occupy

[mimicucumber]

The current worldwide events (and probably all those in the past I wasn't alive for) are starting to demonstrate, in some places, a clear shift in policing tactics from the act of actual policing (the neutral maintaining of order, with force if necessary) to militarism (the tactical maneuvring of violence for political ends).*

This is not to deny

Comments

[frandroid]

Policing is rarely neutral. Or rather, the order they try to maintain isn't.

[mimicucumber]

the order they try to maintain isn't.
I definitely agree. I guess I'm referring to a sort of platonic ideal or shared fancy.

[standard_human]

Love the def's, they are right-on.

Intuitively I feel like you're right. It feels like there's been a real 'tough guy' stance taken by these 'policing bodies' as of late. But then I think back to the 60's and the civil rights movement and well...not much has changed when it comes to use of force. In fact - things maybe seem more intense lately because we've been extremely mindful of it in a way we never used to be.

Of course this is just about 12 seconds of my thoughts and you've got a lot more perspective on it.

[mimicucumber]

not much has changed when it comes to use of force.

For me it's not so much about use of force, as use of tactics. 'Stand back, rile them up, let the violent kids do their thing, ok now we can step in and paint them all as violent.'

But yes, it's not like this is so new. It just seems so transparent now. Or maybe, I'm just noticing it more because it's happening to white people.

[bohemiangel]

I think there has been a massive change