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Lambd
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 08:42 am: | 
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I was just given 'Three Weeks in October', the book about the snipers that was written by the Montgomery County, Md. police chief that handled the case. Has anyone read it? If so, do you have any comments. If not, why not? I understand that it's supposed to be an interesting account of the events that transpired. I know that some people were upset because they felt like he was profiteering from others' misfortune. Explain to me the difference between what he is doing and what anyone else who writes an account of their own experience does. He eventually had to resign because he wrote this book and I think its kind of rough that more of us don't support him. He is black. He was in a leadership position where he showed how black men can, when given the chance, step up and be poised in very difficult positions. I have a lot of respect for the man. I know that he didn't single-handedly solve this crime, but he was the face that we associated with law enforcement during this difficult period and he remained a solid example for us all to look up to. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:56 pm: |
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Lambd:
I haven't read it but not because I think Moose was profiteering--this is America in the 21st Century and "selling out" "going commercial" "seeking your 15 minutes of fame" is par for the course. When I have been in that situation and refused it then I will feel qualified to damn others for doing it.
No, I haven't read it because it is likely to be self serving and an "official sanitized approved" version of events and besides, though I like to see a brother getting over, they caught Muhammad and Malvo because of some slip ups they made else he would have been looking silly and besides, like all of the chief law enforcment officials had he not had a bunch of hardworking street bulls, (some of whom were black, I hope) working the case he wouldn't have caught nobody.
I can just see the movie, with Moose charging in through a hail of bullets to disable the two madmen with his jiu jitsu-- |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 01:03 pm: |
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Lambd,
Rather than criticizing us for NOT reading "Three Weeks in October" (a book that many of us may not have even knew existed), I suggest you try the much more positive approach of regaling us with the virtues the book. |
Katrina Merriwether
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 08:36 pm: |
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I think Chief Moose did an excellent job and it's a shame that his integrity and efforts are not appreciated by the black community.
On top of that, I overheard some co-workers (all female) snickering about him be married to a white woman. I chalk a lot of our community's silence to that. He's unfairly seen as a sell out.
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Lambd
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 11:38 am: |
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ABM--I wasn't criticizing, I was looking for critiques. I probably could learn alot about time management from a scholar such as yourself. Hell I could probably learn alot about alot of things from a brain surgeon such as yourself. This is the thing, I enjoy reading as much as the next person, however, its a long book. I only wanted to hear some opinions on the book, because it didn't do as well as I thought it might, and I wanted to read it but I didn't want to get into it if was going to be a waste of my time. Being the negative, uneducated jerk that I am, I do more than enough of that on my own. I think if you take your time and read my original post again, you will find that I didn't criticize anyone for not reading it, I was merely surprised that it didn't generate more interest. I will eventually read it for myself and report back. Frankly, I'm stunned that Hayden felt the way he does. I might be wrong, but Moose didn't strike me that way at all. It will be interesting when I read this book and find out where all this negativity is coming from.
Chris--If it is what you think it is, I'll let you know.
Katrina, I think what you say about the white wife has a great deal to do with how the community views him. I don't have anything against him or the fact that he choose a white wife. To each his own. Whatever, who cares. I agree that he is unfairly seen as a sellout. |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 02:43 pm: |
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Lambd,
Okay. Let’ simmer down a bit, pardnah. No need to get all huffy.
I only said you were "criticizing" because to me you seemed to take exception to the alleged discomfort some African Americans feel towards Moose’s profiting for being the point man on pursuing/capturing the VA snipers.
And you even said "...I think its kind of rough that more of us don't support him." Pardon me, but that sounds like criticism. Doesn't it?
Hey! If you want us to read dude’s books, why not relay to us some rich/juicy passages in it that might make it worth spending +$20?
Here’s my opinion of what might have derailed Moose’s book sales:
I am happy that a Black man got to play the role of great/noble hero (for a change). And I’m especially happy that he was Black because that helped to counterbalance the PR implications of the villains being Black also.
But you know, American can be hard on its heroes. And almost immediately following the captures of Muhammad and Malveaux, the press began to reveal a very different picture of Chief Moose.
First, we hear about a book deal, almost before the snipers were even apprehended, which would make even his supporters a bit suspicious. Then he quits his post as police chief. This firmly cemented the views of many that he was more out for his own score than he was the great crime fighter we all want to believe he is.
See, it wasn’t just Moose the man foks were rooting for, it was Moose the great lawman. But when he turned in his badge, much of that heroic luster was lost.
Then he’s turned down for other chief posts. After while, you feel you have seen/heard enuff about Moose, and not enuff about the evil that had taken and fractured the lives of many hapless people.
And I agree with Katrina that Moose’s having a white wife might be a big turn-off to some Black women, who purchase the majority all books written by/about Blacks. |
Lambd
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 07:47 pm: |
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I may be wrong,but I thought that the reason he turned in his badge was because of the racist climate that that county is notorious for. I think that he had had enough. (the white wife aint helpin' his situation in that regard either)
However, I beg to differ on a separate issue. The fact that he did indeed go after other chief posts, turned down or not, is a testament to the fact that he still very much desires to be a 'lawman'. I think the higher ups in Montgomery County were making it difficult for him to stay there. I think you are right about people feeling like they were hearing too much about Moose and not enough about the 'evil that had taken' place.
When you 'quoted' me you left out the first part of the sentence. I believe it was, 'He eventually had to resign because he wrote this book and I think its kind of rough that more of us don't support him.' The Admin folks in Montgomery County were coming down on him for writing the book, the community didn't support the book or the Chief that supposedly was key in bringing these criminals to justice, and most blacks left him out there...Including me. You see, ABM, in your extreme paranoia, you fail to see that I include myself in being one of the rough non-supporters. I didn't buy the book either. It was given to me. When I say that its kind of rough, I mean that its got to be kind of rough---on him. If personal critcism was taken, none was meant. After all, you did mention that many people had no idea that the book was written at all. Well, my dear ABM, I am not as worldly as some of our other readers and I had certainly heard about the book. I still didn't buy it. I didn't even borrow it. I was certainly interested in the case. Just not the book. Still, I am surprised, that more of us, ('us includes Lambd') didn' support him. Just surprised. Nothing derogatory directed at anyone in particular on this site! |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:59 pm: |
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Dude,
Why do you "beg to differ" here?
I was simply articulating a point of view about the situation that others have shared with me based largely on what they have received via the press. I, nor anyone else, know are acquainted with Moose or anyone/thing so involved. So, until we are granted sufficient information to the contrary, we draw opinions/conclusion based on the scant info that is available to us.
And what @#$%ing "extreme paranoia" are you talking about?
Look, to be honest with you, playah, I could give a rats fat a$$ about what Moose does or doesn't score from the VA sniper thing. Because to me, it doesn't matter how heroic he may have appeared to be. Dude was doing what he was hired to do: Prevent and solve crimes. I'd expect no more or less from a surgeon who successfully performs open-heart surgery or a prosecutor who convicts a murder.
He did what he was @#$%ing paid to do!
So why should you, I or anyone else fall all over ourselves congratulating and honoring Moose for fulfilling his job description, especially when there were MANY other people who helped nab Mohammed and Malveaux?
And to me, the only ones who should really score on this deal are the teenager who survived being shot and the survivors of the hapless victims. If I had heard Moose had agreed to give a majority of his royalties from his book to them, I might be more empathetic of him. |
Lambd
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 12:47 pm: |
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Hey man, calm down. I was only asking for critiques from people who had read the book. You are one paranoid dude, man. Lighten up. I was only saying that I was surprised that more people didn't buy the book. I thought that there would be more interest. Its okay if you didn't. I didn't either. I said he didn't single handedly catch those guys. He was a figure head. That would have been a great gesture if he would have given up some of the royalties.
Now that I have shown that I agree with you on so many points, are you still going to cuss me out? You are a strange dude. Are you always on the defensive. My search for understanding was not an attack on you or anyone else. You are a scary guy!
You said he got turned down for other posts. Well, doesn't that mean he still had a desire to be in law enforcement? Maybe just not in that particular area? He did, after all, have to inquire about that employment in order to get turned down, right? That's why I beg to differ. I'm not exactly sure that he was 100 percent out for himself. If you couldn't give a rat's ass, that's cool with me, playah. I really don't care, either. I was just curious. I'm sure someone of your distinction has more important things to discuss. It only seemed odd to me because blacks are always talking about the lack of figures to look up to and here we have a police chief that was more or less propped up in front of us during this crisis and because he wrote a book about the ordeal (something many people have done in the past, i.e. movie deals included) the black community seemed to turn its back on him. Is it because he really isn't the great crime fighter/lawman? Is it because of his white wife? Was he set up by the media, and we as black folks, bought into it and abandoned this modern day hero? You see, ABM, I don't feel guilty about not buying the book. I don't knock you or anyone else for dissing him or abandoning the man. I'm only interested in people's points of view. Isn't that what this forum is here for? For enlightenment by way of discussion? Now if some of us are already so enlightened that we become bitter and lash out at the slightest hint that someone else may have a different point of view...Well, that sounds a bit unhealthy. I think if you take your time and read my posts real slow, (because I type slow, it may be easier to comprehend) you'll find that I was looking for input. You know, like Hayden pitched in a few pennies. I got his point of view and he didn't feel attacked. He didn't lash out. Sorry if I upset you. You seem to be an intelligent dude/playah/pardnah. You might have a wild hair up your ass about law enforcement and surgeons, but that is neither here nor there. |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 01:45 pm: |
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Lambd,
I think the tone of this discussion has coarsen because I may have misinterpreted what you meant by the following comments in your initial post:
"If not, why not? I understand that it's supposed to be an interesting account of the events that transpired. I know that some people were upset because they felt like he was profiteering from others' misfortune. Explain to me the difference between what he is doing and what anyone else who writes an account of their own experience does."
I apparently mistook those comments to suggest that you were criticizing African American readers for allegedly not backing Moose. And it seems the discussion has unnecessarily denigrated from there.
If I have indeed mischaracterize the intent of your comments, I apologize.
PS: But please do us both a favor and abstain from dispensing the saccharine platitudes. For I neither require nor am worthy of such. |
Lambd
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 03:58 pm: |
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You got to give me a minute to figure out what the hell saccharine platitudes are.----I got you, dude. Just my way of showing respect for someone of the upper echelon of acadamia. I prefer my acadamia nuts in chocolate chip cookies as opposed to the message boards. We iz not on yo lebble, suh.
No, I wasn't criticizing anyone...just trying to better understand what was going on. I would never criticizing my African American brethren for backing, or not backing anyone. To each his own, my good man. I enjoy your posts whether you are being an asshole, or being whitty. Whether you are being a poet or a literary critic. You are indeed tons more interesting than a good number of the other people who post here. I have my favorites, the rest will remain nameless. But you, good sir, have always been one of my very favorites...sans saccharine and/or platitudes. Surprised? Confused? It doesn't matter. Just don't hold your toungue. |
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