Let’s file this one under the category of: I’d Like to Know Your Opinion.I’ll do my best from sharing my opinion, at least right away. But, read the following news story and tell me your thoughts.
The story comes from Pittsburg, PA. (Bill, your favorite town.) Pittsburg City police wrote nearly 200 disorderly conduct citations over a 32-month period for swearing, obscene gestures, and other acts deemed disrespectful.
After filing a Right to Know request, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found 188 such citations. “Nobody likes to get sworn at, but you can’t make it a crime,” said Witold Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Foundation of Pennsylvania.
The ACLU’s request came in connection with a federal lawsuit involving David Hackbart, who was cited after allegedly making an obscene gesture at another driver, and then at a police sergeant. In a recent court filing, the city said the citation was not for Hackbart’s gestures, but because he was blocking traffic.
Walczak told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the city had initially claimed it had only one disorderly conduct citation involving rude remarks to police or other people over that period. Walczak said officers were wrong to cite a woman who said, “I’m a (expletive deleted) passenger,” during a traffic stop; a woman who was “swearing profanities to a companion in front of the Girl Scouts”; and a man who “engaged in loud noise, racial slurs, and pig remarks.”
Okay, there you go. You make the call. Where the police correct or out of hand? Is the ACLU taking this matter too far or to the logical conclusion?
Thoughts?
If the remarks were directed at the police then I believe they need cited, especially if during a stop. My bride works at the BMV and there have been times I wish I had been there. I would have cleaned someone's clock (and I am not a violent man at all). She hears words that no woman, no individual should ever hear or be called. She can't respond because she is a public servant. If I was an employee I wouldn't last very long and if I was an undercover cop they wouldn't. The ACLU needs to find a hole to dump themselves in. my .02 worth. Only in Pittsburgh though...
ReplyDeleteI don't think that you should be swearing at police. You start swearing at me I'm going to take it as an act of agression and respond appropriately. I'm sure that police feel the same way. I'm no saint, f*bombs and the like come flying out of my mouth all the time. Rarely if ever in front of children, at work (I work in retail), or amongst strangers.
ReplyDeleteBill...I seriously doubt that this could happen only in P'burg...I have a feeling the ACLU would complain no matter where. I can't imagine being a public servant like your wife...I'm with you, I wouldn't last long!
ReplyDeleteBub...I think one of the hardest things to do is to hold our tongue!
ReplyDeleteSometimes, you just want to tell people what you think! In no uncertain terms, that is.
Yes you can make it a crime. I don't like getting cussed out and I'm sure those who use that language don't like others cussing them out.
ReplyDeleteSure they had a right to cite them. Aren't most of the laws on the books meant to make sure we treat each other with common decency? We would say that citing people for stealing from someone is a no-brainer but we struggle with the niceties of social interaction.
ReplyDeleteIf we give up on enforcing those its just another step down the scale towards allowing bigger and worse things to become everyday happenstance.
I would like to see in the newspaper the names of people who get cited for littering their cigarette butts on the roads and sidewalks... because I don't think it happens today.
They have the right to make those laws and enforce them.
ReplyDeleteThe ACLU picks and chooses only what they want to. There is no legitimate reason for the ACLU to be in existence. They no longer do what they were founded to do. They need to "go away".
I was a "public servant" for a while with the Oklahoma Dept of Human Services (welfare office). I had people cuss me all the time. I would usually tell them that I'll leave them alone for a little while so that they can cool down because they don't pay me enough to be cussed at. I walked out on people several times and left them in the interview room for a respectable period of time. If, when I returned, they continued to cuss, I told them I'd be back when they thought they could speak to me in a civil manner. Evidently, I was the only one willing to do this, but had the backing of the director for my actions. I did the same thing on the phone. I told them they could call back when they could talk to me without cussing. In all cases, it only took one or two times of doing that to show that I meant business and didn't have but one chronic repeat "offender".
Lots of things light my fuse (esp lately). But one of the worst things right now is foul language in front of my kids. If my eyes could throw daggers there would be a lot of teenagers dead in their tracks at the mall. But the ACLU, well, I agree with the throwing themselves in a hole theory.
ReplyDeleteHeidi Reed
Wow...Tony...the ACLU really, really, really won't like you! How politically incorrect...but you are so correct!
ReplyDeleteRick...I don't envy the position you had! I really don't...at least in your current occupation, you are RARELY cussed out...can happen, but usually not...See...God is so good!
Heidi...I'll tolerate much more than I will take if it is directed toward my family. Then, it becomes fighting words!