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September 19, 2007 5:55 AM
For What It's Worth: Taser, Part II
Yesterday's post on the tasering incident generated heated comments -- from those who thought that the action was barbaric and those who felt there should be no sympathy for the student as he was out of line.
I had originally posted it not to take one side or the other -- I didn't feel that the video showed us the whole story -- although I instinctively felt that the use of a taser was unnecessary and extreme. But I also know I wasn't there. I really posted it because it made me realize again the way the easy distribution of video is forever going to change events like these -- we all become football referees with access to instant replay.
Given the heated back-and-forth in our comments, I did want to offer this follow up, for what it's worth. From Senator Kerry:
In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption, but I do not know what warnings or other exchanges transpired between the young man and the police prior to his barging to the front of the line and their intervention. I asked the police to allow me to answer the question and was in the process of responding when he was taken into custody. I was not aware that a taser was used until after I left the building. I hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured. I regret enormously that a good healthy discussion was interrupted.
I believe Senator Kerry didn't know how extreme it got; and that I'm not sure what else a Senator would do at that moment other than trust the security presence. What do you think?
And if you haven't seen the video yet, it's below:
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Discussion
Yes, one must not jump to conclusions about this unfortunate incident. But what must be ensured is that there is a follow-up investigation into it.
The question remains. Why did the cops have to drag huim away and taser him? The video shows that he did nothing provocative except ask Kerry about his alleged association with the Skulls and Bones secret society along with George Bush during their college days.
In this video you can hear his question before he gets dragged away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVa6jn4rpE
And this video has images of him after they take him outside and apparently charge him with inciting a riot.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3ec_1190097717
It makes one wonder if the Skulls and Bones idea is more than just a conspiracy theory, if the reaction to it is so unexplainable and seemingly irrational.
This statement of Kerry's confirms what I thought I heard on the video. It was a stupid worthless question on the students part and not right for him to jump the line as he did. However, the senator's wishes should have been honored by the police. The university president has already said there will be an investigation and two police have been put on leave. Here is the link for his speech regarding the issue.
http://www.president.ufl.edu/incident.htm
Who is the guy behind the police who calls for the mic to be cut after the student mentions impeaching Bush? That seems to be what spark the police to action.
I haven't read a lot about this but how do we know the student jumped the line? Obviously Kerry thinks he did. If he did why didn't the police remove him then instead of allowing him to ask his questions?
What bothers me most is the willingness of the police to thump on anyone, right or left, who questions the political elite instead of seeing their job as protecting the rights of everyone.
Personally, I'm disappointed in Kerry. This is the man that almost was elected president, and when he is ACTIVELY WITNESSING a brutal repression of free speech and abuse of an American citizen by the MAN, he sits back until it's gone beyond the point of absurdity and at the last minute, offers a lame, "well, I would have answered his question..."
NO, John, if you truly were the man who would be president, you would have raised your stentorian Herman Munster voice to a great shout of:
"Leave that man alone! He has the right to speak his mind, and I intend to answer him! This is America, dammit, not the USSR! Back off, you fascist pigs!"
But like in 2004, he was just plain lame.
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