This won't be much of a diary, but when I read thatcop's "Don't challenge me if you don't want to get hurt" op-ed the other day, it reminded me of something I'd heard before, but I couldn't quite place what it was.
Today it dawned on me.
Here's part of what the cop said:
Even though it might sound harsh and impolitic, here is the bottom line: if you don’t want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you. Don’t argue with me, don’t call me names, don’t tell me that I can’t stop you, don’t say I’m a racist pig, don’t threaten that you’ll sue me and take away my badge. Don’t scream at me that you pay my salary, and don’t even think of aggressively walking towards me.
What it reminded me of can be found if you jump the cloud of orange-tinted tear gas below...
This was on a sign posted at the infamous S-21 prison, where Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge tortured and murdered thousands of people.
1. You must answer accordingly to my question. Don’t turn them away.
2. Don’t try to hide the facts by making pretexts this and that, you are strictly prohibited to contest me.
3. Don’t be a fool for you are a chap who dare to thwart the revolution.
4. You must immediately answer my questions without wasting time to reflect.
5. Don’t tell me either about your immoralities or the essence of the revolution.
6. While getting lashes or electrification you must not cry at all.
7. Do nothing, sit still and wait for my orders. If there is no order, keep quiet. When I ask you to do something, you must do it right away without protesting.
8. Don’t make pretext about Kampuchea Krom in order to hide your secret or traitor.
9. If you don’t follow all the above rules, you shall get many lashes of electric wire.
10. If you disobey any point of my regulations you shall get either ten lashes or five shocks of electric discharge.
Yeah, I know it's not
exactly the same, and the body count is not even remotely comparable, but still, the same fascistic attitude comes through, doesn't it?
And when the cops are storming the streets, enforcing their will in military gear... things have fallen pretty far. I mean, if the cops are going to have that equipment, what's the National Guard even for, anymore? Besides being sent to fight overseas, which was never their purpose, but which is a role they've been given because they don't have to be paid as much.
Anyway, this juxtaposition doesn't necessarily mean much, but I found it interesting...