Don Lemon, host of CNN Tonight, went on an emotional rant Thursday about how being a black man in the U.S. compels him to be unnecessarily polite to police officers he comes in contact with because he wants to “stay alive.” “I shouldn’t have to do that. I shouldn’t have to be “yes, sir”-ing anybody.
I’m a grown you-know-what man in America,” he said. Lemon added, “I do it because I want to stay alive; that’s why I do it. My white counterparts, they don’t do that. They speak to police officers in a way that I would never in a million years do, and that is the reality of it. I have to do that because I want to stay alive.” READ MORE
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I don’t think people understand that it does not matter what color anyone is, we are all compelled to be respectful, polite, cooperative to police. It is the nature of the situation when one has the power to arrest another. Does Don Lemon believe that white people can be belligerent, disrespectful, etc to police and that is tolerated? It most certainly is not. Now if Mr. Lemon wants to discuss the higher incidence of being stopped by police when one is black then he most certainly has a point. I think there is a little bit of a perception problem here, but there is most definitely a real issue with a higher rate of police stops when someone is black. I really wish that facts could be addressed so that everyone can feel safe as well as interact in a manner that fosters mutual respect.
The number of whites killed by police far exceeds that of minorities but it is not often reported. Race should not be an issue here as most police are decent and law abiding.
I didn’t realize there was a prerequisite for being respectful or nice, especially to our uniformed service men and women. God bless them.
Be respectful from the heart at all times … yes respectfully ask that your rights be respected ..but do your best to co-operate with them…if they do abuse you and you weren’t resisting …take them to court….
I was always raised to say ‘yes sir and ma’am’. It is definitely a wonderful habit to have that should be practiced by all. With that being said, I think the point that Lemon is making is being missed (easily from his wording). I know from personal experience, every person in my immediate family, and from a few friends that some cops will stop and harass the driver when they have done nothing wrong. It is at those times when you want to defend yourself, that hiding your anger repeating ‘yes sir’ becomes difficult. Some people succeed in remaining calm and respectful but the strength to do so stems from fear of death. This fear should not be present. Law force should be respected out of reverence not fear.
to the don lemon famely members otis livingston was lookong for serrius problem against don calling him fagit gay an also weak otis livingston mayby dangerous if he see mr. lemon