Comments on: Not in my name

By: Andrew Milner

Andrew Milner — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:43:26 +0000

Tougher question that you intended. Not sure where I’m from as I’ve spend more of my life outsite the UK than in it. Give you a clue; if it wasn’t for the cloud cover and darkness, I’d have a good view of the active volcano. Britain: A good country to be from; a long way from.

By: David Russell

David Russell — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:23:58 +0000

Not sure where you’re from Andrew, but as far as I’m aware Liberal is only really used as an insult in the USA, where it is almost used as a synonym for ‘communist’, whereas over here ‘liberal’ just means someone who respects human rights, and doesn’t necessarily mean the person is left wing (our ‘liberal democrats’ have their share of left wing people, but they also have a fair number of libertarians as well, who are what you would normally consider right wing)

By: Andrew Milner

Andrew Milner — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 02:38:52 +0000

What a difference a day makes. Interesting how “Liberal” is being used as an insult and put-down. Liberal: Person that instinctively distrusts and disbelieves authority, especially mainstream media. Sounds a healthy attitude. Paranoia: It keeps you alive and it keeps you free. Notice how the risk takers emigrate and the risk adverse remain in UK, trusting the government will take care of them. And the risk adverse tend to instinctively and unquestionably accept authority’s version of events. Well for those with the wit to see beyond the end of their nose, the Charles de Menezes’ case exposes the duplicity of UK authority big time. But just when it seemed that things couldn’t possibly get worse, suddenly they did. The dum-dum bullets revaluation revived interest, albeit briefly. In the court of public opinion, dum-dum is an assassin’s bullet, despite all the first year college physics being bandied around. If the Brazilian was shot because he was an idiot, then we’re all idiots. Because we are all a wrong place at a wrong time step away from being at the sharp end of police brutality. Those that find excuses for the police over the murder of an innocent bystander, be ashamed, be very ashamed. Short of sending the Metropolitan Police Service en masse to Iraq (where’s your sense of humour, Infidels?), your best move is to get out of range. Emigrate while the going’s good. Nice neutral Buddhist country anyone?

By: Spontaneous Monotony

Spontaneous Monotony — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 21:09:30 +0000

The truth will out

As I suspected, the official police account of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes turned out to be complete BS. The full comparison between the police story and the evidence is available at that BBC link, but here are...

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:07:41 +0000

As someone who has actually had to bear arms and understands the factors that must be weighed in deciding to use deadly force, as opposed to the vast majority in the UK who have never even handled a firearm for sport, to accuse the police officers of murder in this case is nothing short of grossly irresponsible. Whenever I hear such ridiculous accusations I have to wonder if the motivations behind such mischaracterizations aren’t political more than anything else.

If you are chasing after a subject who you believe may be a deadly threat, and may be carrying a bomb, you stop him at all costs. And when he refuses to stop after you have identified yourself as police, uniform or not, then you must make a decision. If you have reason to believe that he may in fact be carrying a bomb that he may set off, then you must do whatever it takes to prevent him from triggering such a device, a device you must believe he could trigger even in the midst of a struggle. What do you do under such assumptions in order to protect yourself and the public? You empty as many rounds into him until he stops struggling, which may be several.

The Brazilian was shot because he was an idiot. He knew what the clinate was, and when police tell you to stop, you don’t run, and you certainly don’t act in any way which may be construed as presenting a threat. He did both and he paid for it with his life. You should be thankful you have men in your country who are willing to make the tough decisions and do everything that is necessary to protect the public, whether or not the public has the stomach for it. You should be thanking those brave officers instead of slandering them,