POLICE ANALYSIS NEEDED
A key element in the case surrounding the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, is whether or not Officer Darren Wilson shot him in self defense. It would be interesting to see some statistics on how many law enforcement officers are killed or seriously injured in incidents such as in Ferguson, or on that playground where a child brandishing a toy gun recently was shot.
Such data could give some credence to the police arguing that they felt their life was in danger, i.e., if there were a large number of police killed or injured by folks like Brown or that child it would enhance their argument. But if not, then it would seem that they may be acting too hastily, and that further training on what constitutes a self defense claim is needed.
Dick McLane
Springfield
ERA ALL THE WAY
What an informative piece on the Equal Rights Amendment. Thank you for getting the word out.
We at Katrina’s Dream are urging everyone to call the Illinois Capitol and ask your House of Representatives in the state of Illinois to vote YES on SJCRA 0075, which calls for Illinois to ratify and pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Most important is to identify yourself as a constituent calling in your individual capacity. Please go to the Illinois General Assembly website to find your House Representative’s details http://.ilga.gov/house/ and visit this website for a telephone script http://virginianow.wordpress.com. To learn a bit more about faith leaders coming together to support Illinois and ratify the Equal Rights Amendment please go to http://altondailynews.com/news.
Thank you to all those in the movement to bring full equality to women, men and our brothers and sisters in the LBGT community.
Helene de Boissiere-Swanson
Charlestown, Massachusetts
NET TAXES INSPIRE FEAR
I read Jim Hightower’s article regarding net neutrality and agree very much with his opinion. (“Net neutrality in the way of corporate profits,” Nov. 20.) I also read the letter you published in your most recent edition warning about new taxes resulting from any new “net neutrality” rules implemented by the FCC. (Jim Proffitt, “Not-what-you-think-it-is neutrality,” Nov. 27.)
Mr. Hightower is correct in his opinion to a point. He left out one important group and their motivation to destroy the equal access to information. There are those who wish to prevent the rise of a new “candidate, group or movement” that might challenge the status quo. All the talk regarding net neutrality is about the fast lanes but the real action will be on those “slow lanes” where information and communication will become impossible for, say, a grassroots candidate or movement to arise. The corporate ISP’s may be looking at wringing more revenue from their networks by destroying net neutrality but the real issue is access to information.
The new taxes warnings, whether real or not, are just a way to scare people and once again turn them against their own interests.
Mike Dappert
Winchester
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2014.
