Why doesn't one of these "witnesses" chase after these goblins in the white truck?
Have Americans become that passive?
I've wondered that also
YES...in the past 100 years americans have become wimps...
After decades of being indoctrinated with messages like "wait for the professionals" and "don't get involved" the answer, sadly, is YES!
Years ago I was working in a retail lighting store when I spotted a guy breaking into a customer's car. I ran to the car and went in one door as he ran out the other. I chased him a couple of blocks, then down an alleyway and finally he jumped over a 30 foot embankment. I was right behind but I slid down the steep slope instead of jumping. That gave him time to duck around a corner and get away from me. But he didn't get far. Turns out he broke his ankle and after a short distance fell over in pain. Cops spotted him and he was nabbed.
Out of breath I walke back to the store only to be severly reprimanded by the boss, the cops, and even the customer whose car was being broken into for putting myself and possibly others at risk.
As luck would have it a couple of months later the I was standing outside the store late at night and the cop who scolded me was hit by a car. I witnessed the accident and ran into the street stopping traffic so the cop wasn't hit again. He was in pretty bad shape swelling up from internal bleeding and going into shock. I put my coat over him while a few others came to help.
In the meantime the car that hit the cop had stopped a few dozen yards down the road. Teen aged driver and passengers and apparently DUI. They were hurriedly getting back into the car and starting to pull away so I ran and caught up, reached in and grabbed for the keys. Kept them there until other cops showed up and arrested them.
Interestingly enough I DIDN'T get scolded for intervening in that incident.
prisoner6
I believe you're the first to actually post this question. It really is worth pondering. I know that if something like this happened and I witnessed it, I wouldn't hesitate to give chase and get on the cell phone to 911. I don't claim to be a superhero or anything but what the heck, I'd rather take the chance and help nab these guys to prevent them from doing it again.
Unfortunatly, I think so.