Comments on Sunday stories
The UAW wants to force Mississippi’s automobile plants to go union. Unions were once a needed thing, but they have long outlived their usefulness. Instead of protecting workers, they now terrorize members into “donating” dues and to political causes, and they dictate for which candidates members must vote. If unions would concentrate more on preserving quality of work than excessively high wages and benefits, everybody would benefit. I know, not all unions are in the same boat, but the UAW and Teamsters are notorious for Chicago-style, gangland tactics in controlling their members. The working population needs a rude awakening before it’s too late. Unions ain’t all they’re cracked up to be.
As usual, Leonard Pitts is a half-bubble out of plumb, a half-note out of tune or just plain wrong. His column on citizens’ right to protest is misleading. It focused mainly on the over-kill by police in Ferguson, Missouri controlling crowds during protests and riots following the death of Michael Brown.
Everyone must understand things from the police point-of-view: each and every call is potentially dangerous for the officer(s) involved. Even if you know that your Constitutional rights are being violated, do what the officer says! Calmly state your opposition, but do not resist. If you do resist, you are breaking the law!
Two examples for you to ponder: Once, many years ago, I was working for a Starkville-based construction firm, building a new store in Tuscaloosa. Another employee and I were taking turns carpooling. One Friday was his turn to drive. We stopped at a store and got a couple of beers. He wasn’t very good at handling his alcohol.
After he dropped me off, I went in the house and got my keys to go buy more cigarettes and because I was concerned about his driving. When I pulled out onto the highway, I saw the police had pulled him over there. They were cuffing him on the trunk of his car.
My friend had taken a swing at the arresting officer. Instead of a DUI and reckless driving charge, he added assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
Case number two: My car in 1973 was a red 64-1/2 Mustang GT. A couple of friends from Foxworth, Miss., and I were going to another friend’s house near Summitt, Miss. I was driving and one friend was navigating. It was late in the day, close to dusk.
Suddenly a red Javelin passed me like a shot and was gone. Then a car raced up behind me and put his lights on bright. I can’t stand a tailgater, so I down-shifted to third (I was going 45 MPH) and popped the clutch. That’s when the blue light on top came on. I pulled over, and the Highway Patrolman who got out reeked of whiskey, his uniform was askew, and he staggered as he walked.
I told him what happened, but he didn’t believe me, naturally. When he ripped the ticket out of his book, I said he appeared drunk so why don’t we go see the judge now? That was fine with him, but it was supper-time and his brother-in-law didn’t like having his supper disturbed!
Would I have been right to protest? You bet! Would it have been worth it? I think not. The fix was in.
While we have the right to protest, among many other rights, it isn’t always wise to do so at that moment! Also, failing to protest when it is appropriate can lead to even bigger abuses of power.
Cameron Triplett
Brooksville
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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