Most recent public comments by Kathleen Dudgeon https://nowcomment.com/users/28304 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735765 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735765 I have heard many arguments that racism is a natural phenomenon in psychology and that we trust people who look like ourselves. I generally fight this argument with the simple fact that we are a more evolved, intelligent species that should recognize the capabilities and humanity of people of all races. However, Alexander makes a stronger case by outlining how racism was actively constructed during the past few centuries. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:13:29 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735762 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735762 I also wonder how black police officers negotiate their status as loyal public servant with the US's system of racial persecution. I wonder if they are aware of the enormous proportions of black men that are behind bars, or if officers often have internalized biases against people of their own race to justify the institution they serve? I am sure it varies on an individual level, but I would be curious to see an account of POC officers' perspectives and if they are more skeptical than white officers. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 02:32:39 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735761 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735761 It is incredible that people can sit in front of a television and furiously agree with a call for Law and Order but ignore the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals. I think it is sad that we focus so much on sensationalized justice rather than the best possible citizenry. We seem to not care about rehabilitation, only punishment. This makes for agreeable speeches on "toughness" which would imply "strong" results; however this ignores the fact that the best solution is not always the one that requires the most force, aggression, and power. It's amazing that a better solution exists that would save our tax dollars, be more humane, and produce better rehabilitated citizens. We choose to ignore these options maybe because they are too nuanced, "weak" (feminine), or UnAmerican. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 02:08:02 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735760 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735760 What people also don't realize is that the push to strip felons of their right to vote is forced by those who benefit from that oppression. The reason the votes of felons are being denied is not for a large moral rationality, but because it specifically harms the republican party when that population is able to vote. Once we understand how these policies are written for a self-interested group and not public good, it becomes clear why so many policies do not benefit the general public. One example is "stand your ground" being drafted by ALEC, sponsored by Wal-Mart, the number one retailer of guns in the US. These policies become more difficult to defend when it is revealed that they are motivated by money and not even GOP ideology. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 01:56:44 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668688 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668688 drug dealers tune in. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:34:03 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668681 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668681 There is simply not that much meaning casually imbedded in our real conversations. However, given the challenge is to construct a fictional character to develop empathy for some sort of real person (a person is undoubtedly more complex than a fictional character given that their consciousness exists outside of a relatively small set of content), perhaps fictional dialogue with multiple layers of meaning is fair. You can accomplish more emotion and meaning with fictional characters than using "real" characters whose understanding is unfurled rather than constructed. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:29:02 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668638 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668638 is casual in the Wire. People rarely cry that the system is wrong, but many of them know it (e.g. D's lesson in chicken nuggets and chess). The Wire is generally dramatic in a political rather than personal realm. I agree that this message has rarely found its way into prime-time entertainment. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 22:30:37 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668622 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668622 However, with the Wire, because of the legitimacy of the Homicide department and the on-site filming, this was an element I had overlooked. Thu, 02 Feb 2017 01:07:17 -0500