AJC Sept. 26, 1969
The
Editors: More infuriating than the hippies themselves are the pretentious,
pious poseurs who, following the fashion of their circles, rush in to excuse
and defend the misguided or spoiled brats.
There
is a great hue and cry with the tired clichŽ of police brutality arising from
the Piedmont Park incident. And L. R. Morris wrote you "We win nothing by
viciously op-pressing our youth today." What a monumental asinine remark.
Never in history has youth been given so much freedom as it is given today,
never so much material gains, never so much attention.
The
intellectual fops of McLuhan's brave new world demand that the police display
profound psychiatric understanding of all law breakers, but they never consider
the reasonableness of understanding the psyche and psychology of the much
maligned policeman.
This
is not an attempt to deny that there must be bullies on any police force, as
one finds rascals or incompetents in every other occupation or profession, that
must be removed from the force. It is an appeal for common sense, an appeal to
stop generalizations of the kind the amoral moralists constantly complain
about.
Policemen
must have the strength to deal with criminals. They confront physical violence
every day. How I would like to see some of these nouveaux moralists attempt to
restrain one of the world-loving children they talk about say a 23-year-old
husky belligerent six footer.
Rollo
May once said "What a frightening place this world would he if
five-year-olds had the strength of adults." It turned out to be not
hypothetical psychology, but a prophecy of Chicago, Cornell and Berkeley.
NAME
WITHHELD
Atlanta.
Policemen
Under Tremendous Strain
The
Editors : Much has been said about police brutality .
Very
little has been said about the great responsibility and risk on the shoulders
of the individual policeman. Federal judges have weeks, sometimes months with
the assistance of brilliant law clerk to make decisions but a police man must
make his decision under fire, on a street corner, at midnight, often without
the benefit of much formal education.
In addition when a policeman leaves for
work in the morning his wile and children do not know but what they may be
widowed and orphaned by the time the day is over. It must he a tremendous
mental strain. I know many policemen and have found them to be family men who
take an interest in their church and in the community where they live. They are
the sole line of defense between turning the community over to the criminal
element, or protecting our property, lives and safety.
Some
criticism no doubt is justified of some few individual policemen. However, on
the whole I have found the Atlanta policeman to be well trained, courteous and
efficient Few of us could stand up under the strain of dealing with elements
that they must meet each day in Atlanta. I suggest that it behooves every
thinking citizen to support the police department and each individual officer
who serves.
CLIFFORD
OXFORD.
Atlanta.