Posted on 01/30/2012 6:29:02 PM PST by Red in Blue PA
It all happened last Wednesday. Prosecutors say Johnson, who was already on probation for aggravated assault, robbed two men in West Reading and was attempting to rob a third along a bike path in Cumru Township in Berks County. But the would-be victim was carrying a licensed firearm, and shot two of his attackers. Johnson was killed. A friend is now in the hospital.
Johnson's mother, Idella Hopkins George, said, "Do I believe he was justified in shooting my son? I would say no."
The family acknowledges Johnson's actions were wrong, but they question why a warning shot couldn't have been fired first.
Johnson's sister, Ashley Jones, said, "He's a kid. His actions-- I don't approve of his actions at all, but he didn't deserve to have his life taken."
In recent days a Facebook memorial page has been flooded with sometimes hateful posts -- referring to Johnson as a "thug" who died like the dog he was.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfmz.com ...
As are you. You are assuming she’s raising her kids well.
“Because she’s Black?”
Ah, the race baiting comment. Did the poster you’re replying to mention race? Or were you the one to mention race?
The mother is grieving. Understandable. It’s a shame no real discussion will ever take place concerning certain cultures.
"I'm outa here!"
But that was 16 years ago.
Thank you. I feel the same way for the bus driver whom a suicide jumps in front of, or the cop who has to shoot a perp. This is real life with real people.
You do not know what was left on the cutting room floor, so you don’t know if they expressed anything other than what you saw. I’ve done interviews, and can tell you that you have to plan exactly in order to convey the idea. They aren’t experienced and are dealing with the situation.
They fully acknowledged that it was the kid’s fault. But people on this site have selective hearing. They did not fault the victim. But questioning if he could have fired a warning is a way to wish the kid had not died. Because you didn’t hear things, or what you heard wasn’t in the words you would have used, is not for you and I.
I agree with you that there is nothing wrong with being judgmental. We have to make judgements every day. However, the nastiness that I am seeing on this thread is not being judgemental, it is being nasty. It is beneath good people to do this.
Tagline ends with “Semper Fi!”. And thank you for your service.
I’m not quite sure of how to interpet your sympathy. If you live on the government plantation, you will surely die there.
We who choose not to live on the government plantation have no choice but to arm ourselves, as we know the government will not protect us.
Again, thank you, and Semper Fidelis!
Post of the Century!!! Bravo.
No, I am not race baiting. I am asking if the person is assuming something because the family is Black. BTW, you don’t know what my background is?
I am trying to have a truthful civil conversation. You should see the pings I’ve received. Some not very nice. I figured that trying to be truthful, civil, and present a different view that some might not have considered would not go over well. The hot headiness that usually is displayed here is disconcerting. Especially coming from fellow Conservatives. I agree that it would be nice to have real discussions about other cultures here, but I’m afraid it is near impossible.
“Prosecutors say Johnson, who was already on probation for aggravated assault, robbed two men in West Reading and was attempting to rob a third...”
Ah yes. Another judge’s experiment on the rest of society didn’t turn out well. The “experiment” had to have his clock stopped by a victim that will have to live with that for the rest of their life.
Meanwhile, the judge gets to grant more mayhem on the rest of us with no consequences for stupid decisions made.
“like button”
Don’t want to copy Facebook. Suggestions for names for a “like” button:
FReeper thub up
2nd the Freeper
It didn’t come up in the conversation. In your book, my ability to empathize with this family’s loss means I don’t know about LBJ and The Great Society...wrong. He wasn’t the only one who destroyed the Black family, but he sure did alot.
I’m glad that the senior was armed and not afraid to use it. It is sad that the kid chose that life.
That’s a good tip. Thanks for sharing.
+1
Dude, stop painting yourself into the corner. When the three members of a “family” have each a different family name, and we can’t avoid knowing the social trends since the 1960s, then why challenge the usually accurate assumptions. And what about the deletion of my post quoting an abstract of some publication. Was that a copyright infridgement? I doubt it, it was a politically incorrect text.
Nobody put those words in their mouths. I have listened to the following type of exchange my whole life, and this was 100% in conformance: "I know (Insert some kind of viewpoint or issue here), BUT ..."
What comes BEFORE the "BUT" is fodder to mollify someone else, the equivalent of patting people on the shoulder and telling them that their difference of opinion is important, it is what comes AFTER the "BUT" that is the key element to pay attention to.
Here is an exercise: The dead thug's family said (and I am paraphrasing):
"I know that what my son was doing was wrong and that man was defending himself, BUT I think he shouldn't have shot my son..."
Now, let's turn it around:
"I think he shouldn't have shot my son, BUT I know that what my son was doing was wrong and that man was defending himself..."
Do you see a difference in the entire message that same combination of words conveys? It is the "BUT" conditional statement that makes that change possible, and a lifetime of hearing it from people just made my ears stand right up, and my anger to boil over.
That is what made me angry.
How dare she burden that man defending himself with unfairly taking her son's life?
Sorry Marine. Didn’t see your tag. Only the screen name.
I agree with your statement about the government plantation. But my sympathy has no relevance to that, because for all I know that woman never took one dime from the government, and tried to do her best to get her kid to fly right. My parents, who were very good, did their best with us, and for a time my sister was a real pain. Luckily, she finally straightened up. I never was a problem for them. So you can see where I’m coming from.
Back at ya! We gotta keep up the Oath we took! Keep up the good fight, my friend! Semper Fidelis!
No, your avoidance of the suggestion that the mother of the deceased had never been married means you don’t know about LBJ and the Great Society.
Crime's a dangerous occupation - maybe the mother can share that information with other mothers in her neighborhood. Lives could be saved.
Why no picture of the decedent?
No, I don’t know what your background is and you don’t know what mine is. So?
I’m more than willing to have a civil, honest discussion. But I will be honest and it may not be what some (you?)are used to in their daily lives.
I haven’t seen the pings you received. I replied to your post.
IMO one of the main reasons real discussion about certain cultures isn’t allowed is because honesty isn’t allowed. Facts aren’t allowed. Everyone is too afraid because of PC or guilt or other things.
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