Fuck You Patrick McDonald???

Walking to my car from class, I overheard a girl talking to a friend on the phone, covering the daily gossip. On today's agenda was a story of a police officer who had been shot and killed in North Philadelphia, mere blocks from where my feet were presently moving. The normality of the girl's conversation was incredibly unsettling to me. She represented a population of Philadelphia citizens that have become accustomed to hearing news of bloodshed and calmly chatting about it like it was the latest celebrity breakup. I was appalled with my own reaction as well, contributing to the problem, so I sat down and started thinking about the work of the Philadelphia Police Department and law enforcement throughout America.

I overhead Mayor Michael Nutter on the radio giving his thoughts after officer Patrick McDonald's untimely execution. He spoke the typical, yet necessary, political jargon, but added something I thought was refreshing also. He told the listening audience to approach any police officer they may see in passing during their daily routine, and simply thank them for the work they do. What an excellent idea, so easy yet for some reason so rarely practiced. Besides, putting their lives on the line on a daily basis and fighting against the evil that runs rampant in city streets, they take on an unhealthy and unfair amount of abuse from the average citizen.

The number of people, specifically youth, who have a lack of respect for police officers is utterly inexcusable. Whether they are fueled by their random hatred of authority or by their propaganda filled Rage Against the Machine CD, they stereotype the people who protect society as crooked, abusive "pigs." They shout "fuck the police" because they can't openly smoke weed on the street corner. They support a convicted cop killer, Mumia Abu-Jamal and march for his "freedom" because it's the young, hip, liberal way of thinking. It disgusts me that these people exist, not only because their stance on such matters is immoral, but also because their ignorant views help fuel a still-growing notion among the next generation that is FALSE!

The truth of the matter is this: there are bad people in every walk of life. Corruption happens in every business to varying degrees. In every industry, there are dishonest, wicked-hearted people. Government and its branches are no different. People stereotype police officers based on a few bad apples. If these American Heroes save hundreds of lives in a given period but abuse their power a mere handful of times, the risk they take for us, our friends, families and neighborhoods, means little to nothing in the eyes of a greatly unappreciative society.

I would encourage Philadelphians to take the advice of Mayor Nutter and, however corny or contrived it may feel, thank a police officer you come in contact with today. I would go further though. The next time you hear some short-sighted, follow-the-pack, I-can't-form-my-own-opinion idiot saying how corrupt cops are, remind them that there isn't one job in America that someone hasn't abused privileges or violated policies at some point while performing. The next time you hear someone bitch about police brutality, remind them of all the police out there that constantly have had bullets flying by them to protect the rights of morons who exaggerate the amount of beatings that our civil servants actually give. The next time someone says, "Fuck the police", turn to them, think of the disrespect they are showing for the slain Patrick McDonald and those who have fallen like him, politely smile, and say "No, fuck you."