Carol H Tucker Passionate about knowledge management and organizational development, expert in loan servicing, virtual world denizen and community facilitator, and a DISNEY fan
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beladona Memorial Be warned:in this very rich environment where you can immerse yourself so completely, your emotions will become engaged -- and not everyone is cognizant of that. Among the many excellent features of SL, there is no auto-return on hearts, so be wary of where your's wanders...
I was stopped by the police today for a traffic violation. *grumble*
Oh it was my fault. I had made a turn onto a neighborhood road at 8:15AM and the sign does say that turns should not be made until after 8:30AM on weekdays, so I knew that I was in the wrong. The policeman was in an unmarked care, had others pulled over, and was alone. When he pulled me over, I sighed, stopped behind the other cars he had pulled over, and glumly put my car in park. It was hot, so I left the engine running, which means the radio was playing and the A/C blowing. He walked up to the window I had opened, identified himself, informed me of my infraction, and requested my drivers’ license and vehicle registration. As I twisted around to get my pocketbook out of the back seat, I could see that he was watching me carefully and his hand was on his gun. I handed him the information. He walked away. After sitting in his car for a bit, he came back with a warning and a short lecture, then waved me on my way.
Now granted I did not bluster or get angry or say anything other than “Yes, sir” the entire time. Granted after I fished out the information requested, I dropped the pocketbook back on the backseat floor, and kept my hands in full view. This is the way I always react around any law enforcement officer – even the NSA at the airport – they are polite to me and I am polite to them. Granted there was nothing wrong with the car, or the documentation. Granted it was in full daylight and a pudgy older woman just is not seen as much of a threat.
But for the first time I wondered ….
How would that routine traffic stop gone if I had been a black male. Would’ve I been treated as politely as long as I was polite? Would’ve I still gotten a polite warning or would’ve I driven away with a ticket? Would I have thought “police have routinely been killing black men for years” and been frightened or worried? Would I have felt that I would have to film the encounter?
And what about me? Would I have felt differently about being pulled over depending on if the policeman was white? Or black? Or Hispanic? Or wore a turban? I would have been just as polite and careful, but would I have been more worried or even frightened?
It makes me want to weep – I really honestly thought we had come further than this….
CEOExpress
I was stopped by the police today for a traffic violation. *grumble* 
