Concerned citizen calls 911 over man walking ‘with purpose’ with Confederate flag

a reply to: GonzoSinister

I agree with MotherMayEye..sadly, the PC crowd will have to eat itself before it stops.

And, to a large extent, the PC trend is payback for decades of oppression. But two wrongs don't make a right, as the saying goes.

originally posted by: GonzoSinister

originally posted by: GonzoSinister
so how would everyone feel in all honesty.. those who are defending this guy saying the caller should not have called 911

The guy is Middle eastern looking and walking down the road waving a Syrian or Iraq flag? his home flag?

Also no one?

Really no one dares have an opinion on this?

Of course no one would stand for that. Just like no one would stand for the Black Panthers marching their flag down the street in the midst of racial tension going on.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
The dismissive defenders of PC thought police would do Orwell quite proud, and will be held culpable for furnishing the environment for such behaviour to flourish.

I think it would behoove those aghast at PC-policing run amok to turn the tables at every opportunity. I see a lot of missed opportunities to give them a taste of their own medicine.

I don't see the situation improving until the PC-police have been policed.

Case in point, Kelly Osbourne. *blerg* She got a pass for making an un-PC comment after trying to destroy Guiliana Rancic's reputation and career for a comment I consider a lot less offensive. I've also seen some comments on Ben Carson that capitalize on racial stereotypes -- and I've seen many people using "racial code words." The quicker they are called out, the quicker they understand that what a person INTENDED to say actually matters a great deal before declaring someone racist, homophobic, hateful, etc...

I don't see irrational people realizing how irrational they are on their own.

a reply to: anon72

To be fair, concerned citizens have a right (and possibly a civic duty) to alert authorities to things that they deem to be suspicious. Law enforcement then has a duty to investigate. Those two things are perfectly acceptable.

Walking down a street with a flag while not lollygagging is perfectly legal and acceptable as well.

The best part of it all is this:

According to police scanner traffic, police determined the man was exercising his First Amendment rights and not violating the law, WTOP reported.

So, basically, there's really nothing to see in this story, and it's a waste of news. I think I summed that up correctly.

ETA: I do, on the other hand, take massive offense to what appears to be the wearing of jorts in the photo. The caller should have called the fashion police.

originally posted by: lostbook

originally posted by: GonzoSinister

originally posted by: GonzoSinister
so how would everyone feel in all honesty.. those who are defending this guy saying the caller should not have called 911

The guy is Middle eastern looking and walking down the road waving a Syrian or Iraq flag? his home flag?

Also no one?

Really no one dares have an opinion on this?

Of course no one would stand for that. Just like no one would stand for the Black Panthers marching their flag down the street in the midst of racial tension going on.

The panthers march all the time.

originally posted by: Kangaruex4Ewe
Who started this whole "Walking With A Purpose" trend/thing?? Wth? Aren't we all walking with a purpose every time we are walking somewhere? Now you have to concentrate on not walking with a purpose in hopes that you don't draw unnecessary police attention. I've seen this phrase pop up several times over the last month. It's utter crap IMO.

Brings to mind the movie "Body Snatchers", the 'normals' stepping in line with the pod people. I was also listening recently about college students raising the alarm like a gaggle of geese over any pamphlet or speech that has words or connotations that offend them. I couldn't help but think that all this concentration on non-offensive......everything, must surely be distracting them from focusing on their studies. Seems they're not focusing on education, just their feelings about everyday communiques of any form.

I'd like to see it a pre-requisite for every high-school student to read 1984 and discuss it's implications in their lives if it were as if, today. Because it is for all intensive purposes, it is. Maybe not in totality of every community but it is creeping and seeping rather obviously into our culture.

In case any of you are wondering how to walk without purpose: Walk slowly, even adding a slight little drag of one foot. Keep head at a slight angle downwards with eyes looking at the ground. Keep arms at sides with shoulders slumped forward. This stance shows submission and lack of determination and purpose. But be careful, the neighbors will begin calling law enforcement complaining of a 'weirdo', possibly in a drunk or drugged state, canvasing the streets.

a reply to: lostbook

so surely you could agree with racial tensions going on, that confederate flag, which right or wrong does have racial undertones with many could be seen in the same light?

originally posted by: Kangaruex4Ewe
Who started this whole "Walking With A Purpose" trend/thing?? Wth? Aren't we all walking with a purpose every time we are walking somewhere?

Well, the opposite is "mopery", defined as walking about aimlessly.

Mopery is also a crime. Especially with intent to creep. So damned if you do, damned if you don't.

They probably called the police because they thought he was going to blow something up. Guess the Walmart thing worked.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

originally posted by: Bedlam
Well, the opposite is "mopery", defined as walking about aimlessly.

Arrest all teenagers, Mopery and Loitering!

I like the confederate flag. Represents resistance to the banking cartel who seized control of the Northern government and subsequently used an issue that the North also capitalized on to violently reign in the South and also take control of that government. Well unfortunately the bankers won didn't they??

I have seen at least a dozen flags being carried over the years in the streets of my city, from many nationalities. Yes some have been the Iraq flag, as well as the Iran flag (that I recognized) . I did not feel compelled to call the cops because the propaganda machine washed my brain into connecting brown skinned Muslims with terrorist acts for even the most subtle appearance of nationalism like many others.

I think the individual expressing his rights should demand the identity of the caller and ask the D.A.'s office to press charges of filing a false report.

What I have come up with reading this thread is HOW DARE a member of this site post a news article that portrays the PC crowd as a bunch of whiners.

This place never fails to provide entertainment.

I am outraged at the outrage over the outrage. (or is that not politically correct?)

originally posted by: MotherMayEye

originally posted by: GonzoSinister

originally posted by: kosmicjack
a reply to: GonzoSinister

Exactly. And that underscores that we have got to stop this madness.

and to an extent that is true,

however i do not for one minute believe all those who see this scenario as an issue in this thread, would be as against the same reaction if the scenario i put forward played out,

so where does the line get drawn?

I think if there is a reason to be suspicious -- for example, someone fitting the description of a wanted suspect for a string of robberies -- then I can accept calling the police about someone appearing to be minding their own business.

Otherwise, I would not defend harassing innocent people and wasting law enforcement resources.

And that's where the problem is. "If there is a reason" is completely vague & each person will have a different description of this. I've had police called on me so much that I can't even remember them all (yet I've never been arrested, imagine that). Not only have I had police called on me for talking to my Mom in a park, but I've them called on me for:

1. "Suspiciously" sitting on a bench at a bus stop during the day

2. Sitting on a bench at the airport while waiting for a taxi to come over

3. For driving "suspiciously" while leaving an apartment complex while looking for a new apartment (the police actually laughed w/me on that)

4. For playing music in my old car in my own driveway (ironically, it wasn't for loud music but because I apparently stayed in the car "too long" & that made me suspicious, whatever that means)

And that's just off the top of my head. And there are so many other incidences when I've been with friends that I wouldn't even know where to begin.

And that's why it's been mentioned several times in this thread that the "outrage" here is only because it involved the confederate flag. Many of the same people complaining about this incident would be cheering or silent if the 911 call involved other American demographics.

I have always been a staunch defender of arresting people who knowingly file a false report. Its serious business and peoples lives can be placed in danger due to response time going up because officers and deputies are dealing with a non-issue.

originally posted by: enlightenedservant

originally posted by: MotherMayEye

originally posted by: GonzoSinister

originally posted by: kosmicjack
a reply to: GonzoSinister

Exactly. And that underscores that we have got to stop this madness.

and to an extent that is true,

however i do not for one minute believe all those who see this scenario as an issue in this thread, would be as against the same reaction if the scenario i put forward played out,

so where does the line get drawn?

I think if there is a reason to be suspicious -- for example, someone fitting the description of a wanted suspect for a string of robberies -- then I can accept calling the police about someone appearing to be minding their own business.

Otherwise, I would not defend harassing innocent people and wasting law enforcement resources.

And that's where the problem is. "If there is a reason" is completely vague & each person will have a different description of this. I've had police called on me so much that I can't even remember them all (yet I've never been arrested, imagine that). Not only have I had police called on me for talking to my Mom in a park, but I've them called on me for:

1. "Suspiciously" sitting on a bench at a bus stop during the day

2. Sitting on a bench at the airport while waiting for a taxi to come over

3. For driving "suspiciously" while leaving an apartment complex while looking for a new apartment (the police actually laughed w/me on that)

4. For playing music in my old car in my own driveway (ironically, it wasn't for loud music but because I apparently stayed in the car "too long" & that made me suspicious, whatever that means)

And that's just off the top of my head. And there are so many other incidences when I've been with friends that I wouldn't even know where to begin.

And that's why it's been mentioned several times in this thread that the "outrage" here is only because it involved the confederate flag. Many of the same people complaining about this incident would be cheering or silent if the 911 call involved other American demographics.

Well, I won't be silent. You were harassed multiple times and I don't fault you a bit for your skepticism if the roles were reversed in the way you stated. I'd feel the same way.

originally posted by: Benevolent Heretic
a reply to: TerminalVelocity

So, no one is answering my questions or giving me links to where this walker's rights were violated, though they make that claim... Yeah, false outrage.

I agree with you about fear. And people who are fearful are falling into the trap set. But there HAS to be a BALANCE. Some situations ARE dangerous and could be stopped.

If this had been a group of black kids walking with a "black power" flag, wouldn't the tone be different?

It's the attempt that someone made (no matter how fruitless) to deny someone else their rights over something so trivial as carrying a flag. They are trying to use Police to quash someone's free speech.

originally posted by: kosmicjack

And before anyone chirps up that this guy wasn't killed - let's be honest - in the context of the police state that exists now, he is very lucky.

That's so true, and completely disturbing

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: anon72

What's the problem now? Oh that's right you are upset that someone called in a false police report, something that happens all the time. It's just that you want to be outraged about it THIS specific time because it has to do with an object you admire and look up to.

Boy, you sure read a lot into the OP that wasn't there. Not once did he mention he love or liked the confederate flag.

originally posted by: FamCore
originally posted by: kosmicjack

And before anyone chirps up that this guy wasn't killed - let's be honest - in the context of the police state that exists now, he is very lucky.

That's so true, and completely disturbing

Coincidentally, there was a man killed by officers, in Louisville, a couple of months ago for swinging a flag pole at them. I don't recall that there was an actual flag attached to it though. I do believe the police were called because he was walking around with it, however.

originally posted by: network dude
What I have come up with reading this thread is HOW DARE a member of this site post a news article that portrays the PC crowd as a bunch of whiners.

This place never fails to provide entertainment.

I am outraged at the outrage over the outrage. (or is that not politically correct?)

Well I am outraged at YOUR outrage over the outrage pertaining to the outrage.

Good DAY to you, sir!