Adventures in My Mind
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Oct 30, 2007
Don't Tase Me, Bro!
So all charges have been dropped and everyone will get along in a great big kumbaya moment. I say "Bullshit!"
Have you seen the footage of Meyer getting tasered by University of Florida police officers? If not, a YouTube search on "Don't Tase Me Bro" will find all the results you need, including a couple good parodies.
I'm troubled that this young man, however annoying he may have been, has been forced to present such a contrite attitude as part of the deal to avoid charges, while no one even hints that the officers may have been over aggressive in his removal and subsequent tasing.
I watch the video and see a young loud mouth who is pushing boundaries with his questions and his demeanor. I also see university police who are way to quick to shoo him from the room. And as for his reaction to the officers putting his hands on him, I find his response perfectly acceptable. Up to that point, he is guilty only of being annoying. That should not have been cause for the officers to physically restrain him. Then things get crazy when he rightfully asks, "What are you doing?" and states "I haven't done anything!"
He is tackled to the floor by several officers and is eventually shocked with a taser while in their custody.
This is not a level-headed response. This is not a justifiable use of force. This is definitely not copacetic. If there were any apologies to be given, I think the university police should've offered one as well. None of the officers necessarily need to be punished, but an apology that suggests that they were over zealous without breaking any laws sure would've been nice.
Meyer on the other hand is forced to say things like "It was my actions that forced the officers there into a position where they needed to take action." Maybe so, but the actions they took were in no way justified by his. It was a gross overreaction to even attempt to remove him in the first place to say nothing of the later electricity applied to his body.
Yes, Meyer acted rashly, but youthful impetuousness doesn't automatically qualify one for several thousand volts to be sent through one's system. Nor does it mean that one should take all of the blame of situation where other clearly share in culpability.
I just don't like the taste of the whole thing. You may not agree, but I think "The Man" got away with one here.1 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 2:20 PM
