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Rodney King Found Dead

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Tully Mars, Jun 17, 2012.

  1. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Very Tilted

    Location:
    Yucatan, Mexico
    Looks like Rodney King was found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool.

    Rodney King dead at 47 - CNN.com

    Anyone have memories of the incident or personal experiences regarding him and the events of his life that became so ingrained in US culture?

    The only thing that stands out for me was I was in a squad room at a small sheriffs office when the jury first found the officers not guilty on the beating charges. Everyone around me was cheering and I kept thinking BULL SHIT.

    Anyway share your thoughts if you have them. And I hope he's found peace now.
     
    Tully Mars, Jun 17, 2012
    #1
  2. Fremen

    Fremen Allright, who stole my mustache?

    Location:
    E. Texas
    Yep, I remember thinking the cops should have gotten jail time.
    And over the years, I remember thinking Rodney King was letting his fame/infamy get to him, and he wouldn't come to a good end.

    It's sad that he's dead and at a young age.
     
    Fremen, Jun 17, 2012
    #2
  3. Plan9

    Plan9 Rock 'n Roll

    Location:
    Earth
    Oh, fuck that guy. Race card. Media temporal tunnel vision.

    Excessive use of force by police? Certainly. No question.

    But the guy was hardly a model citizen.

    Everybody in LE lost that day.
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2012
    Plan9, Jun 17, 2012
    #3
  4. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    It was definitely a case of two big wrongs not adding up to anything right, and no one being better off for it.

    I don't wish the guy any ill will, and he absolutely didn't deserve to be beat the way he was, but it's not like he was some type of hero for being a drunk parolee running from the cops.
     
    Borla, Jun 17, 2012
    #4
  5. Joniemack

    Joniemack Beta brainwaves in session

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    The tragedy is, police are still, to put it mildly, heavy handed. Video after video portraying the abuse of citizens by police and not a fucking thing is done to effectively eradicate it (despite the lip service) or even minimize it.

    Rodney King was a snapshot in time. Police violence had been going on well before and has continued despite this high profile incidence.

    The whole Rodney King ordeal is a sad example of the relationship between law enforcement and who they deem the enemy. (everyone outside of law enforcement)
     
    Joniemack, Jun 17, 2012
    #5
    • Like Like x 2
  6. the_jazz

    the_jazz Accused old lady puncher

    No, why he's a hero is not what happened on the video tape. He tried to be the voice of reason when the cops were acquitted ("Can't we all get along?"). He tried afterwards to continue to be the voice of peace. Was he a flawed human being with substance abuse problems? Yes, absolutely. Did he try to use his notoriety for something good? Yes, absolutely.
     
    the_jazz, Jun 17, 2012
    #6
    • Like Like x 7
  7. Joniemack

    Joniemack Beta brainwaves in session

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    He did attempt to put a positive spin on the ordeal when it was all said and done. Sadly, he'll be remembered by most as the black dude who got a crazy ass-whoopin' from a bunch of violent adrenaline junkies.
     
    Joniemack, Jun 18, 2012
    #7
  8. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    Good point, one I overlooked.
     
    Borla, Jun 18, 2012
    #8
  9. flat5

    flat5 Vertical

    Location:
    Amsterdam, NL
    The race card my ass!
    Who do you think you would have been in his skin and environment?
     
    flat5, Jun 18, 2012
    #9
  10. Plan9

    Plan9 Rock 'n Roll

    Location:
    Earth
    Say what? Engrish?
     
    Plan9, Jun 18, 2012
    #10
  11. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    In my opinion, once you become an adult you are responsible for your own actions. Sure, a bad environment might make me understand why you were more prone to do something stupid or illegal, but it doesn't excuse it. It is a sad reality that people who grow up around abuse, drug use/alcoholism, and other dysfunction are more likely to perpetuate it. But it's still on them if they do.
     
    Borla, Jun 18, 2012
    #11
  12. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Are you talking about Rodney King or the officers who beat him? :p

    I suppose we are all of us responsible for dealing with whatever happens to us.

    King himself spent a lot of time and effort working to rehabilitate himself, and after the beating he had that much more to deal with. I'm sure he had lots of ups and downs, but he seemed to have been strong enough to make some progress and even to reach out to other addicts as a way to help them.

    I wonder what, if anything, his abusers have done to deal with any of their own problems.
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2012
    Baraka_Guru, Jun 18, 2012
    #12
    • Like Like x 2
  13. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member


    Yes. ;)

    If the cops defend actions like that by saying it's because they constantly deal with the scum of society, or that it was perpetuated by the culture of the dept., that's a feeble and insufficient excuse in my book as well. What they did was blatantly wrong, and they should be held personally responsible.
     
    Borla, Jun 18, 2012
    #13
    • Like Like x 1
  14. clavus

    clavus New Member

    Location:
    NorCal
    He died from exhaustion. That guy was beat.
     
    clavus, Jun 19, 2012
    #14
    • Like Like x 3