Pushed around by cops, man sees the other side (Mary Mitchell strikes again)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 8, 2002 | MARY MITCHELL SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

[Chi-townChief]

While most other columnists are commemorating September 11th, Ms. Mitchell comes up with this story (which may be phony) about Jimmy. And the boy has problems.

Evidently, Jimmy goes through life seeing people as ethnic stereotypes: "black dudes", "generals of the South", "all THOSE Italians (maybe Jimmy watches too many episodes of "The Sopranos); and Jimmy, of course, is "Polish and white."

It appears that Jimmy is still acting like he is 10 years old and needs to grow up before he has even worse problems.

[Chi-townChief]

CHICAGOLAND PING!!!!

Hope to see you later today.

[What Is Ain't]

My god! We are witnesses to the first white person ever mistreated by the cops. What is this country coming to?

[Tennessee_Bob]

"We went down to Myrtle Beach, and everywhere we looked we saw the generals of the South. It was like let's go fight the Civil War all over again. I wanted to say: Get over it. You lost. They are free, and it's over,"

Does this mean you won't be coming back down South again? Darn.

Funny thing is - I live in Tennessee, where a few of the biggest battles were fought - Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Stones River, Franklin, Nashville...and I'm hard pressed to find any kind of memorial anywhere other than at the battlefield itself. But then, you also find memorials to the Yankee generals as well.

Maybe I should just do a reverse take on his attitude. Everywhere I look I see the generals of the North. It was like "we beat the South, and all we're going to do is keep rubbing it in."

Jimmy, it's like my mama always says - you don't like it down here? Delta has flights leaving every day.

[dts32041]

What do you expect for the jessie's soul mate and home of operation push.

[republicman]

'You know. I bet this is exactly how it is to be a black person in America.' "

Funny I had the exact opposite experience.

We had a black lady living in our familiy's building. She was basically a trouble maker from the get go and after not paying two month's rent she was leaving.

Before she left we were going to have the kitchen floor redone. We gave her two days notice a guy was coming to measure the floor. The guy came and she wouldn't let him in. So I went upstairs, with him as he and another neighbor watched. When she opended the door I put my foot in it, told her she had to let him in, we talked, a little then finally she agreed. He measured the floor and left.

about 15 minutes later the cops come. She changed the story saying I pushed her. I of course told them what really happened--that I had not. The neigthbor who watched it all backed me up. And then they called the kitchen repair guy and he said the same.

SO the cops were wavering about what to do and told her so. But then she started yelling that this was because she's black and I'm white, so I spent the next three hours of my life at the Oak Park Police station all for the sake of political correctness.

Somehow I bet if I told Mary Mitchell that story though, she wouldn't repeat it in a column.

[Dark Knight]

Here's what I sent to Mary!

I read your story with great interest. Thank you. But a couple of questions still persist. You did access the original police report and tried to interview any witnesses, just like any good journalist should? I believe the current standard is two forms of independent corroboration, is that what you followed? I just did not see it referenced in your article. I am confident you did though.

Thanks, it was a good read!
Kirk

[Reeses]

"I can't get that officer out of my head yelling at me and telling me to sit down. ... I bet this is exactly how it is to be a black person in America."

Why doesn't Jimmy ask one of his black friends? What a fruitcake.

[Chi-townChief]

This is the part I can't figure:

"The women started poking at me. They were obviously from the old country because when I told them I was p-----, they kept sticking their fingers in my face, and one lady tried to slap me."

I assume that he's saying he was "pissed." If so, it makes perfect sense for the cop to tell him to shut up especially when he's fighting with old people.

[JoeSixPack1]

Victomology works best when combined with a race card and a lawsuit.

[catonsville]

Not only is this story bogus but smacks of anti-Italian sterotyping.

Filed under fantasy

[Leper Messiah]

Even if this story is true this story is irrevelant. It happens everyday all over the country.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Oh, my favorite. The old "even if this story isn't true, it still happens" line.

If what you say is true, why not actually find one of these "real" cases?

[Chi-townChief]

If a cop comes up and finds you, a young apparently athletic young man, mixing it up with old women, being told to shut up is probably one of the better outcomes that you could hope for.

[Conservative til I die]

We're all mafioso. And we make good pizza. :)

[Blue Screen of Death]

Big clue.... "This is what Jimmy says happened:"

[Chi-townChief]

You can say what you want but, in my opinion, trying to prove your machismo against a couple of old women won't get you too far with anyone.

[justshe]

I sincerely think you should test your theory and send your story to this poor-excuse-for-a journalist.