For Shame

I used to be ashamed and in some ways I still am.  I suffer from bipolar disorder.  Intellectually, I know that being ashamed because you have a disease is ridiculous.  You don't see many folks running around beating themselves up because they are anemic.  But a mental disease is something else, isn't it?  It is the dirty little secret that we try to hide, sweep it under the rug and hope that no one notices.  Everyone knows that if you have any sort of mental illness, you are just crazy, right?   It is just a weakness of character, right?  You know you don't waste your time with one of "those" people.  There is just too much "drama".  You fit in this box and that is who and what you are, no variation, no worthwhile person could possibly be there.  You have been identified, labeled and file away.  Why bother, right?

Stephen Fry made an excellent comparison between bipolar disorder and the weather.  You can no more control when, where or how bipolar effects you than you can make it stop raining.  You didn't make it rain, it rained because it rained.  Pretend that it isn't raining and guess what it will be still be doing. 

It is a disease and no amount of "positive thinking" will make it go away.  Don't get me wrong, positive thinking is great and has its place but during a down episode it is nigh-impossible.  The ups, while lovely, can be difficult to deal with and understand for those around you.  There are different types of bipolar that can effect different sufferers differently which ads to the notion that it is not a "real" disease.

I have been told many times that I just need "a good swift kick in the ass".  You know, because the reason I have this disease is because I am lazy.  Neat trick, huh?  One of my favorites is: "You should be happy, you know a lot of other people have it worse than you".  You know who are comforted by that thought?  Sociopaths.  I wonder if the people who say things like this with a straight face look at people in wheelchairs and say: "You should really just walk it off".

I am not proud that I am bipolar.  It is a disease and I am sorry anyone has to have it.  There is medication that I take to function.  It frightens people and can take a little more effort to understand but you would be amazed at what you might find.  There is still shame, but I will not be ashamed

Really, Guys? You are not Helping Your Case!

Before I get this rant going, I would like to post the a couple of the sites where I found the articles and videos:

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-michael-picard-dui-protest-arrest-20160128-story.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/conn-troopers-caught-on-video-trumping-up-charges-on-detained-men-gotta-cover-our-ass/

https://photographyisnotacrime.com/2016/01/26/award-winning-connecticut-cop-swipes-phone-from-man-telling-him-its-illegal-to-video-record-him-in-public/

So here we have yet another example of people with a bit of authority confusing having limited authority with the right to ignore any rules that govern them and impose their will on others even if is no where near justified.  The kid in this video was breaking no laws here.  He was merely exercising his first amendment rights in protesting, in a safe manner, something he feels is wrong.  As to what he is protesting, I don't necessarily agree with him.  I don't generally have a problem with DUI checkpoints when they are used properly.  He does, however, raise an interesting point about the cost/benefit ratio of a checkpoint.  In order to address that issue properly one would have to get into the specifics of the state budget and that is not what this rant is about.

This rant is about crooked cops.  As I have never actually met a cop who wasn't crooked, my immediate thought is: "Isn't that a bit redundant?"  In all honesty, that is not a fair question on my part.  I fully believe that there are honest cops out there, I have never actually met one, but I am sure they are out there.  It is similar to my belief in blue whales.  I have never met a blue whale but I am reasonably sure they exist.

Now, before someone jumps up and points out that you usually only meet cops when things are already bad, keep in mind that, in this rant, I am including the cops that I have met in a non-professional capacity, i.e. when they are off duty.  I have even known a couple of former cops that quit because of all the corruption.  I suppose that I should give you my criteria for classifying a cop as dirty:  If you know of a crime committed by another cop and say nothing, you are dirty.  If you allow another cop to harass a  fellow citizen (remember, you are a citizen as well) you are dirty.  If you abuse the power entrusted to you in any way shape or form or allow another cop to do the same without taking steps to stop it and make sure it never happens again, you are dirty.  And, here's a big one, if you yourself commit a crime not required by your duties (for example undercover cops a sometimes forced to do things to maintain their cover that would otherwise be unacceptable), you are dirty.

And that brings us to this case.  These cops committed numerous crimes and were caught on tape doing so!  The cop who falsely claimed that it was illegal to film him even though they were on public property, where there is no expectation of privacy, was a decorated officer!  Hell, there is a specific law on the books that “protects the right of an individual to photograph or video record peace officers in the performance of their duties.” (Connecticut Bill No. 245).  The cop's claim that he was on state property and not public property holds no water.  State owned roadways, at least in Connecticut, are considered public property.  Don't you think that if you are going to uphold the law, you should probably some inkling of the laws you are supposed to be upholding?  Just a thought.

So, anyway, this officer proceeds to confiscate the protester's camera phone.  Now just out of curiosity, what would you call it if I took something away from you with neither your permission or a legal right to do so?  Sounds a little like theft doesn't it?  If you or I did something like that, even if we fully intended to return what we took, what do you think would happen?  Think we might be charged with a crime?  It is a definite possibility.

Now let's move onto the gun that protester was carrying.  In Connecticut it is legal to openly carry a firearm.  Whether or not you think it is morally right, the fact remains that it was not a crime.  There was some flack raised about the cop confiscating the firearm.  This, I think, is one of the few things the cops did correctly in this situation.  Considering the inherent danger that cops can face during the course of their duties, I have no problem with them temporarily confiscating s weapon provided that they return the weapon and the ammunition the moment the situation is resolved, which they did.  Go them!

So here is a funny bit.  If the cop hadn't broken the law and confiscated the gentleman's phone, he wouldn't have left it recording when he set it on the roof of the cruiser to discuss falsifying charges and lying about fake 911 calls to "...cover our ass" with his colleagues.  There is even one point during the tape where one of the cops explicitly states that what the protester did what completely legal!  Apparently standing out of everyone's way on public property, holding a sign and complying with all the laws of your area is legal.  Well, at least the cops don't illegally detain citizens without probable cause and make up charges to justify their illegal actions.  Oh, wait, that is exactly what they did, huh?

While the cops are over conferring on how exactly they want to break the law that they have sworn to uphold another officer comes and stands near the protester.  Now, were it not for the deplorable conduct thus far I wouldn't think anything of it.  Given the situation and conduct of the officer, it strikes me as more of a bullying tactic.  Gee, someone in a position of authority that is a bully, what a shock.  So this guy asks the officer several times what his name and badge number are.  He was very polite about it the multiple times he asked.  Each time, the cop said absolutely nothing.  I don't know if that is illegal but is definitely a dick move.  He also asked the officer if he had read a state trooper memo reminding all officer that openly carrying a licensed handgun is not a crime.  The officer, again, makes no response.

So eventually they decide they have had enough time to violate their oaths and the public trust.  They return his weapon and ammunition to him advising that he conceal it so as not to upset other citizens.  I do not know the law in Connecticut but in many states, a special license is requited to carry a concealed handgun.  If that is the case there as well, the office advised him to commit a crime.  They also presented him with two citations.  Surprisingly when asked, the officer presenting the ticket gave not only his name and badge number but the name and badge number of the officer who refused to give his own.

So, fast forward a bit and the protester goes to his first court appearance and the prosecutor offers to lower the fine to $25.  He offered to lower the fine on illegal charges,  wasn't that nice of him?   In what was a surprising display of integrity, the protester refused the "generous" offer because he never actually did anything illegal.  I find this impressive.  I can't say for sure that I wouldn't have just paid the $25 to make it go away.  But then it is that sort of attitude that allows things like this to continue to occur isn't it?  Not this guy.  He will now get his day in court.  I hope he not only wins but that those officers involved are fired and are sent to jail for their crimes.  You, know, the crimes that were caught on tape.

Unfortunately, I think that the far more likely outcome is that the cops involved get off scot-free and this gets swept under the rug.  How could that happen you might ask?  The whole thing is documented on tape, right?  Two words: Rodney King.  I really hope I am wrong.

Come what may, the gentleman's trial date is April 25th 2016.  Good luck, for all our sakes.

Rant Over... for now