It is an article of faith among Fox News-Americans that "white privilege" is a myth. The concept, they say, is just an excuse by darker-hued people to rationalize their failure to lasso the American dream with their own bootstraps. Any discussion of this so-called privilege, they say, is a divisive tactic of the radical left. In fact, just talking about it amounts to racism!
Try explaining that to the family of Sandra Bland, who refused to extinguish a cigarette in her own car during a traffic stop, was pulled from the vehicle, arrested, and died in a holding cell. Try explaining that especially when contrasting Bland's traffic stop to that of Florida woman Joy Feinberg.
"No wonder you people get shot!" Joy Feinberg of Boynton Beach told the Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy as he handed her the ticket, according to dashcam footage.
"You're absolute assholes," she added.
Feinberg was allegedly driving at 51 mph through the school zone, which has a speed limit of 20 mph.
And how did the Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy respond? According to those who excuse police brutality (who, in fact, deny that it even exists), he would have been justified in ordering Ms. Feinberg from her car, dragging her out if she didn't exit willingly, arresting her and tasing, clubbing or even shooting her if she didn't submit completely. After all, she disrespected his authoritah. You just can't do that and expect to get away with it.
So, how did the deputy respond?
"Thank you, appreciate it," the deputy says. "Drive safely."
"Yeah, asshole," she repeats.
It is entirely possible that this deputy would have responded so graciously and professionally to this abuse no matter who was dishing it out. And make no mistake, he deserves all the credit in the world for dealing with this hideous person without losing his cool.
But everyone should be able to expect this level of professionalism from the police - the Sandra Blands of the world as well as the Joy Feinbergs.