Language

Perpetuated culture

Submitted February 19, 2004 - 3:13 pm by Nora Callahan
Conroy writes in his prologue, "The allegations raised by these whistleblowers boil down to an assertion that Customs is operated through a “good-ol’-boy” system of management that has perpetuated a culture of reprisal, cronyism and corruption."

That is a mouthful of truth, and I've personally been choking on it about as long as I can stand to. I'll try not to spew - and break the golden rule on www.narcosphere.com - never be boring!

My husband and colleague, Chuck Armsbury notices how often the enforcers 'come together,' be it a banquet for awards, press conference or funeral, and the gathering is called the "law enforcement community" by the press.

What is that? Law Enforcement Community?

My earliest memories include the 'Borderlands' culture that Conroy begins to describe to the world, in the prologue to Borderline Security. My father and uncle joined the Border Patrol following WWII, and both of them had one son. Both of the sons followed their father's footsteps into "Border" service, though the elders did transfer to Immigration and Naturalization, and die of cancer shortly after retirement. Their sons stayed in the Patrol, and one of them is my brother, Gary Patrick Callahan.

After 19 years in the Border Patrol, my brother began serving 27 years in federal prison.  He has 10 years left to serve on a drug conspiracy.

What is Law Enforcement culture?

Connotations of a group within a group come to mind. How 'subgroups' think and act-out, is called  'culture' in the US portion of the Americas.

Police culture is old news, but indeed a growing threat, in that the cultures are merging, as they agencies are brought under one umbrella.  

When it is the Enforcers, is it a sub-group from within? Not really, because they can by law, act outside of law, but then -- the lines blur. Today? We can't tell the bad guys from the good ole guys. (A line from a song I'll get up enough nerve to share beyond a small circle of friends at present.)

I have great personal interest in Bill Conroy's investigative journalism that will unfold at www.narconews.com. My response is to extend an early appreciation for an interactive manuscript reading.  Amazing! I thank you Bill Conroy, and Narconews for not only presenting ideas and information, but serving people by inviting open exchanges of ideas and information.

Before borderland security for my father, uncle and brother, was military service. My father and brother did a lot of brutal killing before they entered domestic policing. Semper Fi and all that. Does that figure in? I wonder repeatedly.

Me? I didn't kill, nor did I join the Patrol. Why didn't I follow my father's footsteps to war, killing and domestic policing?

Tell me Bill Conroy, what else did I miss because I wasn't a second son my father longed for, but a daughter instead?

Nora Callahan

You can't tell the bad guys from the good ole guys
and children die in drive-bys

Comes a storming midnight raid
another innocent man lays dead

Hear our cries!
People arise!
No more lies!

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