Blue Lives Matter and Stirring the Pot

[Big RR]

One of my neighbors is a police officer in another town and he has recently taken to flying an odd flag, it appears to be a US flag, but it is primarily in black and white with one of the white stripes being replaced by a blue stripe. I googled it and found out it was a police flag by a group/movement called Blue Lives Matter (I would try and post an image, but the system generally just gives me trouble--anyone else who wants to can post it). Without going into detail on the specific aims and points of the movement, I was particularly surprised that this modification of the American flag for political purposes was not condemned in the same way that the sports player kneeling was. Face it, the flag was significantly altered, with the red stripes (standing for the blood and sacrifice of the patriots before us) and the blue field (signifying justice)e are blacked out and one white stripe (signifying loyalty and innocence) is blued out. Yes, it the fact that far too many police are killed in action is a point that deserves to be made (as is the point of black lives matter), but somehow I doubt that if black lives matter had done the same thing to a flag it would be received without condemnation. Indeed, in a country where the president decries athletes kneeling during the national anthem (however well intentioned it was) as a disgrace and extreme disrespect, where is there even any criticism of this desecration of a national symbol (however well intentioned it was)? Just more hypocrisy IMHO.

[Lord Jim]

I think this is it:

[Big RR]

that's it; thanks Jim.

[BoSoxGal]

I get very frustrated by the blue lives matter flags and such, because it’s very obviously an attempt to deflect from the high rate of unreasonable use of force and outright murders committed by police.

Meanwhile policing isn’t even in the top ten of deadliest jobs in America - yes, many of their injuries/deaths are the result of intentional harm by another person, but that IS the primary risk of the job they signed up for.

How about a logging or farming or fishing or construction lives matter flag? Because all of those professions are more deadly.

And I agree, it’s a desecration of the flag - they should’ve designed their own but as with most things, the rules don’t apply to law enforcement.

/rant

[Big RR]

BSG--whille I do agree that there are a good number of bullies in law enforcement, and a lot of things done that are indefensible, I also think that there are a lot of people in law enforcement that are killed for doing their jobs; these are the people who have to go into places we prefer not to go, and get involved with things we prefer to avoid, even ignore. So I see no problem with them pointing that out. But the reason I pointed this out is because Trump and his monions were up in arms about people kneeling during the national anthem (as if kneeling is disrespectful), but pretty much ignore this flag desecration. I am personally inclined to just condone both, but not the Trumpites. And IMHO, it's not because it's the police (at least for most of them), it's because it's not African Americans seeking to make a point.

[RayThom]

Keep in mind that all flags -- regardless of country, or ceremony -- are merely symbolic.

They only carry as much weight as we want to give them.

Now about the police: Some months ago, my daughter's (EX) drunken, SO, who is also a Camden police detective, assaulted her, then called his Buddies-in-Blue and had her arrested. On his word only -- without one scintilla of evidence -- she spent the 3rd and 4th of July sharing a jail cell with two (harmless) drug offenders until she was set free on her own recognizance.

All sorts of ridiculous, wasteful, and costly, court appearances ensued UNTIL the "mommy's boy" detective was told the proceedings were causing his commanding officers great consternation. Once he realized there was a good chance that a couple regional newspapers were ready to publish the story with his name and department -- POOF! -- all charges were not only dropped but somehow disappeared from all court and police filings -- city and county. It was like the assault never happened -- except for the bitter memories.

I doubt if I'll ever forgive "Detective Shithead" for his vindictive, nearly misogynistic, behavior but I do know of -- from stories that were related to me throughout "happier times" -- the often life threatening encounters experienced daily, especially in Camden's impoverished, urban, environment. Without a structured police presence things would surely go from bad to worse more quickly than imagined.

I can somewhat understand why police have difficulty in their personal lives -- but without absolving them of their sins. My only wish is the changes I know that are being made in police departments nation wide would come much quicker. So far, the "new centurion" that is needed and in the works is only half built, and will 'serve and protect' no one until the restructuring is fully completed. Sad.

At the moment I see our police as a necessary evil. This must change.

[Big RR]

Indeed flags are only symbolic, as are national anthems.

As for your daughter's ex, there is no excuse for this behavior, or for the buddies who backed him up and made her life hell. Yes, the y have a difficult job, and yes they are under a lot of stress, but that is no excuse. And far too often, the police are like the fraternity brothers who back up the jerk who sexually assaults a woman.

On the other hand, I have seen a number of good cops as well; guys who had the backs of me and my colleagues in problematic situations. These are the guys who run into the synagogue to confront the gunman, or who diffuse serious situations without firing a shot.

[Jarlaxle]

The black and white flag (what was posted, minus the blue stripe) is used by military forces on equipment and clothing-it shows up better with night vision devices.

[BoSoxGal]

I don’t think it’s black and white, it’s shades of grey, black and tan or olive drab for the IR flag patches.

http://www.armymilitaryblog.com/2011/08 ... s.html?m=1

[MGMcAnick]

I don't consider the "blue lives matter" flag to be a desecration of the American flag. They didn't take a red-white-and blue flag and paint over the colors like that "artist" at the University Of Kansas did few months ago. It is a flag, using SOME of the same features and different colors.

That said, I think you all know how I feel about stupid bullying police officers.

[liberty]

There is no disrespect intended as it is not an American flag. It is not red, white and blue. It is a distress flag to show concern. There are two one with a blue center stripe and one with a red center stripe. One represents domestic concerns such as the crime, police and the economy and one for foreign concerns such as military and the national defense. I saw a lot of them flown during the of reign king Obama the magnificent the Nobel Prize winner. But since trump has been president they have just about disappeared. They can also stand for support for the police and the military.

There is no official meaning for the flags; what I provided was gathered from local interpretation.

[Bicycle Bill]

There is no official meaning for the flags;

Bullshit.  A flag is a symbol, an emblem, a representation of something — therefore, by definition, it has some specific meaning.  You want to quibble over the word 'official', be my guest.

what I provided was gathered from local interpretation.

In other words, shit you just now made up.

-"BB"-

[Big RR]

I agree BB, just as a national anthem has some specific meaning. But why kneeling during the national anthem at a football game is disrespect to the veterans while desecration of a flag to make a similar political point is not eludes me.

Liberty, why does this Blue Lives Matter flag signal support for the military?

[liberty]

There is no official meaning for the flags;

Bullshit.  A flag is a symbol, an emblem, a representation of something — therefore, by definition, it has some specific meaning.  You want to quibble over the word 'official', be my guest.

what I provided was gathered from local interpretation.

In other words, shit you just now made up.

-"BB"-

Bull shit in your face Bill. It has no official meaning; it means whatever the individual flying it wants it to mean. I saw one in a small community just south of Bastrop it had a blue strip and was flown along with the Marine Corps flag, the US flag and the southern battle flag. Base on that alone I seriously doubt he was a supporter of King Obama the magnificent the most high the Nobel Prize winner.
Around here they were flown as a protest against King Obama the Magnificent the shit eater.

[Crackpot]

You should get counseling for your corprophiliac fantasies lib.

[liberty]

I don't consider the "blue lives matter" flag to be a desecration of the American flag. They didn't take a red-white-and blue flag and paint over the colors like that "artist" at the University Of Kansas did few months ago. It is a flag, using SOME of the same features and different colors.

That said, I think you all know how I feel about stupid bullying police officers.

You only have a problem with police bullies? I hate all bullies and don’t care about their job, race or religions. They all deserve to die. But that is not true for liberals they have a class system that value some people over others. Some people that deserve the protection of the law and some that don’t deserve protection. Remember the handicapped parking place bully that was killed in Florida. Remember it was important to report his race because he was black and he got killed. But if he had beaten the little white guy to the point of brain damage it would have been racist to report the fact he was black. Conclusion, liberals like black bullies.

[RayThom]

As a police symbol I thought the blue stripe represented the "thin blue line" between order and chaos.

That's what I'll believe until given a better explanation.

BTW -- did you see the cheerleader who took a knee as the anthem played at last nights 49ers Raiders game? I'm sure it will give Trump something to tweet about.

[BoSoxGal]

The thin blue line anymore is between ‘us’ and ‘them”, which seems to mean police protecting other police at the cost of the people they are sworn to protect and serve, including a near total rejection of the Constitutional presumption of innocence.

That’s my .02; I grew up slavishly devoted to authority and particularly police/military, but after a few decades of intimate and observed experience of their actual typical conduct, I now default to deep mistrust, especially of police.