I am still waiting on Sharpton to apologize for Tawanna Brawley!!!

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Don't hold your breath for that one.

Don't hold your breath for him or Jesse Jackson to apologize to the Duke lacrosse players either. I wonder how much Jesse raised for that college fund for the stripper.

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You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

Krimson, no question that what happened to Mr. Diallou and the other gentlemen in your post is tragic and a very legitimate source of outrage for the African-American community (and for that matter all Americans). I am ashamed and saddened by these NYPD incidents.

But I think we have 2 qualifiers in the current Bell case which, as tragic as it is, undermines the quest for justice.

1) The African-American community has GOT to come up with a more credible advocate for justice than Rev. Al Sharpton. After the Tawana Brawley fiasco, this man has zero credibility or integrity left. He is not only despised by many whites who otherwise sympathize with the urban injustices against black Americans, but I believe he has alienated many wthin his own community with his hypocritical tirades. He is a publicity-seeker, a demagogue, and quite frankly, a racist.

2) Let's face it: Sean Bell and his buddy Mr. Guzman, and the other fellas that were "hanging out" that night, are not exactly "sympathetic" figures. They all had not-insignificant criminal records, including several felonies. These were not what you would call "good" guys. Of course, this in NO way justifies what happened to these guys that night, nor should this fact exonerate the detectives involved. All I'm saying is, this is not the textbook case that one would use to call for a wide-ranging Congressional inquiry into police misconduct. The Diallou case was much better suited for that purpose.
I mean, technically it shouldn't matter. Bell did not deserve to die that night, and Guzman does not deserve to have 4 bullets lodged in his body. The cops are no more justified in emptying 3 magazines into them than they are into Amadou Diallou. But it helps your case when you have sympathetic figures, and Bell and his posse just do not fit the bill.

Curious to get your take on these 2 qualifiers.

1) Personally, I am not a fan of Al Sharpton. I think he has made some mistakes in judgment, and he should make amends for those. However, as I have stated in earlier posts months ago, Al Sharpton is not the voice for all African-Americans, but he is the voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves. Secondly, Al Sharpton does not interject himself into these situations, he is called upon by those involved. But I believe all so called black leaders have been villified in the public eye. Even MLK was villified by the FBI and J. Edgard Hoover who tagged him as a communists and was called a "hypocrite preacher" and "the most notorious liar in the country" by LBJ. I cannot think of one who has escaped the scorn and strict scrutiny of the public... Not one. So it doesn't matter who the messenger is or which "black leader" raises the issue, IMO.

2) Lady Justice is blind, right.

What's worse is that people will get on the condemnation band wagon without knowing a thing about the issue their supporting. It's laughable without a doubt.

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Very interesting post. And you're right on both points - so is MrLabGuy on a few things.

50 bullets +the fact that someone reloaded when there is no threat.. excessive. There should have been a punishment to the officer who reloaded.

LabGuy - you're right if it was 3 officers, there would definitely be a racial aspect. I don't think it's necessarily right though, because it goes without saying, any officer, no matter the skin color, can feel threatened, and unsafe. Also any of them can be undertrained and overzealous.

Lets keep in mind that there's also a social issue on both sides - some officers have a inferiority complex before they even become police officers - so now they have "power"

Bell and friends were in a questionable neighbourhood - and at least one of them had a questionable background.

No one can justify either side because no one knows what went down, but I think it's safe to say that the officer didn't have to reload and keep firing - I don't care if the ninja says it was to stop the "threat". What did the other 2 see (that fired 4 and 11 shots) that this trigger happy moron did not see?

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Well there are also a couple who get slammed by blacks: Bill Cosby, Marvin Arrington Sr.

WARNING Tangent/Rant:

I tend to focus on the leaders alive in my time, not ones dead before I hit the planet. (JFK was called a Traitor) . While I understand and accept "learn from history or you are doomed to repeat it" I do not understand why a society would continue to look to the past to find its future. This seems to me like a never ending revolution of constant dredges from the past to vilify or justify actions or words now. I don't follow this thought process. Wright referred to Slaves and Slave owners religions in the present tense "is", am I missing something? Maybe I need to listen with 'rose-tinted ear buds' because I'm not seeing the justification for such words, none at all. This overwhelming acceptance that the majority of whites somehow don't 'understand' the blacks, that is a complete misconception, at least in my life experiences. (which I don't think are too far off the base). Now if there is overwhelming racism out there, as portrayed, then I'm glad I don't see it.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Huh!?!

Anyway, I tend to like Cosby and Arrington and Smiley and West and Dyson. "Black Leader" is a tag placed by the media. I have not heard one black person refer to Jessie or Al as their leader. "Black Man... Take me to your leader!" Thats the problem, people rely on man to lead their steps.

Don't understand your "Huh" but I do agree with your last sentence.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.