Teach young people to respect authority

Lumping together the football-coaching scandal in College Park and the policepummeling scandal in Baltimore, The Baltimore Sun claims there are “toxic cultures” in Maryland (“Maryland’s toxic cultures,” Aug. 13). But college football coaches aiming for million-dollar salaries and behaving badly can be found in every state and so too can ordinary citizens disrespecting police officers. These are both high on the list of American toxic behaviors. Let’s take a look at the policing problem.

Throughout America, people get stopped on the road for minor offenses. In the great majority of such instances, offenders will utter half-hearted protests. The police usually expect the protests and wait them out. But in some instances when the officer asks to see a license and registration, the offender refuses to comply. The protests turn disrespectful and sometimes to rage. On the street in Baltimore the other day, something like that provoked the officer’s rage and the beating of the man who refused the cop’s lawful order to show identification.

The Sun puts the blame entirely on the officer. Not one bit of blame is put on the defiant man on the street. This is pretty much what has been happening across the country. An officer stops someone, asks for identification, and then the offender’s non-compliance or running off triggers the officer’s rage.

Both parties to such incidents need to behave differently. Police officers need to have much better control of their emotions. Police recruits should not be deemed ready for duty unless they have shown that they can prevent such situations from escalating.

On the other hand, kids growing up need to be taught they must be respectful of police officers. No matter how much disrespect is shown by the police the victim must control his emotions and not provoke the person who represents lawful authority. Teaching such basic respect should be given the highest importance by parents and educators.