My Thoughts for February 8, 2015  

Is it just me, or, is there is less integrity in the world today? I can’t believe the revelation that Brian Williams embellished his trip to the Middle East back in 2003 by claiming his helicopter was hit with a RPG. Further, that they had to crash land. The number one news anchorman of today told a false story ever since his being embedded with America’s finest, our military men. What was it Brian? Were you feeling inadequate? Did you need to show your bosses you could boost rating? I don’t trust the TV news much anymore. Ever since Dan Rather went down along with Lara Logan, I have not had much confidence in the world of journalism. You blew it, Brian, go away!

And what’s going on with our policing world. Yes, our hometown police? Have they gone rogue? Not really. Sounds to me like more people have let their standards down in terms of correct behavior. When the police are trying to do their job and people display deviant conduct, I don’t blame the police for getting a bit edgy. Hey, they have families they want to go home to in one piece.

Let’s take the recent case of 17-year old Jessica Hernandez who stole a car and went joy riding. In the Hispanic community they have a tradition of establishing a memorial where a loved one has died. In this case, it was at the location in Denver where the teen was shot to death. I think it’s a fine tradition, I see them in my city and they never fail to move me.

In the case of Jessica Hernandez with some friends, they stole a car and cruised around until a police patrol intercepted them and ordered Hernandez and her friends out of the car. Instead of compiling with the police, Hernandez tried to run the police down with the car. The police opened fire. Jessica was killed almost instantaneously; a tragic end to an apparent belief within the youth of Denver; that taking cars is “a rite of passage for many teens … “

Well, maybe that’s true, but what’s not true is it’s OK to ignore the orders of the police once confronted by them. It will get you killed. I can’t understand people believing it’s alright for their kids to misbehave but police can’t protect themselves. And, what’s worse is our news media tailors the news to make the police look bad because it will boost their TV rating. I wish for the old days when news reporting was neutral until all the facts were known. Tell you the truth, this curmudgeon can’t tell the difference between TV news reporting of police behavior and Brian William’s lying