Friday, September 5, 2014

Current Events From Andrew

World Map of Internet Access

—Sent out a ping on August second to get a response from all the online IP address’

Take a second to consider all the things the internet gives us access to, and then consider how much of the world doesn't have access to this resource. Business, politics, current events, skills, trades, information relating to fields of study, opinions, culture, economics, and even the freaking weather. All of these things (and probably more that I’m not thinking of) are resources the internet gives us access to. Now realize the black spots on this map are areas not accessing the internet.

What does it mean to be globally connected, and what benefits does this connection bring with it? As humans, it seems like we thrive best when we’re all connected. So why aren't these black areas connected? What’s stopping them from connecting via the internet. Are there possibly different and better ways of connecting without the internet?


Wtf is it with police and lethal force?

What we know about Michael Brown's shooting

—the events are very “he said, she said” and range from Michael raising his hands in mercy to Michael attacking the police officer and grabbing at the officers gun.
—Michael was unarmed
—Michael was shot six to eight times in the head and chest
—pretty sure they called in the national guard to handle the rioting 

Police Claim Man Who Died During Arrest “Did Not Appear to be in Great Distress” UPDATE

—suspicion of selling loose cigarettes
—putting the asthmatic Garner into a chokehold
—the man can be heard stating repeatedly that he could not breathe
—handbook specifically states no use of chokeholds when apprehending a criminal
—to top it off, was even neglected by the paramedics
—died because he went into cardiac arrest


Man shot and killed by St. Louis Police


—Yelled “Shoot me now. Kill me now”
—known for being mentally disturbed
—did brandish a knife


Yes, these victims are black, which is a whole separate issue in itself, but why does this force need to be applied in the first place? Out of all the disarming and immobilizing techniques our police force has access to, why are guns and similar lethal forces the first to be applied?


I think we can take away thoughts of force and oppression, and consider the necessity of forces like this. Are these forces doing more saving than killing? If so, for who? How would forces like this come into existence? How far back does the use of lethal force on “criminals” go?

No comments:

Post a Comment