“Danny Kruger bravely tried to stop a gang of hoodies stealing a scooter. But he ended with a gashed lip when the thugs fought back. “My main memory is the spit-filled mouth of the little rat-faced boy who punched me.”

I’m so glad that Hafez is getting better known in the US. (Now that Rumi has cleared the pathway a little.)

(As a matter of fact, I just gave The Angels Knocking at the Tavern Door to a friend for his birthday yesterday.)

I welcome hugs and poetry projects for the police Here is a couplet by the famous and great Persian poet Hafez:

We have turned our face to the pearl lying on the ocean floor.
So why should we worry if this wobbly old boat keeps going or not?

I like it! However, as such a program may take some time to get up and running, what with the necessary grant writing, organization, outcomes analysis and all, in the interim—next Monday and Tuesday, to be exact—I’m going to do two days of just Police POV. (Not kidding about this, by the way.)

I’d put one of the posts up tomorrow, but I think everyone—including me—is going to be too deeply into 4th of July weekend mode to want to think seriously.

(Good limerick though.)

What we really need is to spend lots of money on Hug-A-Thug programs for gang members, so Woody get busy. If only the gang members wrote more poetry the gang violence would end.

I wouldn’t if you did it once in a while to let me know which side of law enforcement you prefer.

Also, I am so sick of overuse of the word “alleged.” It was never a big deal until the press wanted to attack President Nixon because he didn’t use the world “alleged” in reference to saying that Charles Manson was guilty–like some people actually thought clean-cut Charley was innocent. Now, it’s obligatory, even when a hundred witnesses see the murderer commit the crime. You could use alleged about anything; e.g. Celeste is an alleged journalist. Ban the word.

Oh, and I HATE it when a journalist refers to a killer as “the gentleman” who allegedly committed the mass murder. Gentlemen don’t go around cutting throats and murdering people.

We need a major effort to wipe out gangs like we have done with organized crime. Do you agree, Celeste? Get in line for your Tommy-gun.

This entire thread is filled with people who think they can read minds, lets stick to what we actually know happened, and quit the arm chair psychology. Now rather than waste time questioning peoples motives, what can we do so this never happens again.

And by the way, I hold police officer to a high standard than gang bangers, I don’t know why I just do.