There's an open thread in my head re: what we're witnessing as police action in the US. And it stems from a sense of unease I had developed in two month long visits/travel to/in the US a decade ago.
It starts with the TSA folks and even the airline crews (AA/UA) ... +
It starts with the TSA folks and even the airline crews (AA/UA) ... +
You pick up a sense of suspicion and a hyperfocus on procedure/drill and sense of "dominance" through verbal command. From standing in queues to making any gesture or misstep in handling luggage to response to their Qs/demands for documents etc.
I never could buy into the ... +
I never could buy into the ... +
... explanation that a lot of other fellow Indians had that it's some sort of "racism", because that didn't quite cut it for me.
Like I said - a hyperfocus on procedure/drills and trained expectations of situational responses, which is reflected in the verbal commands.
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Like I said - a hyperfocus on procedure/drills and trained expectations of situational responses, which is reflected in the verbal commands.
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It's a lot clearer now - that these folks have no slack in their situational awareness and are not really trained in any "dynamic" sense.
To the extent that I've noticed utter flusteredness/cluelessness when encountering something that they haven't been trained for.
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To the extent that I've noticed utter flusteredness/cluelessness when encountering something that they haven't been trained for.
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There's a sense of immediate suspicion and/or reflexive hostility if you do something that they're not expecting. As also not very well concealed "tolerance" (as if they're being put on, in some way).
With a military background and bearing and generally being used... +
With a military background and bearing and generally being used... +
... to commanding people, I managed fine or could sort of put such people 'in their place' - so to speak, if it got irritating. So, I clued into the fact that they're also used to a sort of 'militarized' authority or superiors.
I take very unkindly to bullying. Which is ... +
I take very unkindly to bullying. Which is ... +
... I suppose, another way to look at this. The "dominance" is a form of systematized 'bullying'.
And I suspect, that's at the core of their training methods and so on. I guess it is possible to infer that the police training in the US has institutionalized/systematzed this.
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And I suspect, that's at the core of their training methods and so on. I guess it is possible to infer that the police training in the US has institutionalized/systematzed this.
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Which explains why they don't seem to have too many options available to them - when dealing with a situation. There are too many personal and other cam videos that indicate this.
Disproportionate use of force (often lethal) seems to be the only option available. Nothing else.+
Disproportionate use of force (often lethal) seems to be the only option available. Nothing else.+
There was a period in between I wondered if they're dumber/stupider than the rest of us (Asian/Indians/Middle Easterners) - for their cluelessness in the face of the slightest bit of disorder/things not quite going their way.
I've junked that line of thought, but ... +
I've junked that line of thought, but ... +
... I think there're serious issues with how they approach training, processes, drills and responses.
Since this is deeply institutionalized - not just in the police but elsewhere as well, I don't quite see how they're going to imagine/generate more options as a way out of this.
Since this is deeply institutionalized - not just in the police but elsewhere as well, I don't quite see how they're going to imagine/generate more options as a way out of this.
