must read this. once u started there is no turnind back. a little 10 year old girl was raped and murdured in 1945. her body was not found until 1947. then a boy last week read this and did not copy and paste this message. the dead girl appeared in his room haunting him and killed hin. if ou do not copy and paste this onto 10 videos in 30 minutes the dead girl will appear in your room tonight and haunt you and kill you. well you better start to copy and paste if you want to be
what a seriously dumb law they have over there. here i am free to cross the road wherever i please. seriously, there are killers and rapists out there and police pick on this man who isn't even a native to their backward country. this is stupid. thank god i don't live there.
The only reason they hand out jaywalking tickets is that everyone who commits a real crime like rape, murder or robbery is a flat-broke unemployed African American or Hispanic male. They do it to raise money.
Not just that. They love to get the "great white defendant." (a) Satisfy the deluded modern prerogative of "proving" you're not racist; (b) Makes for a nice break from arresting real criminals who, statistics demonstrate beyond any serious kind of doubt, are overwhelmingly black and brown. Thanks Pee-Cee!
he was asked numerous times to not cross as the officer directed traffic.after being asked the officer still continued to tell the subject to return to the sidwalk and wait to be advised to cross. this subject continued to cross in heavy traffic and refused to stop untill pulled to the side and out of traffic by the officer.
This incident only confirms what the world already knows: that law enforcement, like most things, in America is run by thugs of lower-than-neanderthal intelligence.
You must take into account the practical constraints under which they had to operate, and the limited mental horizons by which they were enclosed. Oh wait, that is what you said about Columbus. Funny!
As an Atlanta native, I can attest that before this incident (and especially after), the Atlanta police couldn't have given less of a shit about jaywalking. It happens all the time everywhere in the city, and they hardly lift a finger.
The entire incident also made us look like idiots to the international community, setting us back for all our posturing since the Olympics to make us look like an 'international' city. Honestly, both Professor and the Cop were both in the wrong, but the Cop moreso
The point of police is not to "serve and protect". They are there to uphold the law.
If we didn't have a million fucking laws this would be okay, but everyone breaks a law every day just about. Police can find a reason to arrest you if they want.
Fernando-Armesto's lectures for "Ideas That Shaped Mankind" - an audio course available at Barnes and Noble is unbearably pretentious with ridiculous and overzealous inflection. He made me want to stab my eardrums with ice picks. I wasted my money.
We all realize he's crusty and geeky Just as you recognize a Brooklyn accent. We recognize Mrs Brahms cockney accent or Captain Peacock military officer accent.
What I find interesting is hearing the English talk Brooklyn (Dr Who: "Daleks in Manhattan") Or an American talk with an English accent. Or the absolute butchery Uma Thurman does to Japanese
Some of the comments have been unkind about this chap and some positive. All I would like to say is that he taught me and I learned a lot from his lectures. As an academic he is very insightful. I could even ask him questions about Shakespeare and he was able to give me good knowledge. I have used this knowledge when performing as one form of guide. This has influenced, I believe, my performances. Please would you watch them and tell me what you think of them?
Historians like to say that George Bush will go down in history as a great man. Not pointing out the fact that you need to include Dick Cheney and then include the 1000s of deaths in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and the economic disaster. Also, to point out how stupid historians are, they don't even mention the fact that "things get better over time" no matter what the heck a President or someone does...eventually it should get better. If not, you are looking at the Middle Ages repeated.
I can't even understand what point you are making besides "historians are stupid." So if a president shot a few nuclear weapons over to Russia, for example, things would "get better over time"? No, there would be a massive problem involving death on an unprecedented scale. So your argument that a president's actions don't matter in the grand scheme of things is flawed. Its like saying consequences don't exist.
No here in these united police states of whatever,you must kiss the laws ass as though they are kings.This is an imperialist,power hungry evil empire and if yall dont like it get the fuk out.We are all prepared to be shipped off and be beheaded, after we willfully surrender our weapons.We love living in ambiguity to everyting that is going on the world,we just dont care,we hate you,our neighbors and even our distranged and ourselfs.We Love ignorance,stupidity,mindlessness and dogma.
"someone affecting a rather raffish image" i would arrest him for foppery crimes against humanity. additional charge would be having a double barrelled name. his language reeks of years of unquestioned privilege. i suspect his attitude at the time was probably high handed. filthy fetid attitude.
Mr. Armesto!! You must use your magic jaywalking skills to jaywalk across the Atlantic ocean to come help me cram for my AP World History Exam! You're my only hope!
This sounds like another case of power tripping super sensitive new generation of cops coming out these days. An old cop would even tell you,they don't like the new cops anymore then most of us do. Thats what happens when you mix political correctniveness with law enforcment,we get a new breed I like to call Politicops.
I got a ticket for jaywalking last September in Atlantic City and I was so angry I wanted to beat the shit out of that cop, but I kept my cool since I didn't want to get locked up. It was at the corner against the light and no cars were near me. I hope that cop never has another happy day in his life.
jaywalking is not one of those laws that could be figured out by a person from an other country. it is understandable that he didnt know about since he also see other people cross the street
Interesting. I saw this guy give a lecture in San Jose pretty recently. Had no idea he got into such a terrible situation. Our history course uses his textbook. He's quite intelligent.
The issues are: 1) Did the officer sufficiently manifest his authority; 2) does Georgia have a statute requiring citation in lieu of arrest; 3) if so, did the officer reasonably believe he was refusing to show identification. Even a citizen in GA can arrest for an offense in his presence if he tells the person the cause of the arrest, and the person so informed has no right to resist.
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This guy is a ass. He defied the cop, and he got what he deserved. It is funny when I travel to other cities, and the cops tell me not to do something....I DONT DO IT!!!! Plain and simple.
If you want to be in America...obey the law and stop your crying. When I go overseas to another country I follow their laws as silly as they may seem. SHUT UP
I've read where people in Atlanta walk in front of cars on purpose to get a law suit started so the cops there are really hard up for jaywalkers. Seems to me this guy could have avoided all this had he simply used a crosswalk, regardless of how he feels about this particular law.
I was held and interrogated for four hours at Gatwick airport just because I had a map with me. I was researching the purchase of a piece of property and had a map of the surrounding area near the property. I missed my flight. I was asked the most retarded questions, my rights were violated and the people who questioned me were quite possibly the most mentally challenged people I have ever met.
Yet still I don't call British people idiots, or insult the population of their country.
They took my maps (which were $500 maps) and they took a bag of my eqipment and would not return any of it. I missed my flight, had to pay $700 for a new plane ticket. When they figured out they had nothing, they let me go, but kept my things and I was out a plane ticket.
So, only terrorists use high quality mps these days? AND these said terrorist always plot out their crimes in airport terminals? You should file a formal complaint or something. Maybe even sue the airport. Make a couple of bucks off of them.
I think Atlanta cops are beginning to rival New Orleans for most corrupt, arbitrarily capricious fuqn pigs in the nation.
But it's a fact ... you know those predatory pricks from high school that got off on physically terrorizing and humiliating those they perceived as different and weak on a daily basis? It's no big secret that they happily continue as lifetime terrorists on the right side of the law. They become cops.
my husband received a ticket on Friday, April 27, 2007 in L.A.'s fashion district for crossing a pedestrian walk on a red light. As a law abiding Canadian citizen he paid the fine at the local court house: $123.00!!! Thanks L.A.! It is cheaper to get a parking ticket anywhere else in the world!
He didn't act like he was above the law, he didn't KNOW the law, its a completely different thing. The poor guy made a mistake. Over here we can cross the road whenever, wherever, and as much as I love the States the jaywalking law is one thing that has always confused me. It is a fabulous country though, and I put up with the eccentricities because I recognise you have a lot to offer - which is what I would expect in return from the people of the USA.
So what if bunch of people crossed street in the morning and if he comes from the culture where is legal to cross street whereever you like? Fuck him! Andthe board behind him?! Stupid. So, if he is awarded historian, he can do what he want? FUCK NO. Stupid english.
Goodness, you clearly have a lot of anger in you. Of course he can't do what he wants, and if you listened to him talk you would realise that he is a law-abiding citizen. He made a simple mistake, the police-officer completely over-reacted and in doing so added to the already poor reputation of the US police force for brutality - one I am sure is undeserved, but sadly only the negative seems to be reported.
"Goodness", you clearly are this "poor man". They made video or inteview if you want about how he was stoped by police? So what? And you say he is "law-abiding citizen"?! He is, but the way he talks about "incident", the words that he use - interogation, bully policeman, ..... ,all his cinizem, book cover behind him and the fact that they made video about this shows that he thinks he is something better. Clearlly he acted like superior even before, so he got all the respect he was asking for
Crikey, where to even begin? I'm sorry to say that I can barely understand your response, your grasp of basic grammar is poor at best, however as you have chosen to use the Slovenian for cynicism I can only assume that English is not your first language. If that is the case then I can almost forgive your attitude, the manner with which Professor Fernandez-Armesto speaks can certainly seem 'snobbish' to those who have not grown up listening to similar speakers on the BBC.
hey, maybe my english isn't perfect, but I better speak your language, than you do mine. Is that so? And tell me, which language beside english do you speak? I speak also German, Italian and Serbian language and even some French. Q: do you know what following sentence means? Jebi se kreten nadut angleški, ki razen svoje vasice še ni videl drugega sveta.
Congratulations, all those hours spent learning those languages have certainly proven useful - at last, you can insult people in their native tongue, as well as foreign ones! A worthwhile pursuit, I'm sure.
I can not belive it. You were actually waiting for my reply. Ha-ha-ha. Your dick must be hard now, ha? Still you haven't told me what languages beside english you speak?
a) You egotistical maniac, I have reasons for being online other than awaiting for your reply. b) Dick hard? You have a lovely way of speaking. Sorry to shatter your homo-erotic fantasies, but I'm female. c) I am more than happy to admit that you have a far greater grasp of languages than myself, and that your less than perfect grasp of English can be forgiven in light of this - but what I don't understand is why you would use this skill purely to insult others. It baffles me completely.
Is this an example of American hospitality to a visitor? I actually do know some normal down to earth Americans and they are ashamed of what has gone on. Don't think i will criticize the British police again after this
Maybe you ought to go to Belfast and witness the "gentle" way things are done there, and then you can preach to the world about "English hospitality."
Belfast is in Ireland! That is like me telling you to go to Ottawafor a taste of American life. I mean for goodness sake. And yes, Belfast has had its problems, but the Irish are well known for being amongst the most hospitable in the world.
funy how american and americans are all the time doing things like this. honestly can't they ever react normal? i'm sure most americans are oke, but it is rarely seen.
Good job stereotyping an entire country as crazy. Where are you from? England??? You guys put the picture of a descendant of a dicatator on all your money who now has no contol over anythingand is guarded by silent people in giant fluffy hats!!! You created the most random shows and movies on television: Benny Hill, Monty Python, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!!
The coppers probably had the same prejudiced opinions as you do.
How the policemen assaulted him would certainly have resulted in suspension in a civilized country. And they refused to admit they were wrong, in fear of being sued! Apparently justice is not blind in the US.
Inventions from the "uncivilized"- light bulb, electricity for cities, car, assembly line, airplane, Internet. i am curious to know what you "civilized" life in wherever you live would be like without these inventions from this "uncivilized" country. Oh that's right you would be in a lightless apartment with no car computer or power to speak of!!!
Kitavu wrote; "Do not dare insult and call me, and the rest of my country, and its citizens as uncivilized. reply back if you want to. im curious to hear you response."
My response:
Do not dare to insult and call me, the rest of my country, and its' citizens uncivilized.
Reply back if you want to. I'm curious to hear your response.
I do not think Americans are uncivilized, but they compose, generally speaking the dumbest, worst educated western country on earth, ergo your political leadership. That is where it starts and trickles all the way down to the beat cop.
Gotta love British insecurity. I'd be the same way if I lived in a filthy country that has no constitution, some of the worst privacy regulations out of the western world, and a massive inferiority complex to one of the "dumbest countries on earth" that happens to be a lot more powerful and respected.
I didn't say America is "one of the dumbest countries on earth." It is THE DUMBEST WESTERN COUNTRY ON EARTH. Actually I am speaking more as a Canadian than a Brit, although I am both, and I am not so much insecure as terrified that some actually truly (not pretend for votes) religious fanatic that really believes in "intelligent design" and thinks the earth is 6000 years old will become President.
I didn't say America is "one of the dumbest countries on earth." It is THE DUMBEST WESTERN COUNTRY ON EARTH. Actually I am speaking more as a Canadian than a Brit, although I am both, and I am not so much insecure as genuinely terrified that some actually truly (not pretend for votes) religious fanatic that really believes in "intelligent design" and thinks the earth is 6000 years old will become President.
That'd be "respected" in the Mafia Don sense, I presume? The American constition is a marvelous thing - acknowledged by lawmakers in roughly the same way rapists acknowledge feminist ideals, as far as I can tell.
There were 2,193,798 people in American jails Dec 2005 (DOJ figure), out of a population of 296,410,400. That's 740 in jail for every hundred thousand. Land of the Free. In the UK, Dec 2005, it was 74,843 out of 60,209,500, or 124 per 100K.
I have lost the original quote, but it went like this;
George W Bush has done for the image of the republican party approximately what the movie Deliverance did for the image of Southern hospitality. heh heh
Whenever, I hear someone using "ergo" I immediately think of George Carlin saying "pretentious c---s-----r." Your simplistic judgement -- your half-baked trickle-down-theory - is an erroneous assessment of America based on TV/YouTube sound bites and fueled by a Canadian inferiority complex.
Madonna, while not exactly known for her intellectual prowess, but certainly wealthy enough to go anywhere on earth, in a television interview was asked why she is educating her children in England. She replied that it was because she had come to realize that the average working class Englishman was more worldly and better educated than the average American university graduate.
....and yet you still quote Madonna. What does this say about your own intellect? What does it say about you? Canadian inferiority complex? Go google the "most recent inventions." Four of the 10 most recent are American. The other six were from six other nations (ITA, UK, CHINA, SP, S.Africa, & Columbia)....Canada did not make the list.
"The White House now has disputed allegations by members of the House Intelligence Committee that President Bush went to war with Iraq based on vague intelligence. Of course he did. Everything Bush does is based on vague intelligence." Jay Leno
You have to think cops are posting too. Cops are so brainwashed they simply are no longer able to recognize right from wrong - the law is for us, not them. Cops spend 80% of their workday shaking down the citizenry, $400 speeding ticket, $600 to seize some working moms car --chasing people who bounce a check- and then it's off to wal-greens to catch someone buying cold medicine. <P> We need to do away with "beat cops" and replace these animals with a volunteer force.
Sir, once again, I apologize for the decay of our country into this fascist police state. Since they work for their simple paychecks and not for the people anymore please forgive the police for their misdoings.
Author Heather Mallick's take from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website."I do think there's a link between banging up a historian, bombing the destitute [missed claimed al-Qaeda targets in Somalia] and breaking the code of diplomacy [invading Iranian consulate in Iraq (U.S. embassy in Athens bombed next day)]. My very clever editor...suggests calling it "Nixonomics, a calculated risk on the cost-benefit of ignoring the law."
ammodawg, is the US still the wild west with shoot first and never mind innocent until proved guilty.
Of 876 homicides in the UK, 161 were by gun shot, a bit different from 12,000 and 249 murders in the nation's capitol alone!
I wonder how your economy would would fair if you kicked out all the foreigners. How many foreign doctors, nurses engineers, scientists, academics (including history professors) let alone all the immigrants working on the land would you kick out.
ammodawg is the epitome of the average American's intellect. WHAT HAS WW2 GOT TO DO WITH POLICE BRUTALITY? By the way are you aware of the homicide statistics in the land of the free? Over 16,000 people are murdered or 5.5 per 100,000 compared to UK 1.2. Of these approx 12,000 US citizens are killed by guns! You really should try and get a grip on reality.
No gun pulls it's own trigger. Try to rob my house and watch what happens to you. The last thing you ever see will be a muzzle flash. The brits won't even let their people defend themselves. Stop believing your liberal media. More people are killed in car wrecks than are killed by guns. Should we ban cars too? All I am saying is if you don't like our country, stay the f##k out. I'll stay the hell out of yours as well, unless we decide to come take it over. See ya.
No, guns don't pull their own triggers, and yes, more people are killed by cars. But what's your point? More people are killed using knives than with guns, at least in the UK. Neither knives nor guns are inherently murderous in themselves. Americans, though, appear to be around five times as murderous as Brits. Why is that? I know the anti-Gun lobby thinks it's "because of Guns", but I don't, and you clearly don't, so what's your explanation?
Insulting "average Americans" based on an incident like this or the comments of someone like ammodawg makes you no better than him. I think most people here would be embarrassed by what happened to Fernandez-Armesto (with possible exceptions in certain "red states".) Furthermore, most regular Americans are also ashamed of people like ammodawg. But those such as him are loud, obnoxious, ridiculous, and therefore more noticeable than regular, decent citizens of this nation.
rodazi - the first balanced comment I've read during this whole debacle. Could I make one last comment. When you are told every day of your life that you are greatest nation on earth and the land of the free, you evetually believe it. However it does make for an arrogance unmatched since the days of the Nazi holocaust. Close Guantanomo Bay and get back to freedom and justice for all.
How can any Amercian defend what the police did here??? This is the sort of thing that would happen if you lived in Third World dictatorship! Anyway, all I can say is that I am glad that I am not living in the United States, nor do I plan to visit anytime soon.
Well I think the only the thing we can hope for then is the general destruction of american society. Maybe from this trasheap of resentment and bitter violence something better might grow.
America is a Neo-Christian caliphate/Police State. I don't know why anyone would go there. It is not a safe country to travel to for anyone. They have given thier government too much power and it is spinning out of control.
That is right. After all, European countries have their governments in check. Oh wait, they don't. Read the Atlanta police report. This guy is a smug douchebag who deserved to be treated as he did.
You people who arent ashamed of your policemen for arresting this man are really scary. I think it is a sign of the end of civilization in the US. Astonishing.
While many Americans seem to be convinced that the whole world is desperate to live or work there, this is far from true, and I'm surprised said professor is apparently still willing to even consider it. It's precisely this kind of thing that makes me reluctant to so much as visit. The power-tripping cop who did this deserves to be severely repremanded and made an example of by being stuck on permanent desk duty where he will be safely out of contact with the public,...and monitored closely.
It is not an overstatement to say that post 9/11 Americans now live a POLICE STATE. What they have gradually come to accept as normal, others see as utterly totalitarian. I wonder how many Americans appreciate the gravity of the implications?
Police already have an extra hard job to do in the States because of the danger of everybody having a gun. It's not like that anywhere else in the western world. That coupled with an overzealous cop produces this kind of disgusting display of thuggery.
Guns have nothing to do with it. If it wasn't for our right to keep and bear arms we wouldn't have been able to kick the brits out of our country twice. And if I remember correctly, a century later we rescued their butts twice. If it wasn't for us you brits would be speaking german right now. If you come to our country, have the decency to obey our laws. A legally armed society is a polite society.
The old ' "we" saved "your" butts argument. Americans were able to avoid WW2 until Dec. 1941 because of the fortune of geographic isolation, and when America finally did get involved, it was primarily because of having been attacked by Japan, and because Germany declared war on it (both of which were working to get "the bomb") So they were saving their own butts as much as anybody elses, and incidentally managed to make one whole heck of a lot of money in the process.
I guess that was sixteen thousand six hundred and ninety two real polite homicides y'all had in 2005, compared with the 800-odd extremely rude and arrogant ones in the UK in the same year.
They should have tazed this pompus moron. That would have been funny as hell. Try reading up on our laws before coming to our country and breaking them jackass!!!
There is more to this than meets the eye. When a policeman instructs you to do something you do it and ask questions later. This overeducated windbag should have cooperated with the police. They could have let him get smeared by a bus, that is why we have crosswalks.
It would take ten lifetimes to read all the stupid laws that your hysterical paranoid country come up with. It's amazing how indignant that you get when one of you gets caught breaking the law of another country. You'll boldly announce that you're an American as though that makes your life worth more than the local savages. You deserve the craphole you live in.
There are many places where jaywalking isn't allowed. I jaywalk all the time but have never received a ticket. It's not the law that is the issue, it is the manner in which it is enforced. Police are expected to exercise discretion, use their brains, not act as mindless enforcers. Police who routinely cover their ass by throwing in "resist arrest," or any other charge, and any fellow officers who defend them, destroy the image of the force and are not fit to serve, period.
Oh golly, as Rumsfeld would say, everyone here has missed the point. This "arrest" was done to create a spectacle of "terror," to say "even this bourgeois downtown area is under threat," to induce even more paranoia in the unstable mental climate of the US public. This had nothing to do with the history professor, he was just a prop. A Middle Eastern looking man apparently wasn't available in this case. This type of thing is a lot more common at airports however.
dcentral - I think it is you who are out of touch. The reality is that no one in the UK would be kicked to the ground,handcuffed and taken to prison for jay wlaking, not even an obnoxious American shouting about his human rights. No one is required to produce ID and if the police officer refuses to produce his then that would be a serious matter that would end up in court. Too many people imitate police officers for criminal purposes.
Sadly not so true anymore. The UK police are busily arresting everyone they can on any and every pretext, to gather material for their beloved DNA database. Mind you, they tend to use polite request, non-physical menace and veiled threat unless the "suspect" hits them first. Another home-office fave being CCTV and there being only so many tapes you can credibly "lose".
No wonder this guy was arrested. Look at him talk, a typical out of touch "elite professor". The cops were tired of him whining with his annoying accent. Next time he will know not to be arrogant with the cops and will follow orders.
If you don't like the laws here, go back to your queen. lol
crazy out of touch elite professor, U descriminate against him because he's got a brain and is as about as far removed from your average american as can be possible. Sure, I find him annoyingly smug as a person, but that doesn't give some unionised, half-whitted, retarded twerp,(90% of US police) the right to assault someone. Our Queen, if it's a choice between your STUPID, LYING, BRAIN DEAD, MORONIC TURD OF A 'PRESIDENT', i'll take our thousands of years of history and culture any day!
I had a little man at LA Airporrt shouting in my face this summer. There was very nearly a breach of the peace, no doubt I would have been shot or something.
Heres a comment on the story from FreeRepublic:
"I think the cop should have tazersed him and then shot him in the kneecap, to boot."
Nice people, you can see why so many hearts and minds are won every day in Iraq.
Hewpie - if you listen to the video you will hear why.
Maxmonsta - I take that you do not beleive in free speach. The trouble is that your use of English bears no relation to English English - whoops have I just been snobbish!
Land of the free - don't make laugh! Not only can the government tap your phone and e-mails but now they can open your mail. I suppose we can't expect much difference from a country that thinks Rambo and The Ternminator are heroes.
OHHH MAN this guy was my History professor last year, I kid you not. I stumbled across this story on BBC randomly and I could NOT BELIEVE IT. Wow. Imagine a history lecture from him, he uses the snobbiest most English expressions ever, not to mention saying a whole slew of things that Americans would consider offensive to say in class, but he gets away with it for being "British"
"USA...USA...USA...USA..." they chant around the world as if it was something to be proud about. You wouldn't know what it is to be a civilised race unless someone ordered you to be civilised...with a bin gun and a badge, perhaps? Par for the course behaviour from our slightly retarded cousins, at least their consistent from country to country, even when it's not theirs!
I'm sorry this had to happen Professor, but that's America for you and I hope you can bring as much publicity as possible to your experience in hopes that an international incident can be a catalyst for change. As it stands, you would think that the officer would be fired for what he did.. In reality, nothing will come of it (as the police are known to lie to protect their own) and he will likely instead be promoted.
There is an unspoken truth in America that the sadistic schoolhouse bullies that we're all too familiar with often grow up to become cops, providing the ultimate profession to continue their physical power trips. Sadly, this isn't an isolated incident; police abuse of power is quite common and even though not all police are bad apples for some reason the ones that are are promoted and put in positions of training rookies in their unlawful and psychopathic ways.
As a UK citizen I used to think America was a model of freedom and democracy. It is obviously a long way down the road to a fascist police state. How dare they claim to be exporting liberty to others ( by killing them )
Wow, the crime rate in Atlanta must be amazigly low if the police can afford to spend their time and tax payers' money on arresting jay walkers! And the police do not have to display or provide identification? Which means anyone could pass themselves off as a police officer? Memo to self: DO NOT visit Atlanta...
Atlanta police don't make mistakes. They lied, plant evidence, and shoot people. Just like that poor old 90+ year old lady. If you are from Atlanta you know how fuk up the police force is. The number of people killed last year, the recruit class that got caught cheating on test, the racist recorded message by the chief, etc. etc. I think any moron can apply and get accepted into the police academy in Atlanta.
You sir are an idiot who should have listened to the police. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Leave that ignorance and arrogance in the UK where it might be tolerated, not here. So please stop blaming others for you for YOUR mistakes!
True he made the mistake of jay walking. He should be thankful the cop didn't shoot him.
Those cops must be pussies if it takes all 5 of them to pin him down. Are all cops in the US pussies, or just in Atlanta?
I mean there's not many other civilised countries where a scrawny professor can get assaulted by 5 cops for jay walking. Do they go around granny bashing as well?
No, it takes 5 cops because US is a land of frivolous law suits. In Russia 1 cop would beat this guy in to a pulp and no one would care, but in the US 5 cops are called to hold each arm and leg to minimze injury so his lawyer won't salivate on suing for injuries.
"elite professor" - why, do you want to be educated by someone without high standards of education? American laws are a bit harsh, and having many American friends, they completely agree. I'm sure the professor will be pilloried by staff and students alike at QM nevertheless.
The professor's wife was interviewed on British radio today. She spoke of the low-life criminals her husband was banged-up with following his arrest. She went on to describe those low-life criminals as being much better people than the arresting cops!
Downtown Atlanta is to be avoided at all cost. I recently attended an event at the Fox Theatre, and that will be the last time I will ever visit downtown area. Not to mention the there are non-uniform and hidden idiot cops watching all the street. Only in America will you be arrested for crossing the street.
Whilst the professor committed an 'offence,' one has to appreciate that he is English and therefore is not used to such laws as 'jaywalking' (By the way I am English and find the prospect of being told where you can/cant cross a road to be bloody terrible.)
someone needs to remind the Atlanta police they are there to SERVE the public, not strut their shit and get indignant because someone clearly does not recognise that they have authority.
prof Fernández-Armesto was in the wrong, but it was a minor wrong. the cop behaved like an arrogant asshole - THAT is the main crime that was committed.
event organisers should start looking elsewhere for venues until atlanta wakes up and teaches its police that they cannot treat the public like shit.
Heavy handed, thick-skulled US cops. Recruits must be sent to a special school to learn the appropriate skills to be a American cop. My experience of them is they do not tend to have much respect among the general public - perhaps due to their desire to reach for their gun or CS first, and then to ask questions later???? This is another great way to focus attention on the heavy handed & insular US. If true, I hope the officers responsible are kicked out of their force.
now i've seen it all! just when i thought america didn't have any more stupid rules/laws i find out you can be arested, imprisoned and fined just for crossing the road!!!! lol how rediculous is that! why is there even a law against crossing the road? over here in the UK all you do i look to see if it is clear then cross. simple. perhaps the US govenment is trying to excersise the population more by making them walk furthur to a leagal place to cross lol
must read this. once u started there is no turnind back. a little 10 year old girl was raped and murdured in 1945. her body was not found until 1947. then a boy last week read this and did not copy and paste this message. the dead girl appeared in his room haunting him and killed hin. if ou do not copy and paste this onto 10 videos in 30 minutes the dead girl will appear in your room tonight and haunt you and kill you. well you better start to copy and paste if you want to be
convictbreeder 6 months ago
why the hell is this guy speaking like this???? he typifies the stereotype of an englishman on family guy haha!!
petemcgino 7 months ago
I would suppose you get extra points for doing it on your hands backwards.
Katantunoro 10 months ago
what a seriously dumb law they have over there. here i am free to cross the road wherever i please. seriously, there are killers and rapists out there and police pick on this man who isn't even a native to their backward country. this is stupid. thank god i don't live there.
Nihilanth1982 10 months ago
The only reason they hand out jaywalking tickets is that everyone who commits a real crime like rape, murder or robbery is a flat-broke unemployed African American or Hispanic male. They do it to raise money.
rlga5 10 months ago
@rlga5
Not just that. They love to get the "great white defendant." (a) Satisfy the deluded modern prerogative of "proving" you're not racist; (b) Makes for a nice break from arresting real criminals who, statistics demonstrate beyond any serious kind of doubt, are overwhelmingly black and brown. Thanks Pee-Cee!
spect8or 7 months ago
I'm afraid that this victim of police brutality is little more than a pompous twerp.
therusher8 1 year ago
Only in America can you get a ticket for simply crossing the road... so maybe the UK is the land of the free?
04smallmj 1 year ago
he was asked numerous times to not cross as the officer directed traffic.after being asked the officer still continued to tell the subject to return to the sidwalk and wait to be advised to cross. this subject continued to cross in heavy traffic and refused to stop untill pulled to the side and out of traffic by the officer.
trcoxe 1 year ago
This incident only confirms what the world already knows: that law enforcement, like most things, in America is run by thugs of lower-than-neanderthal intelligence.
mjwcritic 2 years ago 2
Dear Mr. Armesto,
You must take into account the practical constraints under which they had to operate, and the limited mental horizons by which they were enclosed. Oh wait, that is what you said about Columbus. Funny!
demnaz 2 years ago
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Davidthe29directors 2 years ago
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Davidthe29directors 2 years ago
As an Atlanta native, I can attest that before this incident (and especially after), the Atlanta police couldn't have given less of a shit about jaywalking. It happens all the time everywhere in the city, and they hardly lift a finger.
The entire incident also made us look like idiots to the international community, setting us back for all our posturing since the Olympics to make us look like an 'international' city. Honestly, both Professor and the Cop were both in the wrong, but the Cop moreso
SabraMagdalena 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This guy is an idiot. Yeah blame the officer for his stupidity. All that education and he is still a moron.
Mobi2525 2 years ago
The point of police is not to "serve and protect". They are there to uphold the law.
If we didn't have a million fucking laws this would be okay, but everyone breaks a law every day just about. Police can find a reason to arrest you if they want.
spleenblender 2 years ago
Fernando-Armesto's lectures for "Ideas That Shaped Mankind" - an audio course available at Barnes and Noble is unbearably pretentious with ridiculous and overzealous inflection. He made me want to stab my eardrums with ice picks. I wasted my money.
macdisciple 2 years ago
To everybody in the united states we all dont sound like this, this guy is like a typical english man in an american film.......
hitmanhornster 2 years ago
We all realize he's crusty and geeky Just as you recognize a Brooklyn accent. We recognize Mrs Brahms cockney accent or Captain Peacock military officer accent.
What I find interesting is hearing the English talk Brooklyn (Dr Who: "Daleks in Manhattan") Or an American talk with an English accent. Or the absolute butchery Uma Thurman does to Japanese
andocrates 2 years ago
That officer must have been hungry for a stat. I bet his performance appraisal was coming up.
7514328 2 years ago 8
Some of the comments have been unkind about this chap and some positive. All I would like to say is that he taught me and I learned a lot from his lectures. As an academic he is very insightful. I could even ask him questions about Shakespeare and he was able to give me good knowledge. I have used this knowledge when performing as one form of guide. This has influenced, I believe, my performances. Please would you watch them and tell me what you think of them?
Davidthe29directors 2 years ago
welcome to fucked up america
Giovanni2666 3 years ago
Welcome to the "Land of the free."
IBMeddling 3 years ago 2
Historians like to say that George Bush will go down in history as a great man. Not pointing out the fact that you need to include Dick Cheney and then include the 1000s of deaths in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and the economic disaster. Also, to point out how stupid historians are, they don't even mention the fact that "things get better over time" no matter what the heck a President or someone does...eventually it should get better. If not, you are looking at the Middle Ages repeated.
Dave985033 3 years ago
You are so ignorant.
MB3141 3 years ago
I can't even understand what point you are making besides "historians are stupid." So if a president shot a few nuclear weapons over to Russia, for example, things would "get better over time"? No, there would be a massive problem involving death on an unprecedented scale. So your argument that a president's actions don't matter in the grand scheme of things is flawed. Its like saying consequences don't exist.
vadstradamus 2 years ago
No here in these united police states of whatever,you must kiss the laws ass as though they are kings.This is an imperialist,power hungry evil empire and if yall dont like it get the fuk out.We are all prepared to be shipped off and be beheaded, after we willfully surrender our weapons.We love living in ambiguity to everyting that is going on the world,we just dont care,we hate you,our neighbors and even our distranged and ourselfs.We Love ignorance,stupidity,mindlessness and dogma.
creten69 3 years ago 4
This awsome man just cam and spoke at my high school. what a brilliant cool guy
skryabyn 3 years ago
I would like to say that Felipe Fernandez Armesto was (and still is) one of my favourite professors who taught me.
Davidthe29directors 3 years ago
"someone affecting a rather raffish image" i would arrest him for foppery crimes against humanity. additional charge would be having a double barrelled name. his language reeks of years of unquestioned privilege. i suspect his attitude at the time was probably high handed. filthy fetid attitude.
tumadoireacht 3 years ago
Professor Fernandez-Armesto is a brilliant lecturer
Davidthe29directors 3 years ago
Mr. Armesto!! You must use your magic jaywalking skills to jaywalk across the Atlantic ocean to come help me cram for my AP World History Exam! You're my only hope!
AdventureSerum 3 years ago 2
Ahahaha that guy's crazy! Even his textbook is wild!
AdventureSerum 3 years ago
How dare you! Use the crossing! You should have known better
darrenJ07 3 years ago
This sounds like another case of power tripping super sensitive new generation of cops coming out these days. An old cop would even tell you,they don't like the new cops anymore then most of us do. Thats what happens when you mix political correctniveness with law enforcment,we get a new breed I like to call Politicops.
BlueHaloPhoenix 3 years ago
last comment was for
"ChiroTiger". My reply isn't working.
amckee 4 years ago
This is entirely wierd to see. I feel really sorry for Mr. Armesto. Though I have to say it's really interesting after reading his textbook...
feiofhere 4 years ago
I got a ticket for jaywalking last September in Atlantic City and I was so angry I wanted to beat the shit out of that cop, but I kept my cool since I didn't want to get locked up. It was at the corner against the light and no cars were near me. I hope that cop never has another happy day in his life.
NYCman530 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this guy's whines like a little girl. lol welcome to america
mburch1974 4 years ago
hello freedom
Mashdom 4 years ago
jaywalking is not one of those laws that could be figured out by a person from an other country. it is understandable that he didnt know about since he also see other people cross the street
Deathless2288 4 years ago 4
Interesting. I saw this guy give a lecture in San Jose pretty recently. Had no idea he got into such a terrible situation. Our history course uses his textbook. He's quite intelligent.
Thosedamnhippies 4 years ago
The issues are: 1) Did the officer sufficiently manifest his authority; 2) does Georgia have a statute requiring citation in lieu of arrest; 3) if so, did the officer reasonably believe he was refusing to show identification. Even a citizen in GA can arrest for an offense in his presence if he tells the person the cause of the arrest, and the person so informed has no right to resist.
eswyatt 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This guy is a ass. He defied the cop, and he got what he deserved. It is funny when I travel to other cities, and the cops tell me not to do something....I DONT DO IT!!!! Plain and simple.
Argus2112 4 years ago
you didn't happen to hear his account did you?
spacecadet28 4 years ago
Argus, you are a pathetic simpleton.
amckee 4 years ago
You may say so but I have never been arrested while visiting another country.
Argus2112 4 years ago
Yeah, because asking a cop to identify himself and prove he is a cop is such a /terrible/ crime.
victorbarovsky 4 years ago
If you want to be in America...obey the law and stop your crying. When I go overseas to another country I follow their laws as silly as they may seem. SHUT UP
suthunhawk 4 years ago
So, you never jaywalk? You never once crossed the middle of the street when there was a crosswalk?
Becasue, obviously doing such a thing would be an insult to whatever country you happen to be in.
mmysama 4 years ago
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similantetaz 4 years ago
1. Fine. Felipe did not know jaywalking was a crime.
2. The cop was uniformed and had badge showing.
3. When you want to go toe-to-toe w/ a cop, don't ignore or beligerantly defy them.
4. When the cop says show ID or get arrested what would you do?
5. If Felipe is so "civilized" why would he fight/wrestle with the cop?
Three, 10 min. parts of this crap? What an arrogant, pompous, little whiny snot.
JustFSU 4 years ago
He did'nt have any ID. LURK MOAR.
mmysama 4 years ago
Drink the Kool-Aid, JustFSU. Drink the Kool-Aid with all the other sheeple.
amckee 4 years ago
I've read where people in Atlanta walk in front of cars on purpose to get a law suit started so the cops there are really hard up for jaywalkers. Seems to me this guy could have avoided all this had he simply used a crosswalk, regardless of how he feels about this particular law.
ChiroTiger 4 years ago
People jaywalk all the time all over America.
mmysama 4 years ago
you must not have watched the video and/or you are just simple.
amckee 4 years ago
I was held and interrogated for four hours at Gatwick airport just because I had a map with me. I was researching the purchase of a piece of property and had a map of the surrounding area near the property. I missed my flight. I was asked the most retarded questions, my rights were violated and the people who questioned me were quite possibly the most mentally challenged people I have ever met.
Yet still I don't call British people idiots, or insult the population of their country.
maralily 4 years ago
What exactly did they do? And why?
mmysama 4 years ago
They took my maps (which were $500 maps) and they took a bag of my eqipment and would not return any of it. I missed my flight, had to pay $700 for a new plane ticket. When they figured out they had nothing, they let me go, but kept my things and I was out a plane ticket.
maralily 4 years ago
Basically, they accused me of being a terrorist because I had detailed maps with me.
maralily 4 years ago
So, only terrorists use high quality mps these days? AND these said terrorist always plot out their crimes in airport terminals? You should file a formal complaint or something. Maybe even sue the airport. Make a couple of bucks off of them.
mmysama 4 years ago
I think Atlanta cops are beginning to rival New Orleans for most corrupt, arbitrarily capricious fuqn pigs in the nation.
But it's a fact ... you know those predatory pricks from high school that got off on physically terrorizing and humiliating those they perceived as different and weak on a daily basis? It's no big secret that they happily continue as lifetime terrorists on the right side of the law. They become cops.
ydefined 4 years ago 2
gorden bennet he is a pompus boring twat.
but where is the video that was here of the arrest?
it was here a few months ago
a load of pigs jumping on this poor pompus proffessor for no reason other than they could find no trailer trash to jump on.
suppose i should have downloaded it when it was there
USAattacks 4 years ago
my husband received a ticket on Friday, April 27, 2007 in L.A.'s fashion district for crossing a pedestrian walk on a red light. As a law abiding Canadian citizen he paid the fine at the local court house: $123.00!!! Thanks L.A.! It is cheaper to get a parking ticket anywhere else in the world!
canaelly 4 years ago
At least he's not in Singapor. They cut off your dick for jaywalking.
TVstudio 4 years ago
Freedom of speech.
Dannysaccount7 4 years ago
He acted like he was above the law. Oh well.
m015094 4 years ago
He didn't act like he was above the law, he didn't KNOW the law, its a completely different thing. The poor guy made a mistake. Over here we can cross the road whenever, wherever, and as much as I love the States the jaywalking law is one thing that has always confused me. It is a fabulous country though, and I put up with the eccentricities because I recognise you have a lot to offer - which is what I would expect in return from the people of the USA.
cazjaz47 3 years ago
So what if bunch of people crossed street in the morning and if he comes from the culture where is legal to cross street whereever you like? Fuck him! Andthe board behind him?! Stupid. So, if he is awarded historian, he can do what he want? FUCK NO. Stupid english.
zabojecar 4 years ago
Zabojecar....Russia will soon be invading you again..so don't mock freedoms such as freedom to cross the road wherever you like.
CaptainTerrible 4 years ago
Goodness, you clearly have a lot of anger in you. Of course he can't do what he wants, and if you listened to him talk you would realise that he is a law-abiding citizen. He made a simple mistake, the police-officer completely over-reacted and in doing so added to the already poor reputation of the US police force for brutality - one I am sure is undeserved, but sadly only the negative seems to be reported.
cazjaz47 3 years ago
"Goodness", you clearly are this "poor man". They made video or inteview if you want about how he was stoped by police? So what? And you say he is "law-abiding citizen"?! He is, but the way he talks about "incident", the words that he use - interogation, bully policeman, ..... ,all his cinizem, book cover behind him and the fact that they made video about this shows that he thinks he is something better. Clearlly he acted like superior even before, so he got all the respect he was asking for
zabojecar 3 years ago
Crikey, where to even begin? I'm sorry to say that I can barely understand your response, your grasp of basic grammar is poor at best, however as you have chosen to use the Slovenian for cynicism I can only assume that English is not your first language. If that is the case then I can almost forgive your attitude, the manner with which Professor Fernandez-Armesto speaks can certainly seem 'snobbish' to those who have not grown up listening to similar speakers on the BBC.
cazjaz47 3 years ago
hey, maybe my english isn't perfect, but I better speak your language, than you do mine. Is that so? And tell me, which language beside english do you speak? I speak also German, Italian and Serbian language and even some French. Q: do you know what following sentence means? Jebi se kreten nadut angleški, ki razen svoje vasice še ni videl drugega sveta.
zabojecar 3 years ago
Congratulations, all those hours spent learning those languages have certainly proven useful - at last, you can insult people in their native tongue, as well as foreign ones! A worthwhile pursuit, I'm sure.
cazjaz47 3 years ago
I can not belive it. You were actually waiting for my reply. Ha-ha-ha. Your dick must be hard now, ha? Still you haven't told me what languages beside english you speak?
zabojecar 3 years ago
a) You egotistical maniac, I have reasons for being online other than awaiting for your reply. b) Dick hard? You have a lovely way of speaking. Sorry to shatter your homo-erotic fantasies, but I'm female. c) I am more than happy to admit that you have a far greater grasp of languages than myself, and that your less than perfect grasp of English can be forgiven in light of this - but what I don't understand is why you would use this skill purely to insult others. It baffles me completely.
cazjaz47 3 years ago
Woman?! OK, now I understand. Won't bother you any more. Sorry. My fault. I should ask you first. Sorry again.
zabojecar 3 years ago
rawr
Nukabazooka 4 years ago
I hope he sues all 5 of them, and the city of atlanta.
knowitallgenius 4 years ago
dont jaywalk
peripecias 4 years ago
Great Video / What a mess , I feel sorry for the guy . I wish you could do a video with the cop that made the streets of Atlanta safer .
66SIX 4 years ago
Great Video / What a mess , I feel sorry for the guy . I wish you could do a video with the cop that made the streets of Atlanta safer .
66SIX 4 years ago
I feel sorry for that guy. Cops are such dicks now a days, I really can't stand them anymore.
PopwarSkater14 5 years ago
I hate cops! God hates cops! Cops can go to hell nowadays!
vikingscool 4 years ago
Is this an example of American hospitality to a visitor? I actually do know some normal down to earth Americans and they are ashamed of what has gone on. Don't think i will criticize the British police again after this
banquo46 5 years ago
Maybe you ought to go to Belfast and witness the "gentle" way things are done there, and then you can preach to the world about "English hospitality."
JohnnyCat77 4 years ago
Belfast isn't in England.
Himinglaeva 4 years ago
Your ignorance made me laugh.
maralily 4 years ago
Belfast is in Ireland! That is like me telling you to go to Ottawafor a taste of American life. I mean for goodness sake. And yes, Belfast has had its problems, but the Irish are well known for being amongst the most hospitable in the world.
cazjaz47 3 years ago
funy how american and americans are all the time doing things like this. honestly can't they ever react normal? i'm sure most americans are oke, but it is rarely seen.
tyerus 5 years ago
Good job stereotyping an entire country as crazy. Where are you from? England??? You guys put the picture of a descendant of a dicatator on all your money who now has no contol over anythingand is guarded by silent people in giant fluffy hats!!! You created the most random shows and movies on television: Benny Hill, Monty Python, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!!
Kitavu 4 years ago
The coppers probably had the same prejudiced opinions as you do.
How the policemen assaulted him would certainly have resulted in suspension in a civilized country. And they refused to admit they were wrong, in fear of being sued! Apparently justice is not blind in the US.
gschjetne 4 years ago
Inventions from the "uncivilized"- light bulb, electricity for cities, car, assembly line, airplane, Internet. i am curious to know what you "civilized" life in wherever you live would be like without these inventions from this "uncivilized" country. Oh that's right you would be in a lightless apartment with no car computer or power to speak of!!!
Kitavu 4 years ago
don't forget that the English language was refined on the other side of the pond. on top of the fact that we build better planes than cattlebus.
phobal 4 years ago
Do not dare insult and call me, and the rest of my country, and its citizens as uncivilized.
reply back if you want to. im curious to hear you response.
Kitavu 4 years ago
Kitavu wrote; "Do not dare insult and call me, and the rest of my country, and its citizens as uncivilized. reply back if you want to. im curious to hear you response."
My response:
Do not dare to insult and call me, the rest of my country, and its' citizens uncivilized.
Reply back if you want to. I'm curious to hear your response.
1inquisitive 4 years ago
edits made in word do not copy correctly back to the response section on YouTube.
Kitavu 4 years ago
I do not think Americans are uncivilized, but they compose, generally speaking the dumbest, worst educated western country on earth, ergo your political leadership. That is where it starts and trickles all the way down to the beat cop.
1inquisitive 4 years ago
Gotta love British insecurity. I'd be the same way if I lived in a filthy country that has no constitution, some of the worst privacy regulations out of the western world, and a massive inferiority complex to one of the "dumbest countries on earth" that happens to be a lot more powerful and respected.
phobal 4 years ago
I didn't say America is "one of the dumbest countries on earth." It is THE DUMBEST WESTERN COUNTRY ON EARTH. Actually I am speaking more as a Canadian than a Brit, although I am both, and I am not so much insecure as terrified that some actually truly (not pretend for votes) religious fanatic that really believes in "intelligent design" and thinks the earth is 6000 years old will become President.
1inquisitive 4 years ago
I didn't say America is "one of the dumbest countries on earth." It is THE DUMBEST WESTERN COUNTRY ON EARTH. Actually I am speaking more as a Canadian than a Brit, although I am both, and I am not so much insecure as genuinely terrified that some actually truly (not pretend for votes) religious fanatic that really believes in "intelligent design" and thinks the earth is 6000 years old will become President.
1inquisitive 4 years ago
That'd be "respected" in the Mafia Don sense, I presume? The American constition is a marvelous thing - acknowledged by lawmakers in roughly the same way rapists acknowledge feminist ideals, as far as I can tell.
There were 2,193,798 people in American jails Dec 2005 (DOJ figure), out of a population of 296,410,400. That's 740 in jail for every hundred thousand. Land of the Free. In the UK, Dec 2005, it was 74,843 out of 60,209,500, or 124 per 100K.
QekLiHoQfuh 4 years ago
I have lost the original quote, but it went like this;
George W Bush has done for the image of the republican party approximately what the movie Deliverance did for the image of Southern hospitality. heh heh
1inquisitive 4 years ago
Cops are a bunch of stupid idiots, it's common knowledge
knowitallgenius 4 years ago
Whenever, I hear someone using "ergo" I immediately think of George Carlin saying "pretentious c---s-----r." Your simplistic judgement -- your half-baked trickle-down-theory - is an erroneous assessment of America based on TV/YouTube sound bites and fueled by a Canadian inferiority complex.
JohnnyCat77 4 years ago
Don't forget dr. who, and coronation street, those shows really suck.
phobal 4 years ago
Madonna, while not exactly known for her intellectual prowess, but certainly wealthy enough to go anywhere on earth, in a television interview was asked why she is educating her children in England. She replied that it was because she had come to realize that the average working class Englishman was more worldly and better educated than the average American university graduate.
1inquisitive 4 years ago
....and yet you still quote Madonna. What does this say about your own intellect? What does it say about you? Canadian inferiority complex? Go google the "most recent inventions." Four of the 10 most recent are American. The other six were from six other nations (ITA, UK, CHINA, SP, S.Africa, & Columbia)....Canada did not make the list.
JohnnyCat77 4 years ago
Ok, here's something from an American show;
"The White House now has disputed allegations by members of the House Intelligence Committee that President Bush went to war with Iraq based on vague intelligence. Of course he did. Everything Bush does is based on vague intelligence." Jay Leno
1inquisitive 4 years ago
You have to think cops are posting too. Cops are so brainwashed they simply are no longer able to recognize right from wrong - the law is for us, not them. Cops spend 80% of their workday shaking down the citizenry, $400 speeding ticket, $600 to seize some working moms car --chasing people who bounce a check- and then it's off to wal-greens to catch someone buying cold medicine. <P> We need to do away with "beat cops" and replace these animals with a volunteer force.
andocrates 5 years ago
Sir, once again, I apologize for the decay of our country into this fascist police state. Since they work for their simple paychecks and not for the people anymore please forgive the police for their misdoings.
knave2 5 years ago
Author Heather Mallick's take from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website."I do think there's a link between banging up a historian, bombing the destitute [missed claimed al-Qaeda targets in Somalia] and breaking the code of diplomacy [invading Iranian consulate in Iraq (U.S. embassy in Athens bombed next day)]. My very clever editor...suggests calling it "Nixonomics, a calculated risk on the cost-benefit of ignoring the law."
1inquisitive 5 years ago
WOW! out of all the comments on here, only about 3 are talking about the video. the rest are just ramblings of politics.
bettyhumpter726 5 years ago
"Polite society" is to "Legally armed" as Respect is to Mafia Don.
1inquisitive 5 years ago
ammodawg, is the US still the wild west with shoot first and never mind innocent until proved guilty.
Of 876 homicides in the UK, 161 were by gun shot, a bit different from 12,000 and 249 murders in the nation's capitol alone!
I wonder how your economy would would fair if you kicked out all the foreigners. How many foreign doctors, nurses engineers, scientists, academics (including history professors) let alone all the immigrants working on the land would you kick out.
mcgark 5 years ago
ammodawg is the epitome of the average American's intellect. WHAT HAS WW2 GOT TO DO WITH POLICE BRUTALITY? By the way are you aware of the homicide statistics in the land of the free? Over 16,000 people are murdered or 5.5 per 100,000 compared to UK 1.2. Of these approx 12,000 US citizens are killed by guns! You really should try and get a grip on reality.
mcgark 5 years ago
No gun pulls it's own trigger. Try to rob my house and watch what happens to you. The last thing you ever see will be a muzzle flash. The brits won't even let their people defend themselves. Stop believing your liberal media. More people are killed in car wrecks than are killed by guns. Should we ban cars too? All I am saying is if you don't like our country, stay the f##k out. I'll stay the hell out of yours as well, unless we decide to come take it over. See ya.
ammodawg7 5 years ago
You cant take over other peoples countries without our skill and expertees... look what happened in NAM lmao
fishbone3082 5 years ago
No, guns don't pull their own triggers, and yes, more people are killed by cars. But what's your point? More people are killed using knives than with guns, at least in the UK. Neither knives nor guns are inherently murderous in themselves. Americans, though, appear to be around five times as murderous as Brits. Why is that? I know the anti-Gun lobby thinks it's "because of Guns", but I don't, and you clearly don't, so what's your explanation?
QekLiHoQfuh 4 years ago
Insulting "average Americans" based on an incident like this or the comments of someone like ammodawg makes you no better than him. I think most people here would be embarrassed by what happened to Fernandez-Armesto (with possible exceptions in certain "red states".) Furthermore, most regular Americans are also ashamed of people like ammodawg. But those such as him are loud, obnoxious, ridiculous, and therefore more noticeable than regular, decent citizens of this nation.
rodazi 5 years ago
rodazi - the first balanced comment I've read during this whole debacle. Could I make one last comment. When you are told every day of your life that you are greatest nation on earth and the land of the free, you evetually believe it. However it does make for an arrogance unmatched since the days of the Nazi holocaust. Close Guantanomo Bay and get back to freedom and justice for all.
mcgark 5 years ago
How can any Amercian defend what the police did here??? This is the sort of thing that would happen if you lived in Third World dictatorship! Anyway, all I can say is that I am glad that I am not living in the United States, nor do I plan to visit anytime soon.
rosieinwindy 5 years ago
Well I think the only the thing we can hope for then is the general destruction of american society. Maybe from this trasheap of resentment and bitter violence something better might grow.
Rasperryman 5 years ago
America is a Neo-Christian caliphate/Police State. I don't know why anyone would go there. It is not a safe country to travel to for anyone. They have given thier government too much power and it is spinning out of control.
weedeedledee 5 years ago
That is right. After all, European countries have their governments in check. Oh wait, they don't. Read the Atlanta police report. This guy is a smug douchebag who deserved to be treated as he did.
obmax1212 5 years ago
You people who arent ashamed of your policemen for arresting this man are really scary. I think it is a sign of the end of civilization in the US. Astonishing.
Rasperryman 5 years ago
While many Americans seem to be convinced that the whole world is desperate to live or work there, this is far from true, and I'm surprised said professor is apparently still willing to even consider it. It's precisely this kind of thing that makes me reluctant to so much as visit. The power-tripping cop who did this deserves to be severely repremanded and made an example of by being stuck on permanent desk duty where he will be safely out of contact with the public,...and monitored closely.
1inquisitive 5 years ago
It is not an overstatement to say that post 9/11 Americans now live a POLICE STATE. What they have gradually come to accept as normal, others see as utterly totalitarian. I wonder how many Americans appreciate the gravity of the implications?
Police already have an extra hard job to do in the States because of the danger of everybody having a gun. It's not like that anywhere else in the western world. That coupled with an overzealous cop produces this kind of disgusting display of thuggery.
1inquisitive 5 years ago
Guns have nothing to do with it. If it wasn't for our right to keep and bear arms we wouldn't have been able to kick the brits out of our country twice. And if I remember correctly, a century later we rescued their butts twice. If it wasn't for us you brits would be speaking german right now. If you come to our country, have the decency to obey our laws. A legally armed society is a polite society.
ammodawg7 5 years ago
The old ' "we" saved "your" butts argument. Americans were able to avoid WW2 until Dec. 1941 because of the fortune of geographic isolation, and when America finally did get involved, it was primarily because of having been attacked by Japan, and because Germany declared war on it (both of which were working to get "the bomb") So they were saving their own butts as much as anybody elses, and incidentally managed to make one whole heck of a lot of money in the process.
1inquisitive 5 years ago
"A legally armed society is a polite society."
Are you kidding? Have you ever left America? Compared to the rest of the industrialized world, we're a pack of bloodthirsty barbarian killers.
maxanova 5 years ago
have you heard of the War of 1812? Likely not. American a** was kicked out of Canada by the british. Not something American like to be reminded of.
roadrunner0803 5 years ago
I guess that was sixteen thousand six hundred and ninety two real polite homicides y'all had in 2005, compared with the 800-odd extremely rude and arrogant ones in the UK in the same year.
QekLiHoQfuh 4 years ago
LAND OF THE FREE?? WERE YOU CANT EVEN CROSS THE ROAD WHERE YOU LIKE??
These laws are created to put YOUR details on their computer... a totalitarian state if you ask me
fishbone3082 5 years ago
They should have tazed this pompus moron. That would have been funny as hell. Try reading up on our laws before coming to our country and breaking them jackass!!!
ammodawg7 5 years ago
Oh, yes, pointless violence because you don't like how someone talks.
cnscoville 5 years ago
There is more to this than meets the eye. When a policeman instructs you to do something you do it and ask questions later. This overeducated windbag should have cooperated with the police. They could have let him get smeared by a bus, that is why we have crosswalks.
ammodawg7 5 years ago
It would take ten lifetimes to read all the stupid laws that your hysterical paranoid country come up with. It's amazing how indignant that you get when one of you gets caught breaking the law of another country. You'll boldly announce that you're an American as though that makes your life worth more than the local savages. You deserve the craphole you live in.
weedeedledee 5 years ago
There are many places where jaywalking isn't allowed. I jaywalk all the time but have never received a ticket. It's not the law that is the issue, it is the manner in which it is enforced. Police are expected to exercise discretion, use their brains, not act as mindless enforcers. Police who routinely cover their ass by throwing in "resist arrest," or any other charge, and any fellow officers who defend them, destroy the image of the force and are not fit to serve, period.
1inquisitive 5 years ago
LAND OF THE FREE?? WHERE YOU CANT EVEN CROSS THE ROAD WHERE YOU LIKE??
these laws are createwd to put YOUR details on their computer... a totalitarian state if you ask me
fishbone3082 5 years ago
Oh golly, as Rumsfeld would say, everyone here has missed the point. This "arrest" was done to create a spectacle of "terror," to say "even this bourgeois downtown area is under threat," to induce even more paranoia in the unstable mental climate of the US public. This had nothing to do with the history professor, he was just a prop. A Middle Eastern looking man apparently wasn't available in this case. This type of thing is a lot more common at airports however.
CheeChee21 5 years ago
dcentral - I think it is you who are out of touch. The reality is that no one in the UK would be kicked to the ground,handcuffed and taken to prison for jay wlaking, not even an obnoxious American shouting about his human rights. No one is required to produce ID and if the police officer refuses to produce his then that would be a serious matter that would end up in court. Too many people imitate police officers for criminal purposes.
mcgark 5 years ago
Sadly not so true anymore. The UK police are busily arresting everyone they can on any and every pretext, to gather material for their beloved DNA database. Mind you, they tend to use polite request, non-physical menace and veiled threat unless the "suspect" hits them first. Another home-office fave being CCTV and there being only so many tapes you can credibly "lose".
QekLiHoQfuh 4 years ago
No wonder this guy was arrested. Look at him talk, a typical out of touch "elite professor". The cops were tired of him whining with his annoying accent. Next time he will know not to be arrogant with the cops and will follow orders.
If you don't like the laws here, go back to your queen. lol
dcentral 5 years ago
crazy out of touch elite professor, U descriminate against him because he's got a brain and is as about as far removed from your average american as can be possible. Sure, I find him annoyingly smug as a person, but that doesn't give some unionised, half-whitted, retarded twerp,(90% of US police) the right to assault someone. Our Queen, if it's a choice between your STUPID, LYING, BRAIN DEAD, MORONIC TURD OF A 'PRESIDENT', i'll take our thousands of years of history and culture any day!
speedmatters 5 years ago
Would you respond in the same way if this had happened to your brother, or father, or grandfather?
roadrunner0803 5 years ago
Land of the free? yeah, right.
I had a little man at LA Airporrt shouting in my face this summer. There was very nearly a breach of the peace, no doubt I would have been shot or something.
Heres a comment on the story from FreeRepublic:
"I think the cop should have tazersed him and then shot him in the kneecap, to boot."
Nice people, you can see why so many hearts and minds are won every day in Iraq.
moleicester 5 years ago
Hewpie - if you listen to the video you will hear why.
Maxmonsta - I take that you do not beleive in free speach. The trouble is that your use of English bears no relation to English English - whoops have I just been snobbish!
mcgark 5 years ago
Why did the Tufts Professor cross the road?
Hewpie 5 years ago
Land of the free - don't make laugh! Not only can the government tap your phone and e-mails but now they can open your mail. I suppose we can't expect much difference from a country that thinks Rambo and The Ternminator are heroes.
mcgark 5 years ago
OHHH MAN this guy was my History professor last year, I kid you not. I stumbled across this story on BBC randomly and I could NOT BELIEVE IT. Wow. Imagine a history lecture from him, he uses the snobbiest most English expressions ever, not to mention saying a whole slew of things that Americans would consider offensive to say in class, but he gets away with it for being "British"
maxmonsta 5 years ago
"USA...USA...USA...USA..." they chant around the world as if it was something to be proud about. You wouldn't know what it is to be a civilised race unless someone ordered you to be civilised...with a bin gun and a badge, perhaps? Par for the course behaviour from our slightly retarded cousins, at least their consistent from country to country, even when it's not theirs!
speedmatters 5 years ago
I'm sorry this had to happen Professor, but that's America for you and I hope you can bring as much publicity as possible to your experience in hopes that an international incident can be a catalyst for change. As it stands, you would think that the officer would be fired for what he did.. In reality, nothing will come of it (as the police are known to lie to protect their own) and he will likely instead be promoted.
ydefined 5 years ago
There is an unspoken truth in America that the sadistic schoolhouse bullies that we're all too familiar with often grow up to become cops, providing the ultimate profession to continue their physical power trips. Sadly, this isn't an isolated incident; police abuse of power is quite common and even though not all police are bad apples for some reason the ones that are are promoted and put in positions of training rookies in their unlawful and psychopathic ways.
ydefined 5 years ago
As a UK citizen I used to think America was a model of freedom and democracy. It is obviously a long way down the road to a fascist police state. How dare they claim to be exporting liberty to others ( by killing them )
chrisbrooksbank 5 years ago
Wow, the crime rate in Atlanta must be amazigly low if the police can afford to spend their time and tax payers' money on arresting jay walkers! And the police do not have to display or provide identification? Which means anyone could pass themselves off as a police officer? Memo to self: DO NOT visit Atlanta...
Princessguapa 5 years ago
Atlanta police don't make mistakes. They lied, plant evidence, and shoot people. Just like that poor old 90+ year old lady. If you are from Atlanta you know how fuk up the police force is. The number of people killed last year, the recruit class that got caught cheating on test, the racist recorded message by the chief, etc. etc. I think any moron can apply and get accepted into the police academy in Atlanta.
ntujyug 5 years ago
Is no one else concerned of Rodney King style retaliation on the streets of Atlanta?
What if all ageing English professor's head to down town Atlanta and start ripping up the streets, burning cars and looting shops?
Then those American cops will know they messed with the wrong mother fockers.
(Stupid idiot -- ignorance is no excuse for the law)
What is all ageing English proffesors all head to down town and start ripping up the streets?
colasin 5 years ago
You sir are an idiot who should have listened to the police. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Leave that ignorance and arrogance in the UK where it might be tolerated, not here. So please stop blaming others for you for YOUR mistakes!
cpdlife4me 5 years ago
True he made the mistake of jay walking. He should be thankful the cop didn't shoot him.
Those cops must be pussies if it takes all 5 of them to pin him down. Are all cops in the US pussies, or just in Atlanta?
I mean there's not many other civilised countries where a scrawny professor can get assaulted by 5 cops for jay walking. Do they go around granny bashing as well?
FondleMyNuts 5 years ago
No, it takes 5 cops because US is a land of frivolous law suits. In Russia 1 cop would beat this guy in to a pulp and no one would care, but in the US 5 cops are called to hold each arm and leg to minimze injury so his lawyer won't salivate on suing for injuries.
dcentral 5 years ago
"elite professor" - why, do you want to be educated by someone without high standards of education? American laws are a bit harsh, and having many American friends, they completely agree. I'm sure the professor will be pilloried by staff and students alike at QM nevertheless.
walshiedee 5 years ago
The professor's wife was interviewed on British radio today. She spoke of the low-life criminals her husband was banged-up with following his arrest. She went on to describe those low-life criminals as being much better people than the arresting cops!
southwood3 5 years ago
I am so sorry sir that our police are this fascist.
knave2 5 years ago
As stuipd as this law is there are cities in Wisconsin where you can litteraly tie your horse to something in the middle of a street and it is legal.
ntujyug 5 years ago
Downtown Atlanta is to be avoided at all cost. I recently attended an event at the Fox Theatre, and that will be the last time I will ever visit downtown area. Not to mention the there are non-uniform and hidden idiot cops watching all the street. Only in America will you be arrested for crossing the street.
I thought it was a Jay Leno late show thing.
ntujyug 5 years ago
Whilst the professor committed an 'offence,' one has to appreciate that he is English and therefore is not used to such laws as 'jaywalking' (By the way I am English and find the prospect of being told where you can/cant cross a road to be bloody terrible.)
saelaird 5 years ago
someone needs to remind the Atlanta police they are there to SERVE the public, not strut their shit and get indignant because someone clearly does not recognise that they have authority.
prof Fernández-Armesto was in the wrong, but it was a minor wrong. the cop behaved like an arrogant asshole - THAT is the main crime that was committed.
event organisers should start looking elsewhere for venues until atlanta wakes up and teaches its police that they cannot treat the public like shit.
tonkle 5 years ago
Living in Atlanta, I'm ashamed that our cops treated a harmless visitor in this obscene manner.
Heloise2k 5 years ago
Heavy handed, thick-skulled US cops. Recruits must be sent to a special school to learn the appropriate skills to be a American cop. My experience of them is they do not tend to have much respect among the general public - perhaps due to their desire to reach for their gun or CS first, and then to ask questions later???? This is another great way to focus attention on the heavy handed & insular US. If true, I hope the officers responsible are kicked out of their force.
Arrrgggggggghhh 5 years ago
I hate Americans. What a bunch of idiots!
Weepop54321 5 years ago
now i've seen it all! just when i thought america didn't have any more stupid rules/laws i find out you can be arested, imprisoned and fined just for crossing the road!!!! lol how rediculous is that! why is there even a law against crossing the road? over here in the UK all you do i look to see if it is clear then cross. simple. perhaps the US govenment is trying to excersise the population more by making them walk furthur to a leagal place to cross lol
spyder2001 5 years ago