Summary

The provided content discusses the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols by police officers, reflecting on the systemic issue of violence in America, particularly by law enforcement, and contrasts this with the more individualized and less violent approach to policing in Europe.

Abstract

The article presents a critical perspective on the state of violence in America, particularly within the police force, as exemplified by the recent death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of officers. The author contrasts the aggressive, presumptive-guilt approach of American police with the more respectful and conversational style of European law enforcement. The piece suggests that the pervasive culture of violence in the U.S., exacerbated by the widespread availability of guns, leads to a society where extreme violence is not an anomaly but a way of life. This is evidenced by the frequency of civilian and police deaths, the lack of accountability in most cases, and the overall stress and anger that permeate American society. The author argues that the brutality inflicted upon Nichols, who was beaten to death while crying for his mother, is indicative of a deeper societal issue that goes beyond isolated incidents, pointing to a culture of violence that is deeply ingrained and often ignored or tacitly accepted by officials.

Opinions

European policing is portrayed as more humane and conversational, treating individuals with respect and as presumed innocent.
American police are perceived to act with a sense of entitlement and aggression, often treating citizens as presumed guilty.
The prevalence of guns in America is seen as a major factor contributing to the country's culture of violence.
The article suggests that the stress and anger resulting from America's competitive and armed society manifest as violence, both in everyday interactions and in extreme incidents like mass shootings.
The author believes that the American way of life, with its emphasis on individualism and power, perpetuates a cycle of violence and injustice that is antithetical to the country's potential for greatness.
The killing of Tyre Nichols is presented as a clear example of the systemic problem of police brutality and the failure of the system to address the root causes of such violence.
The author implies that verbal condemnation by officials is insufficient and that more concrete actions are needed to address the issue of police violence.
The piece conveys a sense of hopelessness about America's ability to change, suggesting that the country is unwilling to learn from other models of policing and societal interaction.

Is Violence America’s Core Value? The Appalling Killing Of An Innocent Man By Police Officers

…while he was crying for his mom…

In Europe, police treat you like an individual and you treat them likewise. In the US, they treat you like you’re presumed guilty.

In Europe, policemen behave like public servants (which is exactly what they are). In the US, they put on the straight face of an entitled bully.

Whatever you did or didn’t do, you will be stone walled (at best) before you even start talking.

In Europe, if you have an encounter with a police officer, you talk to him like you do with a shop assistant. One party asks, the other answers, and then they switch. There is talking, smiling, a natural conversation, and the feeling that you are safe.

In the US, they talk to you like you’re the scum of the earth. They look down on you, their face is immobile, and your attempt at a normal interaction falls on poker faces and rigid demeanor.

Why? Why do they do that? I’m sure these people are not like that in real life. This is not a complaint about the people who are behind the police uniforms.

I’m sure the moment they take them off they are regular human beings who have families, wishes and dreams, and an incredibly difficult job.

But when the uniform comes on, so does the mask and so does the inhuman treatment of others.

I have no doubt that the officers are trained to act that way.

Because you see, there is another massive difference between Europe and America.

Americans have guns. And that changes everything.

Europeans can’t pull out a gun in a fit of rage. They don’t end up shooting a school worth of children because their rage and decaying mental health got the best of them. Because they can’t.

In Europe, we’re not stressed out by somebody else having a gun and using it on us or opening fire in the crowd.

We’re not stressed out that unless we’re working at our absolute highest capacity we’ll wind up sleeping in the street.

We’re chill, oriented towards the cooperative side of things, and maybe even a bit bored with how relaxed things are in Europe.

This attitude also means that we don’t make the money that Americans make. But we also don’t live in day-to-day stress.

That constant pressure translates to anger. That anger is expressed outwardly as violence.

Sometimes our leaders get bored and start wars. On a little patch of horribly divided land, they fight over who gets the biggest patch, the one with the most resources.

It’s sad and ridiculous and many people die.

But we don’t live in a constant day-to-day war of drugs, money, racism, and ideology.

America is still the Wild Wild West and probably always will be. Maybe it knows no other way. And it definitely isn’t willing to learn another one.

And it’s this ride-or-die attitude towards their way of life that will be the end of it.

Yes, extreme violence in America is a way of life, not something that happens once in a blue moon.

In America, I’ve seen it happen with all people in the slightest position of power. Even bus drivers. They put on their cold no-smile faces and take a seat.

They drive that bus like they’re driving the world.

It’s in this social context that violent deaths of people who have done nothing wrong happen.

This is the world where police officers put their knee on a suspect’s neck until he dies.

The world where teenagers pull out their weapons and gun down an entire school. Or supermarket. Or town square.

The world where a policeman is killed by civilians every 5 days.

And where police kill around 1000 people a year. Most of these cases do not result in criminal charges.

Is anyone still surprised that 5 policemen beat to death somebody at a stop light?

Tyre Nichols. The father of a 4-year-old boy. A mild-mannered man who just wanted to go home that horrible night. Who did nothing wrong but try to protect himself from the blows.

They drag him out of the car. Put him on the ground. Mace him. Tase him.

And then beat him to a pulp.

Savagely beaten while restrained, tased, and pepper-sprayed.

It sounds like an episode of true crime. But the 38-minute footage of the horrific event is far worse. Because it’s real. It’s happening right before our eyes.

Usually, in the case of killings we come into contact with a story about them, not with the actual crime on video. Or maybe we see some gruesome bloody photos, but we never ever watch it happen.

If you haven’t watched it yet… make sure you have a box of tissues and a bucket. Because your body will want to expel the ferocity and inhumanity that it witnessed.

And it will do that through every means possible: sweat, tears, vomit. And so much disgust.

Tyre Nichol’s killing is an unpardonable act of absolute atrocity.

A violent killing at a stop light. And more, torturing an innocent man while hurling obscenities at him and at each other. As Umair Haque correctly labels it, they tortured him.

Torture is ‘the act of causing great physical or mental pain in order to persuade someone to do something or to give information, or to be cruel to a person or animal”

Persuade someone to do something? Such as what? What exactly was Tyre Nichol supposed to do that hadn’t already done? It rather looks like the justification was utter cruelty.

Absurd and unjustified cruelty.

As Tyre Nichols was tortured to death, he was crying for his mom. Let that sink in. He was a child beaten to death by the servants of the people: the police.

It’s abhorring. Despicable. Appalling.

And absolutely terrifying that this is happening in a country that deems itself the greatest place on earth.

And in many ways, it is. But it counteracts its greatness with absolute ferocity and injustice.

As we all know, this is not an isolated act. It’s a culture.

A culture of violence, bloodshed, and bullying. That will not stop.

Because instead of pulling the evil out by the roots, officials verbally condemn the events but go on to shrug their shoulders. Which is just another way of condoning it.

I’m afraid America has no more chance to ever be great again.

No matter who lies to its people that it can’t be. It can’t. It doesn’t want to.

The American Shock: From Atrocity to Beauty and Back Again

America is a different planet.

medium.com