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Defunding police over a few bad apples. Why aren’t we defunding congress?

Systemic racism - a phrase that is used every day on the news. In a condensed definition it means racism that is part of a system that is both taught, implied and repeated. By watching everything that is going on and all the angles covered by the news reporters one might think that all law enforcement suffers from this “systemic racism.” Does an entire system suffer from this, do a large majority of police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers all subscribe to this? My family has a long and storied history in law enforcement. My great grandfather was killed as a Beaumont Police Officer in 1925. My dad was an officer for Beaumont PD in the 70’s during the tumultuous times after Vietnam. My uncle served on the force during the 70’s. I served for over 27 years, with the last 23 for Beaumont PD - the final 15 as a supervisor. My brother and two of my sons still serve with the Beaumont Police Department. I say all this to show that I have literally been raised in the culture of Beaumont PD. If anyone should have inside knowledge of the system aspect of systemic racism - surely I can shed some light on it. One day in the late 70’s my dad told mom that she needed to bring me to the station. I pestered the fire out of him asking what was going on and he wouldn’t budge. Mom loaded my sister and I up in the station wagon and drove us downtown. As we got out of the car at the library and walked across the street to the department I saw my dad. As a boy around ten my dad was still (and always was) my hero. There were numerous people around the front steps and tv cameras everywhere. About this time I saw one of my other heroes, and the reason dad wanted me there. As I ran toward Tony Dorsett someone yelled “Cut - who is this kid?” Tony was there in the late 70’s to film a recruiting commercial to try and attract more minorities into the department. This was over 40+ years ago and Beaumont PD was attempting to bring more diversity into the department. Systemic racism at play? When I started law enforcement in 1993, I came out of four years in the military. Every two years every officer was required to have on-going and continuing training. This is a state-wide mandate, and certain courses are required to continue working as an active officer. Every two year cycle for close to twenty years was a course in cultural sensitivity. Racism, cultural generalizations, stereotypes and a host of other racially sensitive issues were talked about and explored. Systemic racism taught at the academy? What is it that has everyone up in arms around the country? Are the police seriously racist at heart? Could it be that a nation-wide scare of plague-caliber illness, unemployment and a host of other unassociated items have been a festering keg of dynamite that was ignited by a video? Look you’ll not get me to side with the Minneapolis officer. My personal opinion is that even if he had resisted you get them up as soon as you can. If that officer lost control and it happens, a partner should have stepped in and taken control. This officer should be afforded due process. If it is proven what everyone assumes then he’ll pay the price the law mandates. There is no vast conspiracy against minorities. Let me leave you with this, I worked every day that I was on the streets in a majority minority area of town. I have experienced and been on almost every type of call imaginable. I have seen many things I’ll never be able to unsee, but I never lost my faith. I always tried to treat every call like it was my family on the other end of the phone. Have I seen bad officers with bad hearts - yes. But interestingly enough those officers didn’t seem to make it long. We are out there every day doing the best job we can. Systemic racism might exist somewhere but it doesn’t exist at BPD. This coming from a man raised in the culture and that worked his entire career for a department that is out there for you.

I think this is how we'll have to handle things going forward. We can't just cancel life.... We'll have to be proactive when cases pop up, but things have to remain open. And at some point we're just going to have to determine if the risk(s) are worth it. This virus is here to stay. There's not a vaccine that's gonna alleviate it.... Just like we haven't found one that will stop the spread of the flu. Either start figuring out how to deal with the risk or raze the stadiums and concert halls nationwide. Those are pretty much the only options left.

That’s my assumption as well but a better statement would be something along the lines of “this is not a UiL or school sanctioned event but we at the district support and are so proud of our students.” And even better, “we appreciate our communities support (financial and otherwise) of our students as they have represented our school with such distinction.” Just my 2 cents.

Silsbee will win. Vidor will do well this season, but Silsbee has some key starters coming back. They’ll be a well-oiled machine, favored to make a very deep playoff run.

Just saw something about this from Todd. What the heck is WOCCISD thinking? They are supposed to jump on the bandwagon of such achievements, not distance themselves. This is a real head scratcher to me.

I don’t know you, but I’m glad you posted your story. I believe the majority of cops share your same beliefs and practice. I’m thankful that guys like you are looking after us.

So is ‘atmosphere’ synonymous to attendance?

Siiiigh. No one cares about West Brook except you...

Agreed. Your words “This is scary! I am at a complete loss here... What in the world do we do ?” Made me think of the phrase “living in fear”. Sorry if I was mistaken.

This is a very entertaining post!!! One thing for sure, I'm excieted about turf!!! Cant wait!! So tired of watching my kids cheer, march, play in the mud...

I think Beaumont tries hard to be the kind of police force that they need to be. They parted ways with Chase Welch after two shootings in a short period of time (and an additional shooting after he left the Beaumont PD) and it's pretty obvious that this guy was having problems doing the job without shooting people, indictments or not. In another case a young officer that I know personally was having some real problems with anger management. I'm aware of a domestic violence incident and another off-duty fight. Beaumont PD cut ties with the guy before he ever turned into the kind of cop that we all worry about. He's intimidating people at HEB, now, lol.... Wasted a trip through the academy. Beaumont PD tries.

+10,000,000,000,000

I hear they have some 5 star recruits coming back 😆

We live our lives and not in fear.

I believe Silsbee will hurt on the offensive line the most. Arline, Foster, Gilder, Hatton and don't forget the return of Malik Jones, who actually looked really good in the scrimmages before he got hurt , should take care of the skill positions on offense. Defense should be good. Just have to nail down a couple of secondary spots.

‘Atmosphere’ does not count.

This is exactly what I’m talking about. Yea, those kids return, but you probably can’t replace the talent of Martin and Taylor so easily. Those two kids came in from day one answered the call when that last group of great talent left and have been serious gamers on Varsity for 3 years. I hope I’m wrong, but I didn’t see any kids of that caliber ready to fill those shoes.

Silsbee has 6 returning starters on offense and 8 returning starters on defense.

Very well put and so true. People don’t want to believe that democrats have become the face of communism. Trump will surround and arrest these mutants. We might have to separate them from their kids though, so it may be illegal to arrest them. See how convenient everything is for them? Then arrest the mayor and governor for impersonating human beings.

These are voluntary workouts but I get what your saying.

The problem is this.... people who work in the medical field see this one way. It's seen a completely different way by people who work in business. People who are still drawing a check see it different than a guy whose business is shuttered. Sometimes there are no answers. Sometimes we just get a reminder that we are a part of the animal kingdom and disease is a reality that we forget about. A surgeon can tell you exactly how to avoid catching the thing. He'd recommend that you scrub your hands for 20 minutes, wear a mask and gown, clean every surface with antibacterial disinfectants and never leave the sterile environment of an operating room. He wouldn't be wrong. Except we can't all do that.

That's what I'm saying, and forgive me if I do take this to heart because like I said I've decon alot of places and seen things I hope none you will have to see, and I just don't want us as whole in that position. I really hope there is a season I really do. But you guys know it will be some more positive test and if it's too many people will panic, teams will start canceling games and not wanna play with a team that had a player test positive if we get the far.

What if you provide for your family through sports? Or any other industry shuttered by the fear of the virus?

Agreed, but at this point, we do need an answer. Folks are trying to come up with one on the fly. Usually don’t discuss politics, but the POTUS did fire the pandemic team that was in place just for an occasion like this. 🤷🏾‍♂️

Going to work and providing for your family is the only risk anybody should be taking. Not sports.

We have to learn how to live with this virus. Like it was said earlier... it’s not going anywhere. We have to keep everything moving forward. Now how that’s done? I don’t really know lol

You telling me to just keep, going and shutting down for two weeks every time a case pops up. You do realize the cdc uil and anybody in there right mind is going to sit up there and let that happen. I don't even have a child out there and its seems I'm more concerned than most parents. Throwing more gasoline on the fire is not the answer.

Exactly.

The headline of this article pretty much sums up the state of affairs in America right now. [Hidden Content] Can you believe that someone had the audacity to BLATANTLY CRITICIZE Colin Kapernick? The nerve!!! If somebody kneels during the anthem, eff your feelings... it's a protest. If you say, "hey, I'm offended that you kneel during the anthem," you are an insensitive a-hole who as offended the protester and an apology (and possibly a firing) is in order. It's gonna come to violence, I'm afraid.

I don't know, but I like that decision if true. Randy and Regina have been the heartbeat of that school for years. EXTREMELY successful in the sports they coach and the girls program is successful. The road they have been taking seems to lead to a new AD every few years, and that is not going to work. Why not try something new? The only reason AD is attached to HFC is for money. Someone can be a great HFC, but that doesn't mean they will be a great AD. Someone could also be a subpar HFC but great AD. It's not easy to find someone that's good at both. School systems are stuck marrying those two things and it doesn't always work. It's pretty difficult when new leadership, new vision, and new beliefs come in every 2-3 years. You have to have consistency.

The year somebody burnt a giant penis on your field, lol.

I like Silsbee's chances in this one, but they've struggled against Slot T teams in the past. I can't think of anybody they've faced in a couple of years that ran the Slot T well.

Look I get it. We want action and nobody loves high sports more than I but, not at someone's childs expense. I really feel bad for the bridge city baseball team. Nobody was going to stand in their way to a state championship. But the rona had other ideas. Maybe we should take another month off and try this again. I'm at a loss. Mabe play only district that we could push the workouts back some more or the alternative, shut it all down til 2021 which could be a possibility if this doesn't get any better. We had 2000 more cases in Texas I believe this past week.

Yeah I tend to agree, especially with it being week one. Silsbee over the past few years has gotten off to slower starts and gets better as the season goes on. If this was a 3-4 games in I’d take the Tigers. But I’ll take Vidor by 13 to start the year.

I was just going to say that. Silsbee graduated a lot. The two big guns Taylor and Martin are gone. And I believe the FB/linebacker is gone too. They will be hurting leading up to district. Of course they still have Arline and Foster, but I don’t know how fast that duo will click. And I don’t know if there will be any receivers like Turk, White, or Cartwright will be on the outside. I got Vidor wining by two scores...

I know BU is quite new, but the BU vs PA Memorial rivalry is pretty intense, all sports. Factor that in the decade long Beaumont vs Port Arthur rivalry AND they are in the same district. This will be fun this year. I can’t wait.

Why are they being allowed to do this?

My gut says Silsbee wins by a couple of TD's but Vidor makes it a game for a while.

2003 was the last time these two played for real. The last two years the scrimmages have went Silsbee's way.

AMEN brother!!!

This happened 8 to 10 years ago, way before more recent incidents had made it to the news. Before Ferguson,before that guy was shot in the back in Charleston SC, before all the recent ones. I think about it all the time. I live in my own little world. I go to work, or I did, then back home. I drive to church, then we go out to eat, to a high school basketball game occasionally, and that's it. My wife likes to stay home as much or more than I do. I watch shows like the 1st 48, drugs inc, but that is about as close as I get to it. Meanwhile it is a real war going on. All kinds of stuff comes through H town on the highways. The good guys have guns, and the bad guys do too. Crazy.

I was almost shot by HPD. It probably would have been fatal. And truthfully it was all my fault. Let me tell the story, but first I got to set the scene. I was working at a dps office in Houston. We were shut down for renovations, for the 2nd time. I could go into details about the renovations but it would take too long. I didn't have a car then so I decided to go to the office that was the closest or easiest to get to by bus. Then I bought a small 6 cylinder ford ranger pickup from a dealership in that area. We had too many workers for that small office so they split us into three shifts. The good shift was from 730 to 430. The 2nd best was from 8 to 5. The worst shift was from 10a to 7pm, We all hated that shift. The public didn't know we were open. It was totally dead. Anyway it was on a Friday. As soon as it turned 7. I jumped into my truck, glad to be off glad for the weekend. I had a good stereo head unit & Jimi Hendrix was ripping thru machine gun. I turn at a corner without stopping much. It annoyed me that I would fail some person for not stopping at a stop sign. My decision would get over ruled to keep the public happy. So I figured I would drive like that too. If you can't beat em join em. Wrong. I started going North, then I turned at a stop sign going East. Wide open street, nobody around, or so I thought. Music is loud, Jimi is doing his thing. Then I noticed red & blue lights in my rear view mirror. OH Oh. Two of three times a day I would help fire men, and police officers with their license renewals, etc. I enjoyed doing that. I thought we were all on the same page. Truth is they don't pay attention to who you are, no more than you do them. Nothing racial. They just wanted to get their license done and get out of the crowded office. Same with civilians. Anyway, the LEO had me pulled over and he said over the loud speaker for me to get my license out, etc. I had this brain freeze of an idea that I would get out of my truck go back & talk to the officer, let him see who I am, that guy at the dps office, and this would all go away. Instead he yelled at me in a panicky loud voice: get back in your truck!! I didn't even look at him. I knew he had a pistol pointing at me. I was real close to getting plugged with a. 9mm or a 40. So I got back into my truck, and was glad to be in there too. I could hear him on the radio getting information, checking me out. Finally he came up to window and asked "why did you get out out your vehicle. Only thing I could say was I did it because I was stupid. Those were my exact words. He asked me where I was coming from. I told him I worked at the dps office down the street. As soon as I said that I could feel the tension easing up a bit. Then he said if you work for dps then you know you have to stop at a stop sign right? He had me on that one. So he wrote me a ticket. He could of lit me up good, but he wrote it in such a way that I could take defensive driving and get it all forgotten eventually. And that is what I did. For the record, in case someone is keeping score, he was not a white cop. He was Asian, probably Vietnamese.

The WHO just recently said that Asymptomatic spread of corona is very unlikely. I think things will be ok. If your sick.... stay home. It’s not that hard.

Would it be possible to work on the bathrooms while the turf is going in? It would be nice to see those done before the start of the season.