Apology does not fit in
Really really I am very much moved by the killing of this poor Brazilian Menezes (27) in a London tube station by the police for no crime whatsoever. I don't understand why his running away from the plain-clothed gun-wielding officers is being considered as an excuse to shoot him. How can one make out at those nervous moments that those gun-toting guys were not, in fact, goons themselves (or shall I say terrorists)?
I just came to know that the chief of the Metropolitan Police Sir Ian Blair has formally apologized to his family for this 'tragedy' (what about the word crime). Yesterday, in one of the public statements, issued by the police they expressed 'satisfaction' that the murdered man is not linked to terrorism. I have no words to express my indignation, my hatred and my dismay. The consequence of this easily avoidable 'tragedy' is surely going have fatal ramifications. The actual criminals are at large, moving scot free when police with all their incompetence are chasing, harassing and killing innocent civilians. Firstly, this incident will foment racial hatred among the communities as it takes no efforts to deduce that the skin color of the victim placed the odds against him. On the other hand, the exposure of the police inefficiency and the lack of confidence that they will possibly suffer from from now on, gives the real terrorists a time for jubilation -- that does not bode well.
posted by Akash at 1:46 PM
6 Comments:
I really dont think you can critise people who are trying to protect the public for something like this.
It is a tragedy that someone has died as a result of this but when all the facts are looked at and considered, with what was potentially at stake the officers involved had to make a judgement call as to whether to risk the lives of hundreds of people against the life of someone who at that time was displaying many aspects of a potential terrorist including running away from police despite all their warnings.
No matter what language you speak, the words stop and police are relatively wide-spread as known.
I will say again that I think his death is indeed a tragedy of circumstance but I feel that the officers in question had to make a judgement call and they took the only option open to them. For you to claim "Hatred" for this may be your opinion but does not help the situation and in my opinion is a very narrow minded viewpoint.
In life judgement calls need to be made, there is no option. At that time the judgement call was right even if the results were unfortunately tragic.
@anonymous: I argue that the real tragedy is not the death of that innocent civilian rather the decision of shooting by the police based on false information. This was a clear case of incompetence and uncoordination on the part of police -- the fact which was never acknowledged. I do not believe that the behavior and the activities of the victim prior to his murder was suspicious enough to warrant a shoot-to-kill decision. On the other hand, the fact that he tried to flee on being chased by muggers or goons (ununiformed police can potentially be mistaken for them) pulling out guns from their waists in an uncrowded part of the station is not unjustifiable. Arguments in the line that he could have reacted a bit less strongly and obeyed those gun toting men in order to save himself are baseless and no less ridiculous than judging that strong adrenalin rush in the brain is an undisputed trait of a terrorist.
The attempts of the London Police to cover up their stupidity and justify their action which is in the same category as terrorism (to put it mildly violation of human rights) elicited hatred and dismay in me. No doubt.
You do not have the information to make such sweeping statements and leaps-to-conclusions.
Your opinion is based upon a combination of your feelings (understandable) and bits of information from the media.
In casual conversation this can be enough to make such opinions but far from being able to justify your statements which do leap-to-conclusions and do not make acurate analysis of the portion of facts currently known.
As I say, your statements seem based upon feeling and emotion rather than fact.
Its easy to make such comments with hindsight and lack of complete analysis.
A second point to close, the information was not false as you have stated. The conclusion was false but the information was correct. That correct information, while circumstancial lead to a descision that was correct for the information but unfortunately incorrect when every fact is known after the event. These tragedies do happen in life but this does not mean that with the information available at the time, that any other descision could have been made.
Judgement calls have to be made and do not have the benefit of hindsight. They rely on the facts at that time and even if a descision can be considered wrong after the event, taking into account the available information when the descision has to be made, the descision itself is correct, however tragic.
I agree that decision cannot be taken with hindsight. But this is no excuse to part with foresight.
Another point that I missed earlier. A real tragedy is one which is unavoidable, that is what is beyond the control of humans, such as flood, drought, an accident like plane crash etc. those which are known as acts of God. London murder is no act of God. There is surely some GROSS lapse in the intelligence and police department otherwise someone with absolutely no criminal records hadn't had to be killed. Even when a train accident occurs it is a norm in any democratic country to set up an enquiry commision to investigate whether there is any individual's fault and in such case bring the perpetrators to justice. However, London Metropolitan Police didn't offer any public explanation for this killing, much less show any gesture to put the culprits on trial. I find this shameful.
It has been announced that a full enquirey will take place and to announce any reasons before this would be ludicrous as would any suggestions of trial guilt or fault.
An enquirey should take its course and then statements and actions be issued and taken based upon its considered findings. It is my understanding that this is what is now happening.
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