Sometimes it seems like our country, our counties, and our communities are so polarized we can’t even agree on what time it is. We’re like a broken clock that isn’t right twice a day. It’s a sad state of affairs when fellow citizens can’t help but turn everything, every moment, and every bit of minutia into a pitched life-or-death battle for the very soul of our country.
Last weekend we removed from New Times’ website all comments on our story “Deceased shooter who killed SLO police officer had mental health crisis, his mother said” (May 13, 2021) because the comment section turned into a poo-flinging contest between conservatives—one in particular—who see anyone not aligned with their thinking as “alt.left/BLM radicals/antifa anarchists”; and progressives who believe “oppressive gang-stalking sharks-cops” are waging an “undeclared, silent, bloody war on citizens.”
Can’t you both be wrong?
What happened was a tragedy, perhaps a preventable one where both SLOPD Detective Luca Benedetti and alleged burglar Edward Zamora Giron would still be alive if the situation had been handled differently. Instead, we have two dead over some stolen property and a battle between those who can’t see that Detective Benedetti didn’t deserve to die and those who can’t see that Mr. Giron did deserve help and compassion.
The comment section of the story was hijacked by those who wanted to air their lengthy, and often libelous and mendacious, grievances against the left; and those who wanted to use it to vilify all law enforcement and conservatives and paint them with the same brush as power-mad racists and fascists.
What we should be discussing is how to prevent such a tragedy in the future, but when Giron is nothing but “pure evil” and Benedetti and those who ordered him to Giron’s apartment are unquestionable “heroes,” we get nowhere. If we could power our communities with our distrust, misunderstanding, and animus for one another, we could leave the lights on 24/7 and have juice to spare.
It’s not just in SLO Town. Law enforcement supporters are having a meltdown over the removal of a “Blue Lives Matter” flag from outside of the Paso Robles Police Department after a neighboring county’s sheriff’s association complained online (“Kings County weighs in on Paso police’s removal of a ‘Blue Lives Matter’ flag,” New Times News Wire, May 10, 2021).
“The constant caving to the ‘woke’ cancel culture sweeping across America is promoting lawlessness and fueling negativity toward our beloved law enforcement,” the Kings County post read. “The Kings County Deputy Sheriff’s Association sends their support and admiration to the brave men and women at the Paso Robles Police Department. Now more than ever before we need our leaders to stand tall and support those of us who risk our lives.”
Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis removed the flag because he knew that for many it’s a controversial emblem.
“I am aware that the symbolism of thin blue line flags is viewed differently by many,” Lewis said in a Facebook post. “Some view it as a symbol of law enforcement support, while others view it as a racist and divisive symbol. I leave it to each community member to research this controversial topic and form their own opinions. With that said, in an attempt to avoid any controversy and preserve public trust, I ordered the flag be removed from the light pole.”
Naturally, like biting flies to political honey, the knives—and lies—came out, with some Facebook users posting that the flag was stolen when it wasn’t. A relentless ultra-conservative poster—do you have a job, dude?—condemned Lewis and his decision to remove the flag, claiming actions such as his “fueled criminality and mob defiance all across the USA” and “lost [Lewis] the support of his rank-and-file officers as a result of this woke stunt.”
The other side noted it was “despicable how local white supremacist troublemakers are wanting to divide our community by bad-mouthing some of our greatest leaders and public servants.”
Hey everybody, you can support the police and not be a white supremacist. You can realize that communities of color and their allies find the flag divisive, just like some people believe the Confederate battle flag is about heritage and others see it as a symbol of racism. You can still be proud of your Southern heritage and be cognizant enough to know not to fly the Confederate flag because for many it’s a symbol of hatred. You can be aware that law enforcement historically targets communities of color but realize not every police officer is an unrepentant racist. It’s called being an empathetic grownup.
We need to stop being so myopic. Your political opponent doesn’t have to be your blood-feud enemy. He or she is your neighbor, your fellow American. Are we all so infantile and bitter that we have to pick a fight over everything? Are we incapable of stepping back from our immediate knee-jerk emotional reaction to see a situation from another’s perspective? Because if we are so intransigent and truculent, so incapable of listening to our opponents’ views and considering them dispassionately, we are literally doomed.
Here’s your weekly challenge, whether on the left or right: When next you’re triggered, breathe. Δ
The Shredder promises to work on itself to be more broadminded. Send encouragement and suggestions to shredder@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Pride 2021.
It is well and fitting that The Shredder has finally had a reckoning with his embrace of cancel culture, wokeness, BLM-fads, Antifa Anarchist, and belittling moderate and conservative viewpoints, but will it last?
The fact remains that the far-left partisans in SLO County have, for too long, gotten a free pass on hoisting their twisted viewpoints on the rest of us, and I find it interesting that no press story was reported about the overwhelming display of solidarity with our law enforcement community after the assassination of SLO City police officer Luca Benedetti. I am somewhat surprised that some whacky liberal didn’t use these pages to call for a cancel boycott on anyone ‘caught’ donating to Officer Benedetti’s widow and children, it wouldn’t be the first time!
I don’t begrudge anyone their political viewpoints, and diversity of thought might be the most important diversity that we embrace, but it is also appropriate to pushback against those myopic far left liberals who attempt thought control by ostracizing anyone who disagrees with them, exhibit one being the blowback on those of us who came out in support of Officer Benedetti and local law enforcement after the assassination. In supporting the rule-of-law, we create a SAFER society, and when people among us CONTINUE to suggest that criminal-types be left alone, rather than confronted as Mr. Zamora Guillon was, our community is endangered. A search and arrest warrant was signed by a judge and the actions of SLO PD were fully warranted, so it would be helpful for people to publicly stand with law enforcement while they carry out their assigned duties. To embrace the idea that Mr. Zamora Guillon was somehow wronged is to embrace criminality.
Moving forward, I agree the rhetoric should be toned down so that we can create space for the calmer, more rational voices in our community, and the local lefties have an important role to play in this regard. They need to realize that good, reasonable people can look at the same issue and arrive at different conclusions, so not everyone who supports law enforcement is a racist, not everyone who flies a thin blue flag supports police misconduct, and embracing law enforcement in their core mission will help keep our community safe and healthy.
Now, if only our BLM friends could have a moment or two of clarity…
Just a few days ago, the previous, now “calmer” commenter said that liberals had “blood on their hands” for the death of SLOPD Det. Luca Benedetti. Their comments were meant to whip up partisan outrage and incite violence against individuals and organizations that they claim, without evidence, fed anti-police sentiment to the shooting suspect and inspired him to kill officers. They stated their claims statements of fact as mere opinions — as if they somehow had the inside scoop of an active police organization. And they’ve relentlessly used Benedetti’s name and his family as props to convey their personal and political disdain. That’s disgusting.
Because these comments were made during a time when our community was reeling from this tragedy, some people took their comments and ran with them on social media. Threats against SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon were publicly conveyed on social media.
Ironically, the same commenter doubled down and tripled down on the incendiary rhetoric after they were reminded that the shooting does not meet any sort of criteria for a political debate. It’s not and never was a left versus right issue. This is a human issue.
And yes, it’s also true that some self-described progressives referred to the more right-leaning conservatives on here as “white supremacists” and “racists.” That, too, is unnecessary. Nothing is achieved from throwing around these labels except rally people against non-issues like “wokeness” and “cancel culture.” A young man with a promising future, who served his community and served his community well, lost his life, leaving behind his wife and two children who will grow up without their father watching them grow up, graduate college and get married. None of these petty grievances mean anything compared to the irreplaceable value of human life.
“Steve Edwards” was blocked by The Tribune for leaving behind a cornucopia of hateful, incendiary, defamatory and disturbing remarks about local community members. And when they were kicked off the platform, they went to CalCoastNews and doubled down on those remarks as “Mjd” and “George Bailey.” By hopping from fake Facebook account to anonymous pseudonyms on a libel-ridden blog, this person clearly shows the intent to deceive. It’s more likely than not that they don’t even care about the SLOPD, the shooting victims or their families. If they did, they would use their real name and express sympathy without attaching political incitement to hate to it.
New Times should follow The Tribune and block “Steve Edwards,” compel people to post using their real names. or disable the comments section all together.
Aaron Ochs is correct. “Steve Edwards” is a fake account, promulgated by an individual who routinely attacks decent people with craven name-calling and actionable libel. Even in his statement above–his “okay let’s all calm down” post–he cannot resist his favorite insult, calling anyone who treasures honesty a “whacky liberal.” His black/white viewpoints do nothing to move toward the compromise he now pretends to embrace. No one has claimed that all who support law enforcement are racists, but his argument is bolstered, he believes, by striking down a straw man that he has erected. He (assuming it’s a he) is dishonest, of course, but more than that: The person pretending to be “Steve Edwards” is just not a nice person.
Typical Left-wing gestapo cancel culture response. The answer to any type of speech is always and ONLY MORE speech. Free speech is a gift from God, our founding fathers understood this and our Constitution guarantees it for us. Free speech is NOT limited, it includes speech some may consider “hateful”, “racist”, or “extreme”. The folks who wish to limit others’ speech simply have no eloquent replies handy and can’t or won’t educate themselves to a level that would enable them to viably reply. Just because you can’t play doesn’t mean we don’t have the game. You have to be good enough to participate or be decimated in the process. Your decimation should motivate you to get better! Then return and do some decimating of your own. The democrat party seeks to limit speech because they are devoid of ideas, vacant morally and filled with self-loathing (of their country, their racial makeup, their success or lack thereof, their emotional and psychological maturity or lack thereof, basically internal turmoil) evidenced by their incessant cries for so called “fairness”. A 2 year old can tell you life isn’t fair. This country’s job is not to guarantee outcome fairness, that does not exist. We already give EVERYONE a free country to thrive in if you choose, obstacles exist for us all but overcoming them requires diligence and dedication. If you are capable, you are as unlimited and unrestricted as your potential can take you.
None of you fought for free speech. That’s why you take it for granted, Shreddar Cheese Heads. Sad excuse for your petty politically driven censorship last week, SLO NEW TIMES. Your excuses are rejected.
The Shredder seems to suggest that the murder was the result of a failure to give Giron “help and compassion”, but neglects to mention that he never sought any help. The authorities are prohibited by law from forcing anyone to get help unless they can prove that they pose an “immenent threat to others or themselves”, a very hard standard to prove, especially when Giron had no history of violence or threats. An alarmed mother, who reports that her son took off for Mexico for 3 weeks, and is acting strangely, does not meet that standard. If it did, half of the kids in SLO would be in the looney bin.
I’ve been distressed by the lack of compassion on both sides. Once again, we see people seeming to suggest that any calls for reform in how the interaction between law enforcement and members of the public with mental health issues are handled is tantamount to treason. We need to look at what can be changed in public policy when family members report people are in crisis. We need trained social workers to make the first contact with persons like Giron, preferably when they lose a job during a volatile situation like the pandemic. There is nothing wrong with asking if a response is proportional to a crime–in this case, theft of property. By the same token, we should not claim all Law Enforcement Officers are trigger-happy. I worked as a Nanny for a University of California Police Officer, who was the kind of person officer Benedetti seems to have been: Caring, competent, dedicated to helping others. This should not be an either/or situation. Rather, it should be about coming together at the table, to ensure more families don’t lose members the way Officer Benedetti’s children or Giron’s mother did.
Free-speech means you get to publish whatever you want to publish. It does not mean you get to force other people to publish your crap in their publication or website. Forcing people to publish lIes and BS is tyranny, not free-speech.
It is now being proven that law enforcement can shift the focus from
“Obey or Else” to
“Lets’ talk about this”
with excellent results [fewer injuries and deaths].
As we see here, the juvenile Alt. Left radicals just cannot help but engage in vitriol, and a few of our whacky left ‘friends’ here just cannot grasp that the broader SLO community overwhelmingly supports law enforcement, and rejects the BLM hatred towards our brave first responders. All adult citizens have a responsibility to follow the law, teach children to respect cops, and NOT participate in radical movements which undermine law & order in our community. Reject BLM/Antifa.
While all law enforcement should be held to the standard of interacting with the public in a dignified and respectful manner, the root of the problem is NOT law enforcement, it is the gangster/druggie/low life criminal types who behave as if they were never brought up to know right from wrong. I say if adults cause problems in society, let’s introduce them to the state prison hotel, and get them out of the way of the rest of us who can seem to live in society in a successful way.
Those who attempt to blame the police for the death of Edward Zamora Guillon conveniently forget that it was Mr. Guillon who chose to open fire on our brave first responders, and the police had a duty to enforce the arrest and search warrants that were signed by a judge-they were only doing their jobs. There is no record of Mr. Guillon having a history of mental illness, and there is no proof he (or anybody on his behalf) ever reached out for help. Let’s not forget that Zamora Guillon is a cop killer, and our sympathies ought to go towards the family of slain Officer Luca Benedetti and injured Officer Steve Orozco.
Thank you law enforcement heroes, you make our SLO community safe and healthy!
Blue Lives Matter!
R.I.P. Officer Luca Benedetti
Get Well Officer Steve Orozco!
Reject BLM/Communist Madness
Support Israel over Hamas Terrorist: One State Solution
Reject Fake Cal Poly Ethnic Studies Curriculum
No Antifa Anarchy in SLO County
No Sanctuary City
No Phony Mayor
Support Thin Blue Line: Fly the Flag!
Stop Border Crisis: Build the Wall
Rename Mitchell Park: Benedetti Memorial Park
Demand District Elections in SLO City
Prosecute Hwy 101 Shutdown Criminals
Reject Steve Edwards.
All the pathetic left has now is to promote ‘cancel culture’, and I guess it really hurts them to be confronted with the truth.
As we see here, the whacky liberals just hate it when the facts get in the way of their delusional narrative, and we now know that some of the trolls on here cannot even refute what is being said, so they are stuck with juvenile put downs like “Reject Our Hero”. Have you no shame?
A conservative is a liberal who had to grow up, move out of their parents house, and start paying taxes.