Watching The Cops
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Title: Sorry......Not All Lives Matter
Source:
coloradofop.org/
URL Source: http://www.coloradofop.org/mobile/i ... D=498552#.VWCHROpCcmM.facebook
Published: May 23, 2015
Author: William James Manifold
Post Date: 2015-05-25 19:52:53 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 14116
Comments: 64
This insightful and impassioned public commentary was written and posted to Facebook by William James Manifold. It is a powerful commentary that we felt needed to be repeated. Here it is in its entirety with a minor edit: So last night I noticed on my newsfeed, one of my Facebook friends made a statement that really pissed me off. Something along the lines of "Why do people have to hashtag when in mourning that certain lives matter…all lives matter". This comment was obviously in response to the community outpouring of support for Ofc. Kerrie Orozco who ended her watch yesterday afternoon. I wanted to take a moment to respond. First I beg to differ with you. All lives don’t matter. Now there’s a shocking statement, but it deserves repeating. All lives don’t matter…all lives have the potential to matter…but most certainly all lives don’t matter. Allow me to explain: Ofc Kerrie Orozco, now her life mattered. Why, well let me tell you a little about her. First she chose to serve her community, state and country by being a protector, a defender, a part of a thin blue line, a line of individuals past and present that stand between lawlessness and order, between the monsters and the weak, between good and evil. Every morning she pinned her badge on her uniform, or belt and walked out the door not really knowing if she would walk back in.Not only was she a dedicated law enforcement officer. She was a wife and mother. She was a coach to disadvantaged kids in the community which she served. She was a leader; and to quote her Chief “was a Top Notch person”. She made a difference in the lives of those she touched. She worked in a gang infested part of the city, and reached out to the children of that community each and every day to show them that there was a better way of life. In short, she made a difference…her life mattered. The Omaha metropolitan area will sorely miss her presence. A good cop died today. Contrast that to the individual that took her life yesterday. We’ll refer to him as Mr. POS as he doesn’t deserve to have his name mentioned. He was a gang member, drug dealer, convicted felon. His rap sheet included multiple shootings, accessory to murder, and the list goes on and on. He made a choice to be a menace to his community. His only contribution was pain and suffering. In my opinion…he did nothing to make his life matter, he made no difference…his life didn’t matter. His most outstanding contribution to the Omaha Metro area was that he also died yesterday. The original hashtag of “lives matter” came from a group of misguided individuals in Ferguson, MO who believed that law enforcement officers get up every day with the goal of shooting, or harassing, or arresting someone of a particular race. I can tell you that is absolutely false. Every officer I know or knew, worked with, served with all became an officer for one reason…to make a difference, because God knows it wasn’t for the money. Believe me when I say that almost all officers go out of their way to help those in the communities they serve, and when we find one that doesn’t fit this mold, we take care of that problem. They are educated, relieved of duty or arrested. There are so many examples just this year of law enforcement policing their own ranks. The hashtag #BlueLivesMatter was in response to the misguided notion that only people of certain race are being targeted, when in fact today law enforcement officers in every city are being actively targeted. In case you haven’t noticed…there is a war going on in our own streets today…it’s a war on law enforcement and unless YOU want to walk the line between good and evil, maybe YOU should do something to stop that war. Only YOU can make a difference and WE as a community everywhere must take a stand against those who would like to see our law enforcement officers neutered and defenseless. Our officers need to know that they are supported by their community and their leadership. Far too many today are more worried about being sued when they have to make a split second life or death decision that will experience days, weeks, months or years of armchair quarterbacking by the ill-informed. I’ve walked that thin line. I have many members of my family that walk that thin line still today. I have many friends who I call brother or sister that walk that thin line, and many more that have recently left the line. For those I say their lives matter, they made a difference, they did something that mattered, and when one of them dies…guess what, I’ll hashtag the hell out of my mourning because by whatever God you worship or don’t, by all things holy, #BlueLivesMatter. “And maybe remind the few if ill of us they speak, that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak.” So far this year we have lost 45 lives that mattered, 45 people that served their communities, 45 people that made a difference, 45 brave souls that walked and stood on that thin line, 45 men and women that few will remember. Take a look at this picture; these are 4 of the last 7 officers that died in the line of duty in May protecting you and your family. Take a close look, these 7 are lives that mattered: Pictured in this posting: Not Pictured: Instead of you getting on some high horse thinking that you are being so damned enlightened with your “All Lives Matter” bullshit, you should be getting on your knees thanking each and every one of those people who gave their live so you can sleep at night, so you can walk the street, so you can enjoy the safety that they provide. Will any of them ever ask for your thanks, no. Do they deserve it, you bet they do. If I’ve offended you, I honestly don’t give a shit. You’re an adult, get over it or move on. And honestly, if you get offended that easily and don’t or won’t support our law enforcement officers then I really don’t have the time for you so good riddance. You are part of the problem. So circling back to my original thought, do all lives matter? No, all lives have the potential to matter. It’s up to the individual whether they want to matter or not. Everyone can make a difference; everyone has that opportunity to matter. What have YOU done with your life that matters? To my brothers and sisters still walking the line Omni Cedo Domus…Everyone goes home. You matter. To those that enjoy the blanket of protection they provide, show your support; turn on a blue light at night, thank an officer, attend a Citizens Police Academy, join a neighborhood watch, or just give a kind wave and a smile. You matter. To those that choose to walk on the “other side” of the line, well just keep walking, they’ll get to you eventually…you don’t matter. Ni Baolach Don Olcas Mise…only evil need fear me. May St. Michael keep watch over those still walking the line, and may God keep those who have ended their watch. #BlueLivesMatter #SupportBlue Author: William James Manifold
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#10. To: Gatlin (#0)
I agree with Deckard that this is a dangerous and inappropriate attitude for police to take. Every day, everyone who leaves home does so without knowing if they will return. Acting like it's true only for cops is, frankly, whining. People die on the job in many different professions all the time. It's part of life. .... and she did so for an agreed upon salary, without which, she would have remained an ordinary citizen like most everyone else. Why is this praise of cops made as though they volunteered to do these jobs solely out of the goodness of their hearts? This essay promotes the idea that cops are a special class of people separate and above that of ordinary people, and that kind of thinking is what creates an attitude of superiority among cops that makes things actually more dangerous for the people they supposedly serve.
It is no surprise to me that you agree with Deckard. Your institutional and departmental objectives are largely congruent. The harmony of your agreements are definitely focused on the same outcomes. I read your comment carefully and I appreciate you taking time to share your concern. I understand your point. I didn’t say I agree with your point, I said I understand it. There is an insightful story that I never grow tired of. I will share it with you: There was a man who knew about his reputation and he traveled a long distance to test Buddha. When he arrived and stood before Buddha, he verbally abused him constantly; he insulted him; he challenged him; he did everything he could to offend Buddha. Buddha was unmoved, he simply turned to the man and said, “May I ask you a question?” The man responded with, “Well, what?” Buddha said, “If someone offers you a gift and you decline to accept it, to whom then does it belong?” The man said, “Then it belongs to the person who offered it.” Buddha smiled, “That is correct. So if I decline to accept your abuse, does it not then still belong to you?” The man was speechless and walked away. We can’t change the way people act or what they say, but we can control how we react. We do have a choice. If we chose not to accept the negativity, then just don’t accept it. The negativity is then not ours if we don’t take it, I know this is true, because Budda said so.
This comment is certainly not in sync with your next: Like hell you understand it. You don't want to understand my position but the above dribble is much like police departments investigating their own after a cop kills an innocent, harmless civilian. "We investigated and understand everything, and our man did a good job". This shouldn't be news to you and GI but it probably is, because you guys just can't consider others actually may not want to harm you. (Something that I guess comes with cops being trained to believe the ridiculous notion that everyone will kill a cop given any opportunity to do so, which is why innocent people get shot to hell because they pull out a cell phone or scratch their face while in the presense of a cop) but never have I ever posted anything that celebrates the killing of any cop. Saying cops die sometimes is nothing more than a fact of life and one you guys need to accept. Tell me this: How does your posting of this article talking about how not all lives matter, insulting people who disagree with the author, jive with your comment about the grand benevolence of Budda in politely refusing to accept ill will from others who choose to harbor it? Please explain that, because you are all over the map on this one.
#28. To: Pinguinite (#25)
I believe I am at a total loss to ever explain anything to you. It is just beyond my capability to do so. I can only surmise from your postings that you have an intense hatred. So that is not something I can help you with, if that is true.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Every morning she pinned her badge on her uniform, or belt and walked out the door not really knowing if she would walk back in.
First she chose to serve her community, state and country by being a protector, a defender, a part of a thin blue line, a line of individuals past and present that stand between lawlessness and order, between the monsters and the weak, between good and evil.
#13. To: Pinguinite, Deckard, GrandIsland (#10)
(Edited)
I agree with Deckard that this is a dangerous and inappropriate attitude for police to take.
Buddha was well known for his ability to respond to evil with good.
#25. To: Gatlin (#13)
It is no surprise to me that you agree with Deckard. Your institutional and departmental objectives are largely congruent. The harmony of your agreements are definitely focused on the same outcomes.
I read your comment carefully and I appreciate you taking time to share your concern. I understand your point. I didn’t say I agree with your point, I said I understand it.
Replies to Comment # 25. Please explain that,
End Trace Mode for Comment # 25.
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