Anyone have any idea what the total homicide count is in Kansas City? Don't feel bad, neither do I. What I do know is that it is at least 48. Any idea how many of those victims were white? Yea, I don't know either, but I know it is a slim percentage. Which leads me to my segue,the reaction to the recent murder of abortion doctor James Tiller. More to the point, the reaction that his murder drew. People flocked to vigils in this city to honor and protest the killing of a well heeled, well paid doctor in Wichita. In the many pictures I have seen of the vigil held near the plaza fountain, I did manage to pick out one non white person, otherwise the crowd was as white as the line at a Starbucks.
My point, why do folks care so much for an abortion doctor that they never met, who lived hundreds of miles from this city, while the streets of the east side run red with blood? More to the point, why does the murder of a wealthy doctor from Wichita draw such a strong reaction, while children catching stray bullets, or poor folks gunned down on their front porch creates barely a whimper from these same people? You are aware that all of this city's homicides are not comprised solely of one thug killing another, right? Don't get me twisted, this isn't an issue of protecting a woman's right to choose, which I support, but rather a glaring example of the fucked up priorities of upper middle class white liberals, and a media that panders to them. Apparently the murder of a doctor is abhorrent, while catching a stray bullet on your porch, not so much
There are at least a million other ways to die that are preferable to the way David Carradine died. Choking to death in a closet while choking your chicken is not a good way to go. On the other hand, pun intended, there is something to be said for a guy in his 70's who can still jerk his gherkin. Must be the Kung Fu grip. All kidding aside, the guy was a heroic figure to kids when I was coming up. All of my childhood friends either wanted to be Kung Fu, Billy Jack, or Evel Knievel. All three of these guys turned out to be more than a little kooky, although I idolized Evel. As for me, I idolized Cool Hand Luke, along with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Look how that turned out, go figure.
So that's it for this week. It's good to be back. I leave you with the video below. Watch it to its conclusion, you won't regret it.
This guy is awesome. From Crime Scene Kansas City
Fast Eddie Friday is back!
ReplyDeleteI don't get why Tiller seems like such a hero to some folks. Can someone please explain?
I knew that something was up with David Carradine's death, I think there may be more to the story. This mornings revelation came as little surprise, except to hear it on the morning newscast.
I dont understand it either, and now there's some bullshit website called "I am Dr Tiller" and people have their faces covered in the testimonials.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's anything brave about helping those who are irresponsible.
All I am saying.
It's not that Tiller was a hero.
ReplyDeleteRather, whether you like it or not, Tiller did represent a woman's legal right to control her own body, especially after being shot several years prior. Were Tiller to have stood down after the first shooting, the violence would have been aimed at one of the other (few) remaining late-term abortion practising mds (and undoubtedly will now). And the reason that is important is because though the law of the land says one thing those who disagree have decided, time and again, to resort to violnce; after a certain point it doesn't matter what's legal - if it might get you killed, that service will not be available. 'Supporting' a woman's right 'to choose' is worthless if there is nothing to choose from.
Further, the escalting violence erodes any attempts at civil discourse, which in turns weakens the country as a whole.
That's why it got such large play.
Conversely, the local homicide rate is - or will be- roughly the same in KC, year in and out. This is also true at the national level.
True, much of it is minority on minority killing, thug-life or no.
And yes, the black on black killings do indeed represent larger, systemic issues in our country, just as Tiller's death did.
However, the possible difference in the coverage may be attribuatble to the notion that if enough eyes are focused on current anti-woman violence, we may be able to stave off abortion becoming the exact sort of intractable, seemingly insovable mess taht racial relations have become...
Just my thoughts; your EEG graph will vary...
Tiller did not stand up for anything. He was one of the few late term abortion doctors which means he got paid a lot of money. He was doing it for himself.
ReplyDeleteThe guy did not deserve to die, but did anyone see one word about the fact that AFTER he got off on the misdemeaner charges, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts ordered an investigation of his practices? He was portrayed as a hero in the press but not one word on this investigation. As for the racial composition of his mourners, I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for Carradine's family. Good gawd.
And the poet dude, you know the cops knew the guy is a few cards short of a full deck. I'm glad they didn't pursue him.
The video seems fake to me. The cops were letting him recite his message instead of trying to cuff him. I guess hearing that diatribe could become distracting. It did seem to have a hypnotizing effect. Maybe it's real. I don't know. What do I know?
ReplyDeleteGeorge Tiller. Research is your friend.
ReplyDeleteBilly Jack. He was the bomb. And it dates you MM. It dates me too.
ReplyDelete50 bux says that dude who got tasered is a LARP er and played waaaaay too much D&D growing up. He probably has a poetry booth at the local Rennie Faire every year.
ReplyDelete