This photo was taken by the New York Times for this article: Pakistan Leader Backs Down and Reinstates Top Judge
At my coffee shop, we have the New York Times sitting by the register for customers to purchase. Hardly ever does anyone ever make any comments about the headlining photo and caption. Well, this photo received more jokes than I would ever have expected. The man on the ground, obviously surrendering to the police officer who is about to beat him, is a protester. I know very little about the Pakistani government and the circumstances that motivated the citizens to protest; however, I do know that there is nothing funny about brutality. I told this to a customer after he questioned why I was not laughing with him (I didn't try to argue with him, he openly pointed out that I was not joining in with his joke). He responded with: "This isn't brutality, it's just a little stick." Well my friend, so's a pistol.
Violence is not something that I will ever find humorous. Just because a police officer is the one wielding the weapon does not make it okay. Like I said, I don't have a full understanding of the circumstances; maybe this individual did something heinous. I am not quick to judge the targeted criminal in any newspaper anymore without some critical thinking. Look at how corrupt the American criminal justice system is! Women and men of color make up the majority of those incarcerated. Women of color are sexually harassed, beaten, raped, and sometimes killed by our police officers more often than we will probably ever be aware of. Racial profiling by our criminal justice system is a current, systemic problem in our country. Look at the Vietnam war protests that went on in the U.S. and the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s and 70s. Were these citizens subjected to hatred and violence? You bet!
So no, I am not going to laugh. I am going to question. I am going to find compassion. Violence begets violence. It will never be a real solution.
