July 28, 2010
Editor Amandala,
I shall be grateful if you would place this article in your prestigious newspaper. I was appalled after reading an article written by Mrs. Ofelia Gomez, dated July 18, 2010, titled “Out-of-control PG policeman” in issue #2442, which raised more questions about her character than that of the police officer. I was compelled to address the issue that she advertently failed to do, but will do so with due respect to her.
My personal experiences with this nuisance late at night, were some horrible ones. I believe that for too long the residents of the area known as Indianville have been suffering in silence when this nuisance could have been minimized, if not stopped, a long time ago.
I am one of the concerned neighbours, and I believe it is my duty to seek the intervention of the proper authorities. Shall we continue allowing a few persons’ pleasure of socializing to outweigh the right to comfort of the majority of the neighbours? Not only does this thunderous sound cause more pain to the ailing elderly who wish for a silent night, but students wanting to study are equally disturbed.
That evening in question was just another typical so-called party for the Gomez family. It began immediately when darkness set in and for me, I made up my mind for another restless night. It seems when the hours went by, the music got louder. The zinc roofs and the wooden frames of my little house keep vibrating by the heavy music.
I live about two streets away from the Gomez residence, and the racket was unbearable. I could only imagine what the families who live next to Mrs. Gomez’s residence were going through that night, and many other nights prior to this one. We had difficulty communicating amongst ourselves at home because of the loud music. My greatest wish during the ordeal was that if they would only choose to lower the music. Somebody did the right thing that night by calling the police.
Having heard about what transpired at that party, the police perhaps overreacted not just over the fact that Mrs. Gomez’s son announced over the loud speaker, accompanied by negative remarks, that they came to stop the party, but that her son went further to say that the police only needed a few beers and they would go away.
Are these traits displaying one as a respectable person? And Mrs. Gomez exact words,” I was then escorting the officer to the gate because I knew that the people are not comfortable with the police around them,” are food for thought.
First impression would suggest that Mrs. Gomez had noted the hostility of the decent, invited guests towards the police, for that matter. It can also be concluded that the party goers and perhaps the hosts thought that their rights to socialize should not be questioned, even if it is exercised at the expense of the neighbours.
Couldn’t she have arranged for a suitable place for the party? Say a night club or resorts in the outskirts of town? After all, these establishments have special licenses for late night parties.
Every citizen has a freedom to enjoy himself or herself, which is outlined in the Constitution, but at the same time, others have the right to rest peacefully. A professional figure and respectable agent are known to have the ability to draw the line in between.
So Mrs. Gomez, being an educated person, ought to have made some moral judgment that would have prevented the entire episode of conflict with the police.
Moreover, what puzzles me in regards to Mrs. Gomez, and by extension, others, is that the objective of music is to entertain the invited guests only, and not everybody in the neighbourhood. A respectable person must show respect to the community and ought to have foreseen what effects his or her action will bring.
To add insult to the injury, the type of music they played that night contains profane and indecent words that our young children were forced to listen to. Decent people ought to choose proper music. Are we promoting moral principles in our community if we tolerate this to happen?
What is noteworthy as well was the fact that Mrs. Gomez may have contributed for the situation to escalate. She implicated herself here, and I quote: “Officer, were you talking to me?” after she purportedly heard the officer using insulting language to her.
Professional people control their emotions and ought to be cautious in their reaction. If the officer indeed said this, this does not justify her to indicate authoritatively that she ought to be respected. It is better to earn respect than to demand it.
Based on her story, her son’s behaviour is tantamount to that of the police officer mentioned if we are to use the same measuring stick for professionalism and respect for others. Based on Mrs. Gomez’s story, she could have intervened in a far more professional effective way. If she knew that this behaviour is prevalent among junior officers, she should have withdrawn from a heated back-and-forth exchange of words with this officer.
But the saddest tradition we continue to believe is about who should show respect. We were told that that police officer ought to have the abundance of rightness and respect, since they are law enforcers. If we believe this, then you will never be able to see the wrongness in one’s own personality.
Her son was wrong to have overreacted the way he did. He could have controlled his emotions even if what he was told about the police officer verbally abusing his mother was true. It would not justify his action. Where is the respect and professionalism Mrs. Gomez said the family possesses? If we know our rights, then we must know the right process to deal with a situation.
The follow-up actions at the police station by Mrs. Gomez appeared to be very strange. She waited till the evening of the following day to go to the police station to get a medico-legal form. Had she realised at some point in time that her son or she was the perpetrator and was deciding what to do during the whole day? That may be the case.
Her claim that no one attended to her and she waited an hour seems to be an exaggeration. I think she is confusing her activist role with professional behaviour. Interestingly, she was released before the officer could have filed charges against her and her son.
I would conclude by saying that people will respect you for your action and concerns for others. Your perceived principles about yourself do not say much about who you are. Educated persons ought to be morally developed. However, mis-educated individuals may not find it necessary to look at his /her attitudes and make the change that he/she wants to see.
The officer indeed owes Mrs. Gomez an apology, but she owes the neighbours an apology as well. This is crucial to an individual who is community-oriented. Think about it.
Sincerely,
Carlos Cal