Here are this week's Stinky badges.

When they aren't busy eating donuts and moonlighting, they're murdering, raping, robbing, extorting, whoring, testilying, dealing, drinking and driving, snorting, and generally abusing US citizens ... who are prohibited by the "law" from defending themselves from "the law" ... =Lon Garm=

No, it's not that simple, because it's our country too, and we're not leaving.

But before that snide remark, you were making some good points, and nobody here is going to disagree. Please, read the page before blowing your stack.

It's perfectly clear from Lon's comments that he's not talking about all cops, he's talking about "this week's 'stinky badges'." It ought to be clear from our comments underneath, ("Why we're doing this") that we're focused on bad cops, not all cops.

You say: "How in the world can you even say what you say and render all cops bad when only few do these things?" And I can only reply, are you on illegal drugs? When and where did we say anything like that? I doubt we've ever editorially said anything about "all cops" (and if we have I'll apologize). A general statement about "all cops" would be (as you say) as silly as making generalizations about all Iraqis, or all New Yorkers for that matter.

Seriously, what are you angry about? Are you arguing that it's wrong for us to point out that there are crooked cops? Are you disagreeing with us, when we say that law-breaking cops should be punished the same as anyone else?

=H&HH=

Mr. Garm wrote: "Here are this week's Stinky badges. [New paragraph] When they ...  Which is plainly and obviously a comment about "this week's stinky badges," not about all men and women everywhere and everywhen who ever do, ever have, or ever will wear a badge.

That passive-aggressive stance might work elsewhere, but it won't work with me, not after you told us, "If you don't like what is going on in America, then get the hell out of our country!!!! It's really that simple!! It's too late for you to say you've been "cordial."

If you opposed the war, perhaps your heart is in the right place. I salute you, sir ... especially if you were brave enough to oppose the war without adding a "but."

You sure seem to be in a hurry to tell me what rights I do and don't have. Here are the rights I claim, and I offer you the same.

If we've said something undeservedly nasty about a particular cop, or a particular anyone -- even you -- we'll apologize. So please, look through the stinky badges page, and find a police officer who deserves our apology.

Meanwhile, what you seem to be saying is that I have certain freedoms as an American, and then I have the audacity to use those freedoms. And that annoys you?

I could say all sorts of nice things about America, easily more than ten. But I won't do it for you.

We won't preface our every complaint about the Bush administration with a list of things we love about America. We won't list ten terrific cops for every complaint about out-of-control cops.

Your requirement for such an oath of loyalty is a defense mechanism, which you use to prevent yourself from knowing that there are problems. Your assumption is that anyone who speaks out against bad cops must hate all cops. Anyone who points out America's problems must hate America, you assume.

And with those assumptions to shield you from the truth, you remain safely ignorant, telling yourself that anyone who points out police misconduct must be a nut who hates all cops. And anyone who points out reports of American war crimes must be a nut who hates America.

Each week, we present dozens of examples of out-of-control police, and dozens of examples of American leadership violating American principles. But you'll disregard them all, knowing we're nuts because we don't have a huge section of our website dedicated to heroic cops or a long-running list of all the things we love about Bush and Cheney.

Your system is ingenious and impregnable. So instead of knowing about the ongoing atrocities, you can tell yourself you're a better patriot than we are. And you'll always "know" that every policeman is your friend, and your Congressman is looking out for you.

Some of us prefer to face facts. But we wish you sweet dreams, and we're sure you'll keep the wool pulled up comfy over your eyes.

=H&HH=