The Knight Life by Keith Knight for December 26, 2014

or read something smart instead of the same month old joke.

Same old joke for the same nasty series of events. If you don’t like it, don’t read it, Miny Boy.

Thanks Keith. I was feeling like, “yeah, I get it” a couple of days ago, and wondering why I was feeling annoyed (because it wasn’t the message that was bugging me, for sure). I realized it’s because of the impossibility of doing the things shown (like driving) with your hands up. Living your whole life with your hands up. So that’s the point where I actually “got it.” Some people are clearly still in the “the bugs me but I’m not sure why / don’t care to think further” stage. So keep on with this as long as you need to, for it to hit home.

A friend sent us a link to a video posted on Dec 23rd by Mark Frauenfelder online on Boing Boing that i think many here would appreciate. Similar subject matter and very creative w a surprise bonus near the end.

Agrestic, you made a very insightful comment late yesterday, and i replied there, including the quote which i attribute there:“There is a reason you separate military and police.One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people.When the military becomes both then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.”

Olongapojoe wrote:“there is no dichotomy between wanting cops on the streets to deal with violence and wanting those cops to act decently (including not randomly killing folks… In fact, having a police department that has very good community relations can be an important factor in reducing crime, including violent crime.”There have recently been other questionable fatal shootings by cops in NYC, including of a young man in a dark hallway with his girlfriend. I think most people here realize that not only are good community relations needed, but also that being fair and respectful to citizens in any group including young black men, and to the good cops are both needed to get there. You made a very good point. No group is all good or all bad, all innocent or all guilty. Thinking otherwise is certain to cause conflict. If the purpose of this strip was to get people thinking and conversing then at least here there has been some success. Whether enjoying or complaining i think people here are trying to LISTEN to others, and that always is an excellent step. Now, if only it happened as readily elsewhere…

BTW, like Eric Garner i have asthma. I would hope that if i told someone that i coukd not breathe that the person would behave logically and respectfully. Police get some emergency medical training. They therefore KNOW that maintaining airway is one of the three most important actions for preventing death. There was no excuse i can think of for not taking that plea with the seriousness it warranted. Too many have needlessly died recently: teens, men, cops. It is heartbreaking.

Olangapojoe, i think maybe you do not know what Garner was doing that led to his death. He was illegally selling brand name cigarettes. Not a lot of cigarettes, mind you. If he had been seen as a white collar criminal, given that some of them also engage in illegal sales, just MUCH larger sales, he more likely woukd have been given a citation and have to appear in court, but for a few cigarettes Garner was going to be dragged to jail and when he could not be we know what happened. Right from scratch the police behaviour was disproportionate and it only got worse. There was no need for a paddy wagon, just for the over-reaction to stop rather than escalate.