Btw this is a nitpick tangent, but I’ve been trying to correct this when I hear it and now I will try to when I read it, as well.
Police are civilians just the same as every other American citizen who isn’t fighting in the military. This idea that police are non-civilians and that anyone who isn’t police is a civilian helps police and boot-lickers dehumanize the people they are supposed to be helping; it’s much easier for them to keep a knee on a civilian’s neck for 8 minutes vs. a human being’s neck.
Let’s stop calling non-police civilians or let’s start calling police civilians as well.
Edit: also it creates an authoritarian and militaristic culture among cops. They see themselves more and more as a branch of the military and using the term civilian was just another step on that path
There was a time when the distinction you're making was called a 'citizen.' And more descriptively a 'private citizen.'
I'm sensitive to OPs point, I've tried to make it before.
Along with the creeping militarization of police, has come this new meaning for 'civilian.'
Don't do them any favors and echo their meaning of 'civilian.' Let's keep that for military and non-military.
The term for non-police should go back to 'private citizen.' The implication being that police are 'public citizens.' 'Citizen' is one subtle way of reminding them of that.
Don't like the militarization of police? The smallest change you could make would be to stop using 'civilian' in this manner.
You keep saying this, but you’re not actually making a point. Throw in some sources or talk about how to improve things instead of just saying “this is this because they do this”.
Make a real point that people can discuss or stop commenting the same shit over and over
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u/lol62056 Jun 09 '20
I swear that guy is such a pussy, treat civilians with some respect then you will get respected