Politics in
the sport of bodybuilding is like a pissing match for republicans. It's almost like a contest for who can be more right-wing on as many given topics as possible. For many in the fitness industry, it's considered manly to be pro-gun, anti-union, pro-war, anti [universal] healthcare, pro-life, anti-choice, pro-cuts, anti [social] spending, and so on and so forth. If you're a liberal, a left-winger, or heaven forbid a democratic socialist (like yours truly), you're considered to be an immature, ill-informed, weakling. I mean take Arnold for example. Although he married a Kennedy, he's a Republican to the core, and when Democratic lawmakers in California didn't pass his party's initiatives quick enough, he publicly suggested they were acting like 'girly men.' The press had a field day - and the Democrats? They passed the budget.
Although it may seem like there's a bitter rivalry between the parties, there is some common ground. Both tendencies, Right and Left, namely at the centrist levels, are blind apologists for law enforcement. It's only at their "fringes" that there's concern for a looming police state. For example, Sen. Rand Paul (R, KY) is privy to what he calls the "militarization of local enforcement," where the U.S. Defense Department is selling sophisticated military grade equipment (from small arms to tanks) to local police agencies. An armored personnel carrier that was used by the U.S. Army in Iraq may be sold to a local police station for as little as $2,500 (1% of what th
e taxpayers initially paid 5-10yrs ago). According to critics, it's about a lot more just "homeland security."
For many, like Libertarian political pundit, Alex Jones, it's something he's been talking about since the FBI/BATF raids in Waco & Ruby Ridge. If & when the Feds can use the Patriot Act on its citizens arbitrarily, state governments can declare states of emergency on a whim, and militarized cops hold down cities - they claim, we'll be done for. Interestingly, that very scene has played out in a small city in Missouri - twice! Government is even monitoring the internet, trying to intercept activists on their way to the location. My good friend Charlie Grapski might be able to relate to this nefarious state-sponsored measure.
The Framers must be turning in their graves. In time, the U.S. Constitution will hold the legal significance of toilet paper. The very excesses of government that they were rebelling against are taking hold as we speak. Both parties - Democratic & Republican - have authored it all! And sadly, we can't vote them out, because third parties in the U.S. are undermined at every stage of the electoral process. Democracy in America is dead - and the Constitution will be buried alongside it shortly.
There are, however, some obstacles in the way. There's still areas where 'elected' officials have to play the good ole game of politics. And so, we arrive at the issue of race.
Let's lay down some basic foundations. Most African Americans and other minorities align themselves with the Democratic Party, which shamelessly claims to represent the working class. Members of these racial, ethnic, and religious groups are often times persecuted. It should be noted that for PR purposes, the use of that term is highly discouraged by our government - opting instead for the less harsh-sounding term, "di
scrimination." The Republican Party, on the other hand, is almost exclusively an Anglo-Saxon-dominated club for Big Business, the wealthy, and gullible Christian zealots that actually believe they're in the 'Pro-Life party.' Both parties are hawkishly pro-police, but the Democrats must protect (at least facially) the interests of minorities in the face of blatant police excesses. The Republicans will hold the line that - racism in America - is a thing of the past and that law enforcement today is colorblind.
And so, it's not surprising that Fox News has become the focal media outlet supporting Ofr. Darren Wilson, the Ferguson Police Department, and raising concerns over the character of the victim, Micheal Brown. Fox, and its many clones, have used allegations of retail theft and even marijuana use to blur our perception of the youth. A similar smear campaign was used against another slain African American teenager, Trayvon Martin. But these attacks aren't just limited to the victims and their families; there's also a great deal of time and effort used in covering the riots. Through documented policing techniques too extensive to discuss in this article, the chaotic situation in Ferguson was almost a desired effect. It's this type of situation that allows the ski-masked, militarized cops to bring out their military-grade ordinance. It's what's allowed them to fire tear gas, bean bags, rubber bullets and even live ammo on the people. The scenes of looting, scorching police cars, and lawlessness is the catalyst for increased police budgets at the local level and further erosion of our civil rights and freedoms at the state and national level.
The Right is doing its best to suppress dissent here. On social media, namely Facebook, we have everyday people (including familiar faces in the fitness industry) mocking protesters, playing down race, and worst of all mocking the victim, Mike Brown, & his family. This is almost a carbon copy of what these people did during the Trayvon Martin case. It's utterly despicable and if anything, it proves that racism is alive and well in America - whether in white robes or gym attire.
Police brutality is also more of an issue than ever, especially in cases dealing with race. And let's be even more direct. When I say 'race,' I'm primarily speaking of African Americans & Latinos. Take 2014, where excessive force by White police officers against African American victims has been absolutely outrageous!
Ezell Ford, an African American youth, was gunned down by an undercover "gang unit" in Los Angeles. Ford was unarmed, had no warrants out, and was simply walking down a sidewalk. Will his killers be indicted/formally charged?
John Crawford, an African American youth, was shot to death for picking up a toy gun in a department store. (A similar incident involving a twelve year old African American boy gunned down by police occurred just a few days ago). Will their killers be indicted/formally charged?
Eric Garner, an African American, was murdered by the NYPD on a Staten Island sidewalk - on video. Eric w
as suspected of selling 'illegal cigarettes;' he was tackled down by a unit of plainclothes New York City cops. The New York City Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide and police commissioner Bill Bratton was forced to concede that the officer in question used an illegal choke hold. We are awaiting an indictment, but word is, it'll be another Ferguson.
Another disturbing case (though fortunately not a homicide) involved a mentally disabled, homeless, African American grandmother who was tackled down by a white California Highway Patrolman for walking along the side of a highway. A passerby motorist caught the whole incident on video. The officer tackled the unarmed, unsuspecting woman to the pavement. He straddled her and punched her about the face and chest over a dozen times. The department was ordered to pay civil restitution; however, no charges were filed and the officer didn't get so much as a slap on the wrist.
And then there's the case of Mike Brown. An eighteen year old African American youth, who according to witness' testimony, was harassed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson and shot in cold blood - unarmed - and according to some, with his hands in the air. A community demanded justice, and a nation assured it that justice would be served. Many in America are oblivious. They ask "why do THEY burn THEIR OWN neighborhoods?" But what choice is there for THEM, really? How many black men have been gunned down - just this year alone - and how many cops have even sat for a trial?
And that's really what adds insult to injury in Ferguson. We're not even talking about convictions and acquittals. All that the Brown family & their supporters wanted, was a trial. But the System is so flawed and so crooked, that Prosecutors acted more like defense attorneys, lacking the zeal with which they act in similar proceedings against ordinary citizens.
A grand jury is a preliminary formality. If there's one word that could best describe this case, it's always been: uncertainty. How can a group of men and women, of average intelligence, be so convinced that no crime occurred here, that there's such a want of probable cause, that they won't indict? According to the AP, there we
re thousands of pages of grand jury documents revealing numerous inconsistencies. A grand jury's main objective is to stand in the way of malicious prosecution, but in this case, I feel as if there was ineffective prosecution to begin with. Please understand, that a grand jury is separate from a trial. The defendant is NOT represented by counsel, the Rules of Evidence don't apply, and the grand jury can have access to any evidence it desires. Given all these factors, for there to be no trial is the ultimate miscarriage of justice.
In MOST cases, prosecutors are gunning for an indictment, assuming it's an unconnected, Joe Blow citizen. But in this case, it seems prosecutors had a heavy, conflicted heart. Cops are the errand-runners of prosecutors. Judges also have a soft spot for law enforcement and generally want to be perceived as being tough on crime. So even if there had been a trial, it would have likely resulted in across the board across-the-board acquittals (e.g. the Rodney King case). Still, there would have been a trial - there would have at least been some effort, albeit a charade, to get some justice.
This is why the decision NOT to indict is so outrageous. To the mother, father, and step-father of Mike Brown there will be no closure, no justice. To the community placated with vague assurances and to the movement threatened with hostile measures, their perception of justice is as blurred as ever. Whether cops are caught on video or seen in broad daylight by many, if the case deals with white agents of the state acting against racial minorities, namely African Americans or Hispanics... the outcome is almost certain. There is a racial component at play. I, for one, do not believe the majority of cops are racist; however, we cannot ignore the statistics or the [different] way that people of color are treated by police officers in America.
Rioting and lawlessness will not bring about justice, but I do understand it. This is truly a very low point in our country's history. I suspect there will be many more instances like it; I just hope that 'We The People' get our heads out of our asses and see the bigger picture before it's too late. Stop going to the mainstream media for your news - stop conforming and start inquiring. When peaceful protesters are met with ski-masked cops with assault rifles aboard tanks in Small Town, USA, we've got a problem. Wake Up!!
& R.I.P. Mike.
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