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From the Other Side of the Edge….
Baltimore:
Freddie Gray’s Life, ...and Death, …Display the City at its Worst
By Joe Facinoli
As I drove along West Garrison Boulevard, on a hot summer’s day in the
Pimlico section of Northwest Baltimore, I noticed that the streets
were, as usual for a mid-day, filled with all manner of
activity.
The traffic light at Park Heights Avenue, my next cross street, had
just turned yellow, and I could almost see my destination, just two
blocks away.
Garrison is a one way street in that area, and I had positioned my
white work van in the far left lane, windows down, with my arm resting
comfortably in the driver’s side opening, trying to catch any breeze
which might be available.
It was July at its sun-scorching brightest, so my dark aviator
sunglasses were securely in place. And trying to make good
use of the travel time, my cell phone’s earpiece, with long white wire
attached tightly in my left ear, was also a necessity.
As I may have mentioned before, …I’m a tall White guy, who has spent
considerable time, attempting to make an honest, hands-on living, …in
mostly all-Black inner city areas, of Baltimore.
And, as you many also know, this particular area, famous race track
notwithstanding, is not exactly the Upper West Side of
Manhattan.
As I approached the light at Park Heights, I couldn’t help but notice a
small group of adult men, conducting a little “business”, right there
on that busy street corner, …right in front of God, Black Jesus, the
ghost of Pablo Escobar, …and everyone else.
The light was now fully red, and with no other vehicles ahead of me, I
pulled to a stop, first in line at the signal, …finding myself directly
adjacent (within approx. 15 feet, on my left) to that business
“transaction”, which was now hurriedly, and unashamedly happening
there, …and exactly right then.
But, as the three “businessmen” (all Black) looked up, and saw my whole
program: White dude in dark shades, earpiece attached
to mobile phone, with someone talking to him from the other end,
confidently staring right at them, unafraid, in a white unmarked van,
window open, on a hot day, …it was an immediate, and red hot signal to
them, that their formerly important bit of business, …would just have
to wait.
And wait it did, …as they scattered like three flushed rabbits, just
surprised by a pack of crazed hunting dogs, out for their
supper.
It occurred to me, …not having been born yesterday, …that maybe, just
perhaps, these gents might have been doing something a little less than
legal, and that my “cop-like” appearance (at least to them, …in this
locale), convinced them to do “business” elsewhere, for the
day.
I was amazed, and then amused, as I watched them disappear in three
different directions, …and at speeds which would have made many of the
horses at nearby Pimlico RaceCourse, more than a little jealous
!
Sound familiar ? Like anything you’ve heard about,
…recently ??
And just when do you suppose this little social “interaction” may have
taken place??
A few months ago ? A couple years
ago?
Could have, …and probably did, over and over. But MY
amusing experience, actually occurred in the summer of 1998, …that’s
right, almost 17 years ago!!
Sound like anything’s changed, …here in dear old B’more
???
Haha !! That would be a big: Not, …Nada,
…Nothing.
The Knuckleheads and dopesters still do their deals, almost anywhere,
with almost no fear nor thought of getting stopped or caught, and no
conscience nor waver whatsoever, about running from the Man, the Po-Po,
the hard working Cops, …whenever they’re about to be.
And those over-worked, verbally abused, forever disrespected men and
women in Blue, …just keep chasing them.
Uh, …that’s their J.O.B., …all you “knuckleheads” out there (including
those morons in the Media, in City Hall, in DC, and those sell-outs at
Police HQ).
Without them, this city, and all others, goes directly into the toilet,
and beyond, …so wouldn’t it be a whole lot smarter to work something
out, instead of throwing entire Police Forces under the biggest bus
ever made, by the Dept. of Justice ???
It’s called Common Sense.
Freddie Gray’s life, and the accusations surrounding his death,
demonstrate just how broken both the Police Protection and Judicial
systems are, in this city.
Especially when judged by the ever-opportunistic, non-reality based
eyes and actions of political favor, and the all-important measure of
how voting groups will play in the next
election.
Freddie was arrested 22 times in 7 years, for drug dealing, possession,
and other assorted street crimes. Talk about a
valuable asset to the community !!
And, during that same time, he served nearly two and a half years in
jail, which means, on average, he was pinched approximately every 10
weeks he was not “inside”.
One question: What in the Blue, Black, and Green Hell was
he doing still on the street !!!!???? Should
have been long gone, and the key thrown away !!
But he wasn’t. He was still out there, in the same
place, doing the same things, with five (that’s right, …count ‘em
---FIVE) outstanding warrants open on him, at the time of his last, and
fatal, arrest.
Guess that’s why he ran. Guess that’s why the Cops
chased him, …ya think ??
The problem is, there are thousands of Freddie Grays out
there. And there’s only so many Police men and women
to chase and find them. And to protect
us.
And wouldn’t you get sick of your job, and perhaps react a little
harshly now and then, even somewhat over the top, if the same bad
things, by the same bad people, kept happening over, and over, and
over, and over again, …day after day, month after month, long year
after torturously long year?
And then, getting not only no support from your superiors, nor from any
elected city officials, …but actually getting blamed for being the root
of the problem ???
My question is: How and why are there any Cops still
left at all, in West Baltimore, and all the other God forsaken areas of
this city !!???
But tired and overworked, abused and disrespected or not, Cops can’t
commit crimes in the name of Justice, …nor become Judge, Jury, and
Executioners, right there on the street.
That has to stop, …and those guilty must be punished,
harshly.
But what also has to stop, …and first, not last, …is the street
attitude towards that “Thin Blue Line”, …the one between our ability to
have personal freedoms, and the anarchy which would ensue, if they were
not out there, on that Line for us.
In the two weeks since Freddie Gray’s funeral took place on April 27,
which was the worst day of the fires and looting here, there have been
14 murders in Baltimore City. That’s almost one per
day.
Haven’t heard about that?? Gee, …wonder why?
All the victims were Black, …and all of the perpetrators (murderers)
were Black.
THAT’S what’s wrong with Baltimore.
Black on Black crime, …fatherless (and too often motherless) homes all
over the inner city, …the unrelenting street level drug trade, …and the
decades engrained welfare culture and “victim” mentality.
And NOT the occasional (but too frequent, whatever the number) rogue
cop or cops who distribute frustrated street justice, as they see
fit.
Both have to stop, …both need a cultural, back to basics, do-over
cleansing.
But the largest of Baltimore’s many issues, is not the street cops,
…not the pathetic public education system, …and not the lack of jobs
and economic opportunities.
It’s the decades long covering up, for political gain and control (and
votes), of the basic and tragic flaws of the Welfare State,
…perpetuated by Liberals and Democrats, since the 1930s.
As our President recently said, on an unrelated topic:
“When something hasn’t worked, for over 50 years, …it’s time for a
change.”
First time, …EVER, …I’ve agreed with the man.
Stop giving under-educated, economically depressed, and politically
naïve people, in the inner cities and everywhere, all those something
(everything) for nothing payments, …and make them earn them, …and then
most of the “cultural” (and bogus racial) problems will
disappear.
We need far, far less Government involvement today, …and much, much
more Reality.
And unfortunately, those two words, …those two concepts, …have become
Mutually Exclusive.
Joe Facinoli
--Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com
Intelligent Response Encouraged !!
© Copyright 2015 Joe Facinoli
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