Gee, are you sure that it is accurate to use the word NEVER when you say " And they (the poor)never go to the fancy neighborhoods where we prefer to hang out..."
No, it is not accurate. This is an instance of what we call "exaggeration for the sake of effect". Would you be satisfied with "rarely"? I would still say, however, that muggings of the rich by the poor probably happen less often (per capita) than in New York City.
Not all muggers are poor, incidentally, or on drugs. Some even mug for "recreation". My sister-in-law, who was poor, was once mugged in her (New York) elevator by a well-to-do young man from New Jersey, who did this sort of thing "for kicks", as he admitted when apprehended.
As for the Washington police, I was struck by the quote in the article you cited, to the effect that "we shoot too often, and when we do shoot, we shoot too much."
Personally, I rather doubt that the trigger-happiness of the Washington police has much to do with an "effort to make sure that white people feel safe there." The city government, after all, has been -- and apparently still is, even after Marion Barry's departure -- about 90% black. Here in Maryland, the Washington police force enjoys the reputation (deserved or not) of being badly trained & incompetent. That may be at the root of the problem.
jbe |
