marten
2mo ago
Not really an answer to your question, but .30-06 Springfield (7.62 x 63) and 8 mm Mauser (7.92 x 57) are extremely similar rounds, developed at about the same time for the same kind of weapons (full power rifles). Traditional European loadings of 8 mm Mauser deliver basically equivalent performance to .30-06 Springfield (although American-manufactured 8 mm Mauser rounds are often downloaded for safety/compatibility reasons).
But both are rounds in the same (8 mm) rifle round class, used as military service rifles for the first half of the twentieth century and for hunting. You'd probably have to be an aficionado to be able to distinguish a rifle firing one cartridge from the other at a glance.
marten
2mo ago
The gear doesn’t bother me very much. Officers who are particularly likely to be in dangerous situations should be armed and armored appropriately. I'd prefer that beat cops in peaceful neighborhoods not be stomping around with plate carriers and full-auto rifles, but I don't see anything like that on the near horizon.
Covering of the face and concealing of identity is what bothers me. I realize that this could make things personally more dangerous for the officers, either as a result of doxxing or in the form of retaliation from future administrations, but I don’t think it is too much to ask for us to demand that law enforcers be personally courageous and willing to face such threats (nor inappropriate to compensate them accordingly).
Concealing one’s face makes it easier to commit shameful or dishonorable actions, ranging from “arrest these men with no probable cause” all the way up to “shoot these men without a trial.” It makes it easier for cowards (who lack either physical or moral courage) to be enforcers. And it’s a genie that’s likely to be very difficult to stuff back into the bottle once it should become normalized.
Probably everyone will agree that the bulk of brave and righteous men belong to their own tribe, and that the enemy tribe disproportionately comprises cowardly snivelers and bootlickers who benefit from anonymity for accomplishing their evil deeds, and thereby conclude that agreeing to such a norm is advantageous for their tribe. That makes it a norm that we can probably all agree on — just as we can likely agree that in a dystopian totalitarian hellscape, the bad cops are probably wearing balaclavas.
marten
2mo ago
This post resonates with me, mainly because I also don't like the aesthetics of masked officers -- especially balaclava-style masks. This is despite the fact that I largely support ICE's activities.
While I share the ideal that law enforcement should strive to be so "kind and civil" as possible, I also recognize that this is just an aspirational sentiment. Ultimately, the laws need to be enforced, and that enforcement is often going to require violence -- sometimes deadly violence. So be it.
But balaclavas really rub me the wrong way -- and in a Chesterton's fence sort of way. Maybe it's just Western cultural chauvinism on my part, but it looks like what the bad guys wear. I associate the balaclava aesthetic with Eastern despotisms and the forces of Mordor. It's arguably something that you would wear when you are ashamed of your actions.
If I had to choose, I would rather see enforcement increase in harshness by several multiples without concealing the faces of the enforcers rather than undermine that norm.
marten
2mo ago
Thank you for your review.
The Long Walk is one of my favorite stories of all time. I enjoyed reading your breakdown of it and agree with your assessment of the theme. To me, the story is evidence that whatever you might think of Stephen King, he is a literary genius.
Now I know not to watch the movie.
Ah, I see. Agreed.
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