Philly call to action (the poll)

[trueblue1776]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_us/philadelphia_violence

The Philly Chief has asked for 10,000 black men to help patrol the streets. Would you help your city if you were asked? If it required you to be unarmed would you?

It's a mult. choice poll, if you are between two answers, pick both.

 

[geekWithA.45]

I think he is quite correct to call for communities to bootstrap themselves.

In general, this is the rough equivalent of the local authorities "calling out the militia".

That being said, I'm a white guy, so I guess I'm not invited. (?)

Furthermore, I will never allow someone's bad judgment to place me in jeopardy, and so I would be discretely both armed and armored.

The main valid reason they wouldn't want people to be armed is because they'd believe themselves to be dealing with dufi/n00bs who would fancy themselves to be cowboy vigilantes. Not being such, I exempt myself from such regulations.

 

[General Geoff]

This is a call to sentry duty; as such, there is no specific invitation to violence. I would heed the call, and probably recruit a friend or two to patrol with me (It'd take some serious.. fortitude to patrol the streets of Philadelphia alone, especially at night). I would NOT go unarmed; the sidearm is there for defensive use only, and then only if backed into a corner without help. If I were going out there to pick a fight, I'd be going out there with a rifle.

 

[Seven High]

If the govenor of Pennsylvania would form a large task force of state police and send them into Phiily and act independent of the Philly PD, the crime situation would turn for the better.

 

[JLStorm]

I have to say this really pisses me off. 10,000 black men? I would love to see another part of philly which is predominantly white ask for 10,000 white men to patrol the streets. Who cares if they are black, as long as they are willing to help more power to them. I dont appreciate the racism though.

 

[trueblue1776]

JLStorm-

I disagree, it is suprising, but I think the Chief is realistic (shockingly) and being black himself, can graciously have some ownership of the problem in the minority community. I don't see it as racist, I find it refreshing when a man can say what he means.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Sounds like a good idea, having people be responsible for their communities and making leaders out of the men who have the guts to step up.
Maybe this is what Philly needs.

 

[Master Blaster]

If the govenor of Pennsylvania would form a large task force of state police and send them into Phiily and act independent of the Philly PD, the crime situation would turn for the better.

No it would make no difference, the drug dealers would just move indoors, or to another corner. The Folks doin the shootin cause dey was dissed, wouldn't care, or be detered. The problem is only going to be fixed if the folks who live in those neighborhoods take responsibility for their own safety. They also need to teach their children values.
That means when 10 people witness a shooting 8 come forward and testify to what they saw. But now no one is willing to come forward, so the thigs go free and the violence continues.

 

[MrAcheson]

If the govenor of Pennsylvania would form a large task force of state police and send them into Philly and act independent of the Philly PD, the crime situation would turn for the better.

Ha! You mean the PSP whose leadership has regularly opposed citizens 2nd Amendment rights? Surely you jest.

 

[JLStorm]

Trueblue,

Are you trying to tell me that ANY politician or office of any type could get away with asking for 10,000 white people to patrol a certain area?? They would get removed from office in about 2 seconds and the city would probably get sued by the NAACP. It is BS that it can work the opposite way.

 

[trueblue1776]

Are you trying to tell me that ANY politician or office of any type could get away with asking for 10,000 white people to patrol a certain area?

I never implied anything of the sort. It's clear to me that he is asking the Philly urban population (mostly black) to take ownership of their community.

If I lived in the area I would still have an interest in my community whether I was black or white. I'm sure the chief welcomes other residents as well.

Some folks are hung up on race issues, but I don't think the chief is worried about PC, it seems plain and honest to me.

 

[trueblue1776]

Just heard an interview with the Philly Commissioner on NPR yesterday, I was most impressed. He is a very well spoken man, he clarified his 10,000 black men statement. He said hispanics, whites, and anybody else would be welcome, and he implied the "10,000 black men" was never his wording in the first place.

He also added that the Staties will begin city patrols this weekend. Overall he was calm and polite, I really don't think he hates whitie. (Sorry JLStorm )

 

[JLStorm]

I never said he did, I said it was a racist comment and it is, no matter who said it. It sounds like he was doing damage control from what you are saying, but that is not really here nor there.

Is he expecting these people to patrol the streets unarmed when all the latest screaming in philly is about gun crime? Did he say anything about violence against the volunteers?

 

[trueblue1776]

He further clarified that he just wanted normal people [men] in some trouble spots, spots which would be determined by zone captains. These men would not interfere, just be present in significant numbers.

He cited the success of the moms who protested in 70's Philly when they were the street gang hot spot of America. He intends the streets and parks to be populated by decent folks, who by their presence, will deter criminal activity and create positive influence. He reiterated, these volunteers will not be asked to put themselves in harm's way.

I don't think he was doing damage control, he sounded slime-free to me.

 

[armedandsafe]

Can anybody say "Neighborhood Watch" boys'n'girls?

Those types of activities work, if set up with the proper cooperation of the Police. Some of them need to be armed patrols. Many do not need to be armed. It depends on the demographics of the area being patrolled.

Pops

 

[mike101]

Sure, I'd patrol the town I live in now, but I no longer live in Philly. I shudder to think what would happen to a group of white guys patroling North, West, or Southwest Philly, armed or not. And, if they called for a group of white men to patrol, say, Northeast Philly, there would be a race riot. The black folks would be up in arms. Jesse Jackson would be all over the place.

Even black men patroling these areas would be at great risk, especially unarmed. If they were armed, they would still be completely outmatched. I've been to bad parts of cities all over the country, and North Philly is still the scariest place I ever saw. Just about everyone, regardless of race, is afraid to go there, and rightly so.