A Line Needs to be Drawn

So there's an upheavel in the news here about a woman who was caught sleeping in her car on her lunch break. The picture went 'viral' and the community is outraged because this woman is a police officer and her car was unlocked at the time. You can read about it here:

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2012/06/18/police-officer-photographed-snoozing-in-cruiser

I read the article and my first thought was, "Oh this poor woman". After looking at the Reader's Comments, it turns out not so many people shared the same sentiment. Most are screaming 'fire her'. I believe that being a critical consumer of information is vital in today's world of social media overload. Some people don't seem to know the difference between fact and opinion anymore! With this being said, I am not interested in discussing whether she was right or wrong, whether or not she should be fired or disciplined, whether or not she was indeed taking a nap. It is not my place to decide because I don't have all of the information. And I've never been a cop. As a teacher though, I am aware of how incredibly quick the public is to judge. And they do so without all of the facts (I will take a moment to remind you all that NO, TEACHERS DO NOT GET PAID IN THE SUMMER AND NO, THEY CANNOT COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT). Take a moment to think. With your brain. For more than the length of a commercial.

I personally don't think this picture should be allowed to circulate through the media the way it has. I understand she is a police officer and is thus a public servant, however, she is still a person. She has feelings. Family. Circumstances we do not know about. Shoes we have not filled. Who are we to make judgements on her character and professional pedigree based on a picture? A line needs to be drawn. One commenter made an excellent point, that if the group who posted the picture was only interested in just cause, then they should have sent it to the officials who needed to see it, not give it to the local papers and post it on Facebook and Twitter. Counter arguments to this statement were of course made by the people in the Canada Court Watch group as to why they chose the route they did. I was irritated.

Then it got worse. And I became infuriated when I read the first Reader's Comment:

Brianne Billet stated:

"You know, I'm sure that she was tired from her long "12 hour shifts" but has anyone ever looked at the "real" citizens that work 12 hour shifts on a daily basis to bring enough money home to support their families, then go out with their children and finish off the evening, then back to work for another 12 hours the next day? I'm so incredibly dissapointed with the NRP and its officers, there should be no reason what-so-ever for this woman to be sleeping in a patrol car, its just another reason why men are more apt for certain jobs as they can carry their exhaustion better. There is NEVER an excuse for behaviour like this. If she was that exhausted, she should have gone home for the day as she would be putting other civilians and officers in jeopardy during any calls due to the fact that she is that "exhausted" from her "12-hour shifts" that she has to sleep during her lunch break.

Lunch breaks are just for that... Lunch.

I am a Woman from St.Catharines who firmly believes that if a Woman cannot pull the same hours and the same dedication to the jobs that men have for so many years been dedicated to with their lives, then I urge the City staffers as well as the Officials to begin regulating again which jobs should and should not be able to accept female applicants. Ladies, if you cannot give the dedication you need to, go home and raise children, make a beautiful garden and take care of your husbands the way you all should all be doing."

I support freedom of speech, differing opinions, opposite beliefs. We all choose political parties and religion. Each are a major component of our society, but jeez, be respectful. Make your point but don't push your beliefs on others unless your opinion or advice is asked for. After several responses Brianne Billet went on to say:

"I have been fotunate to become blessed with 3 pregnancies, 5 children and 1 beautiful surviving girl who is exceptionally bright, I pride myself in being a stay at home mother.
To be able to be there for my child whenever or for whatever she needs from me is the most rewarding and fulfilling job that I could ever ask for.
I'm very well aware that not all women feel like I do and that's fine. But in this day in age, so many women are accused of being feminists and so on and so forth.

I'd like to know why I have to feel ashamed about my morals, and my beliefs? I firmly believe such jobs as firefighting, policing, construction work etc. would be better served by hiring male applicants only.

Over the years, I've noticed something... How many of our Grandparents, or Great-Grandparents had ever been divorced? how many of our parents had dto live in single parent homes? not many. Women in that time of our past were more docile, and content to stay at home and take care of their families, instead of "wanting more"

If you "wanted more" you shouldnt have spread your legs to procreate another life, whose independance and intellect depend on the parenting and the involvement of who else?.... their mothers; from the start of life on.

NF 2012;
I am proud of my morals, and where I keep my values and beliefs, and I will not be forced to change them just for the idea of keeping another feminist "comfortable"."

I did take a deep breath (actually about 10) and considered that it is possible that Brianne Billet may not exist. That it might not be her in the picture. Those comments could have been made by anyone. A man. A woman. An interested party who wants to stir up controversy. Who really knows. Regardless, I don't even know where to go with these statements! They are derogatory and irrelevant to the actual issue trying to be brought to light by the activists, which is likely making it 10x worse for the cop. Despite the fact that her ideals are somewhat connected to the picture, come on, really...Brianne is opening up a whole different can of worms. Feminism and woman's rights vs. a sleeping on-duty cop. Oi!

Here is the latest article:

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2012/06/19/nrp-reviewing-sleeping-cop-case

With that, I will leave you to develop your own opinions if you so chose. I just hope that they are formed with a critical mind and that if you are so inclined to share them, that you do so respectfully. Otherwise I will have to continue to be concerned for the society that Brennan will be growing up in.