First off, a disclaimer. I do not mean this to be racist in any way *or* to talk down to this family, how they raised the child, or how they live. This is purely based on an observation I made while shopping today.
I was in Target (tar-JAY) today doing a little shopping (well, not a little but you get the picture) and I saw an African American lady with what I assumed to be her son. The child was behaving very well, quiet, but exploring close to his mother. (Yes, it's nice to see a child who isn't a whiney destructive brat where the parents ignore them).
As I put something in my card, I see two security guards come out from the back (I assume they were on a break, just starting work, or something, nothing out of the ordinary). As they walked by, chatting (normal work chat) the child saw them and their uniforms and had the largest look of fear in his face, then quickly went into the "spread'em' position where he stood face first against one of the displays, spread his feet, and put his arms up (as you see police arrest people).
I've seen kids shriek and run away at uniformed officers, most of the time in play, but the fear I saw in this child's face was not play at all.
At work and at my wife's dog club, I've met and talked to several officers and all of them were very nice and professional, even the times I've dealt wiht them on a professional level (on their end) they've been respective. I'd hate to think that racism (or reverse-racism) has played a part in this, me being your average white male in his low to mid 30's) but what I saw made me really think different. Even living in the ghetto (and yes, I live in a ghetto) the officers here are still respectful and professional, no matter how stressed they are.
What was this child taught? Did he and/or his family have a bad run-in with a bad officer (yes, I know some are out there)? Since when did the police become the enemy?
I was in Target (tar-JAY) today doing a little shopping (well, not a little but you get the picture) and I saw an African American lady with what I assumed to be her son. The child was behaving very well, quiet, but exploring close to his mother. (Yes, it's nice to see a child who isn't a whiney destructive brat where the parents ignore them).
As I put something in my card, I see two security guards come out from the back (I assume they were on a break, just starting work, or something, nothing out of the ordinary). As they walked by, chatting (normal work chat) the child saw them and their uniforms and had the largest look of fear in his face, then quickly went into the "spread'em' position where he stood face first against one of the displays, spread his feet, and put his arms up (as you see police arrest people).
I've seen kids shriek and run away at uniformed officers, most of the time in play, but the fear I saw in this child's face was not play at all.
At work and at my wife's dog club, I've met and talked to several officers and all of them were very nice and professional, even the times I've dealt wiht them on a professional level (on their end) they've been respective. I'd hate to think that racism (or reverse-racism) has played a part in this, me being your average white male in his low to mid 30's) but what I saw made me really think different. Even living in the ghetto (and yes, I live in a ghetto) the officers here are still respectful and professional, no matter how stressed they are.
What was this child taught? Did he and/or his family have a bad run-in with a bad officer (yes, I know some are out there)? Since when did the police become the enemy?
Comment