Narrow Minded, Shallow Perspectives Will Only Add To Strained Relations

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It is most interesting that sometimes when people apparently think that they are contributing to potential solutions regarding deep-seated, historic, sociopolitical issues and problems --- they actually end up fanning the flames and perpetuating the original causes. Ms. Jane Zicari's Letter below is a prime example of this reality. That is to say, where communities of color are concerned, one outstanding reason why it is so difficult to improve police-community relations is because of pervasive, undeserved, disdain on the part of many, many members of white communities,and automatic, blind loyalty to those who are human representatives of a system that was racist, sexist, classist, objectively evil and wicked --- right from the start!

Based on a potentially racist and inflammatory Letter to the Editor, D&C, 12/29 (see copy below) --- I can barely wait for Rochester City Council President Lois Giess and her protégé Benjamin Douglas's OP - ED piece, chastising Jane Zicari for "inflaming racial animosity," --- as they attempted to do in the case of Councilman Adam McFadden when he correctly pointed out that the manner in which some so-called peace officers routinely operate in the "hood" (inner city) resembles a throwback to Apartheid South Africa (click here to read commentary on police-community relations: 'Why are we reliving issues of 1964 in 2004?' ). 
 
It is absolutely, totally incomprehensible and unimaginable that Ms. Jane thinks that it's ok for her to categorically compare African American citizens of Rochester to a white actor who has built his entire career largely on an image comparable to an idiotic, whore-mongering, drunkard and jackass.
 
Additionally, by what moral or ethical authority does this misguided Irondequoit resident (incidentally, a town that has a well-known, widespread, and well-deserved reputation as being one of the most infected with racism in Monroe County) think she has a right to lecture Black people about "respect" or appropriate behavior?!
 
Apparently, this woman has conjured up a narrow, distorted, hypothetical, anecdotal scenario in her mind, which she believes accounts for the disrespectful behavior that is routinely exhibited toward Black people and other people of color by numerous police officers in Rochester, and certainly in Irondequoit.
 
I wonder if Ms. Jane remembers, or if she is even aware of the fact that, because of such a high volume of complaints from city residents about mistreatment, racism, and brutality by Irondequoit police, local African American leaders initiated a series of talks and meetings with the town's police chief to help bring some of his officers under control? I also wonder if she thinks that the hypothetical scenario outlined in her Letter accounts for the voluminous number of complaints by people of color against the police department of her "fair" town? It is a bit difficult to contemplate that "all too often crowds [of Black people] gather at the scene of an apprehension" in Irondequoit.
 
Ms Jane, with regard to relationships and treatment, when attempting to surmise what might be or is occurring between communities of color and police, (not only in Rochester and Irondequoit, but throughout the U.S.of A.) there are at least three critically important factors that you need to be acutely conscious and knowledgeable of. Those include, first, your own limited, preconceived whims and notions. Secondly it's important to be well versed in dominant vs. non-dominant cultural differences, and thirdly history! 
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Letters to the Editor
(December 29, 2004)

Respect police and get respect in return

To the citizens of Rochester who perceive themselves to be the black Rodney Dangerfields of our fair city ("I get no respect from city police officers"), I would say this:

To get respect you must give it. All too often crowds gather at the scene of an apprehension. Whether small or large, these crowds can become unruly and include persons who interfere with the police doing what they are there to do. In that instance, the police must be on guard against the situation escalating into something more serious. In their efforts to control the situation while effecting the arrest, they may appear to be disrespectful when in fact they are feeling threatened by the crowd.

So as an ordinary citizen and not a criminal, if you want respect from the police, stay out of their way and let them do their job. Continue on your way when you see police activity, and mind your own business.

JANE ZICARI
IRONDEQUOIT

Anti-racism / Racism