Ferguson: Same Old Trajectory

I want to add to yesterday’s post that events in Ferguson appear to be following a standard trajectory. The immediate impetus after such an apparent act of brutality is for the Powers That Be to go into “nothing to see here, move along” mode. When the community and many others rallied and asked for justice, and the PTB realized they weren’t going to get away with burying the incident, they went into their standard alternate modes of (1) demonizing the victim by trying to claim he had just robbed a convenience store, for example, although I don’t believe he did, and I understand the owner of the store didn’t file a police report, and there is no way Officer Wilson would have known about the convenience store, and anyway the convenience store episode may not have happened on the same day; many things are not clear.

And then there’s (2) making excuses for the cop. By now it has been thoroughly proven that the eye socket injury didn’t happen. Now we see white supporters of Officer Wilson claiming the shooting was a “good kill.” WTF? Based on what evidence we actually have — no, it was not.

I fully support the opinion that we should not declare Officer Wilson guilty of anything before he has had his day in court. There may be evidence that hasn’t come into public view that will shed a different light on things. But based on everything even partly substantiated has been made public, this was an utterly unnecessary slaughter of an unarmed young man who hadn’t been found guilty of anything, either.

This trajectory of events is so standard it’s nearly become ritual. Next time we could appoint Kabuki actors to play it out for us.

11 thoughts on “Ferguson: Same Old Trajectory

  1. What in the hell is a good kill? The kid has been found guilty,,,like Trayvon was…death sentence imposed! Signed me…old white and Lakota lady!

  2. “This trajectory of events is so standard it’s nearly become ritual. Next time we could appoint Kabuki actors to play it out for us.”

    Also, hire some experienced actors from Theatre of the Absurd productions, to portray our MSM and pundits.
    I’ve acted in some Beckett, Durrenmatt, Ionesco, Pinter, Havel, and Albee plays, so I’d be available – AND, I’m a cheap hire!

  3. “This trajectory of events is so standard it’s nearly become ritual. Next time we could appoint Kabuki actors to play it out for us.”

    Also, hire some experienced actors from Theatre of the Absurd productions, to portray our MSM and pundits.
    I’ve acted in some Beckett, Durrenmatt, Ionesco, Pinter, Havel, and Albee plays, so I’d be available – AND, I’m a cheap hire!

  4. One thing that has become blatantly obvious from recent events, including Mr. Brown, is that police are being foolishly trained to be situationally unaware and to needlessly act in a provocative manner by steadfastly holding their ground despite what events on the ground suggest is prudent. These officers, according to video evidence, are flat-footed, slow to (re)act, and overly focused on a single (tunnel) vision.

    If any of the young athletes I coach perform in such a manner, they definitely get talked to and the proper techniques practiced. Training in real life events is severely incomplete for these officers – there is NO WAY they are in any sense ready for solo activity.

    • Dan — Completely agree. Never mind the events of the shooting; the Ferguson police department has put every foot wrong it could possibly put wrong since then. This was beginning with the immediate aftermath of the shooting, when they allowed the body to remain on the street uncovered for four hours while everyone in the neighborhood was watching. I appreciate they had to document the scene carefully, but surely they could have done whatever was necessary with the body a lot quicker. See the video: http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000003072033/michael-browns-body.html?smid=fb-share

  5. “We’re out here to support Darren Wilson because he don’t have a voice.” — Ed Chambers

    Uh, shore he do, Ed.

    The problem is the Ferguson PD spirited him into hiding immediately, and he has not been heard from since. We can all hope there’s an indictment, so Officer Wilson can “tell it to the judge.”

  6. Gobsmacked. Is that Chutzpah or pure ignorance that leads Officers Wilson’s supporters to feel the need to argue in support of the concept of innocent until proven guilty? That is just a blindness to reality that I have trouble fathoming.

    • //That is just a blindness to reality that I have trouble fathoming.// It’s the iron wall, I say (read previous post).

  7. Well, normally I’d give the police the home court advantage for the win, but seeing how they are keeping Wilson so tightly under wraps until they can plug any or all potential leaks in their story it makes me think they’re standing on shaky ground. Hero’s don’t need to go into hiding.

  8. What in the hell is a good kill?

    Well, in volleyball it’s when you spike the ball just as its crosses the net causing the opposing team to lose the serve. The traditional ritual with volleyball players when the ball is spiked is to high five the player who spiked it, and congratulate them by announcing. .GOOD KILL !

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