Deadly Force, Jesus, Polarization,
Peter T.
location: New Hampshire
listening to: Too much of everything!
registered: 1999.05.20
posts: 3021
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When it comes to policing, EEE, you are the voice of experience. Thanks for the thought-provoking post. I
recently listened to a fascinating discussion that Sam Harris had with a 30 year veteran of the LAPD. They
cover numerous topics related to policing with an emphasis on the use of deadly force. I left the conversation
more sympathetic to the innumerable and significant challenges faced by cops. This is time well spent:https://www.samharris.org/podcast/item/behind-the-gunNow, as to what I hate about Americans (and hate is too strong a word for me), what jumps out first is our
intellectual laziness/emotional immaturity. Let me provide one piece of evidence: a Pew Research Poll
indicates that 23% of Americans believe that Jesus will definitely return to Earth by 2050. An additional 18%
believe he'll probably return by that year. That's a whopping 41% of us! We're dealing with people who often
don't value evidence and can't come to grips with their eventual demise. Here's the poll:http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/jesus-christs-return-to-earth/Putting the religion question aside, I know we are far more polarized than we were when I grew up. And I
thank Newt Gingrich for that as I believe much of it relates to his corrosive and divisive Contract for America. Additionally, too often, Americans (of all political persuasion) cherry pick information in order to justify their
closely held position. And that position is often intertwined with their own sense of identity. Too often
emotions trump (pun intended) detached, rational analysis. And too many Americans just don't put in the
time to read. We are a nation of watchers who rarely leave our confirmation bias media sources. Lastly, and too few DBIS members chime in anymore!Peter T.
Peter T.
(view)
When it comes to policing, EEE, you are the voice of experience. Thanks for the thought-provoking post. I
recently listened to a fascinating discussion that Sam Harris had with a 30 year veteran of the LAPD. They
cover numerous topics related to policing with an emphasis on the use of deadly force. I left the conversation
more sympathetic to the innumerable and significant challenges faced by cops. This is time well spent:https://www.samharris.org/podcast/item/behind-the-gunNow, as to what I hate about Americans (and hate is too strong a word for me), what jumps out first is our
intellectual laziness/emotional immaturity. Let me provide one piece of evidence: a Pew Research Poll
indicates that 23% of Americans believe that Jesus will definitely return to Earth by 2050. An additional 18%
believe he'll probably return by that year. That's a whopping 41% of us! We're dealing with people who often
don't value evidence and can't come to grips with their eventual demise. Here's the poll:http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/jesus-christs-return-to-earth/Putting the religion question aside, I know we are far more polarized than we were when I grew up. And I
thank Newt Gingrich for that as I believe much of it relates to his corrosive and divisive Contract for America. Additionally, too often, Americans (of all political persuasion) cherry pick information in order to justify their
closely held position. And that position is often intertwined with their own sense of identity. Too often
emotions trump (pun intended) detached, rational analysis. And too many Americans just don't put in the
time to read. We are a nation of watchers who rarely leave our confirmation bias media sources. Lastly, and too few DBIS members chime in anymore!Peter T.
