Police

The police get some really bad press, and consequently many people feel that all police are corrupt. Well, some people do. Especially teenagers. Why is that? The seven police officers at my school today (for a career fair) are all dressed appropriately, are pleasant and interactive with the people who are pleasant and interactive with them, and have given out a great deal of information to the students who have spoken with them. Let's see - if we paid you a wage that is solidly at the low-end of the middle class pay range, required you to work many shifts with changing hours, asked you to put your life at risk potentially every day, and had you interact with most of the worst elements of society in general, would you ever seem the slightest bit aggravated? Or cocky? There are bad police officers, just as there are bad teachers, and bad civil service officials, and bad postal clerks, and bad sales people. What we should focus on is not permitting "bad" behavior in any sector of our society - lying, stealing, disrespecting authority, obeying the law, not having a work ethic, not being responsible, and feeling that everything is owed to you. So, my thought is: if the professional athletes can act any way they want, and actors and rap stars can say anything, then here's to you law enforcement - go ahead - call any teenager "punk" that you want.