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   REPLY: 530.fido-asianlin@1:153/757.2 244fa48d   
   TZUTC: -0500   
   I often read the news from my old hometown in New Mexico. Today kob.com    
   published an article about a park ranger at Petroglyphs National Monument   
   (it's called that but it's really just a park.)   
      
   The ranger is being accused by a park visitor of excessive force because the    
   park ranger used a taser on him.   
      
   The park visitor identifies as "indigenous."   
      
   Here's where the debatable subject comes up:   
      
   US Rep Deb Haaland(D) of New Mexico has felt the need to add her 2 cents to    
   the issue. (She is also indigenous.) Her spokesperson had this to say about    
   the incident:   
      
   "Congresswoman Deb Haaland is aware of the incident at Petroglyphs National    
   Monument. The Congresswoman believes that any abuse of force is unacceptable    
   and that this incident should be thoroughly investigated. She has alerted the    
   Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee so proper oversight is    
   conducted, especially considering the cultural significance of the site."   
      
   Should a member of US Congress get this involved in a case of police    
   brutality? Is "proper oversight" really necessary? If so, why?   
      
   I'll start this debate (probably a debate with myself but feel free) by saying   
   this:   
      
   Where was US Rep Deb Haaland a few months ago when an unarmed hispanic man was   
   killed by police? Did it not matter as much because he wasn't a native    
   American like her and this Petroglyph visitor?   
      
   Also, why point fingers? Her job is to draft bills, isn't it? Why don't she    
   draft a bill against police brutality (for everyone) instead of trying to be a   
   hero only for native Americans? She's like the native American version of Al    
   Sharpton, but worse, because she has a job to do and I don't see her doing it.   
      
   I'm not defending the park ranger necessarily - but I'm tired of people    
   putting their own color above all others while we're all human beings and we    
   all deserve an equal amount of respect and courtesy. Police brutality affects    
   people of all colors, sometimes even indirectly - it shouldn't ONLY be an    
   issue when the alleged victim matches the Congresswoman's color.   
      
   --- Renegade vY2Ka2   
    * Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)