems the poor guy caused the disturbance because he felt he should have been given a chance to speak. John Kerry agreed to take on his questions. He’s got two police officers behind him to make sure he stays in line (not currently trying to arrest him) and when Meyer asks questions that are obviously geared to cause controversy, he is tackled by the police, placed in handcuffs, and THEN tazered.
I always thought Tazer guns were used to help subdue someone – not to punish them or extract revenge…
But, that’s not what this blog post is all about – it’s about the way we react to these sorts of news stories. (Or, blog posts. Or?)
Much of the coverage surrounding this event has made me question one thing that I have yet to hear on the news or read about in the newspapers or blogs:
What was the mental health status of Andrew Meyer?
The guy had appeared to have a history of pulling stunts, causing disruptions, and doing things to bring attention to himself. Had he ever been evaluated by a mental health professional? Do his actions suggest that he was dealing with some sort of mental health issues? Had anyone addressed these issues at all? And, if so – does this make the police response any more (or any less) acceptable?
Do those with mental issues DESERVE to be tazered?
Does anyone deserve to be tazered?
I’ll have to think on this for a bit…
I’m with you on this one. Up here in the frozen north, the cops only pull out a tazer gun as an absolute last resort. They might talk you to death before they decide to send 50,000 volts through your system. Having seen the video on just about every channel on the dial, it seems to me that it was used to silence him, not to bring him under physical control, as he appeared to have been handcuffed already.
I would be interested to know what you think after you complete your deliberations.
For me, it was an extreme over-reaction. Of course, in the days before tazer guns, he would have likely taken a few boots to the head or a couple of whacks with a night stick or billyclub or a couple of kicks to the crotch.
Every time I run it through my thought processes, I can simply not see such a scenario play out up here… hell, the cops have to fill out paperwork if they even unlock their holsters (and you should have heard the hue and cry that went up when the cops here went to open top holsters from closed holsters). If you recall the school shootings in Montreal last year at Dawson College, one of the cops who shot the gunman said it was the first time in 25 years on the job that he ever had to draw his service weapon and fire it (other than on the firing range for re-certification).
Comment by Vanyel — September 20, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
I don’t really know what you have to think about Corky.
It’s the new version of ‘Land of the Free, Home of the Brave”.
You have to toe the line, or you will be pulled out of the line the next time you use the airport.
The Democratic half of the Illusionistic dance of the fictional 2 parties
has squandered it’s last election mandate to end/change/impeach/ do SOMETHING.
All of this is theatre, designed to distract attention from the lizzards devouring our heritage.
Aren’t you amused?
Comment by pete — October 1, 2007 @ 3:01 pm