The gifted neighbor who sang this for me reminded that we did a nod to the influence of his roles like the specificity of "Serpico" on Pacino's mega-premium smash hit "Merchant of Venice"
"Shylock" - to tune of Skylark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATx9lb04HIw
Thank you Mr. Serpico for your integrity. You will long be remembered for doing the right thing. Peace.
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Coming back to the New York section later in the day:
Now it seems a Victor Mateo repeatedly drove over and machete-slashed his estranged wife.
In full view of neighbors and family.
Aren't we tired of enraged, out-of-control men mauling and murdering women? Really, there has to be something more than 1-3 year sentences for assault or, in the case of murder, a psychiatric ward or 15 years in jail -- if society is lucky.
Well, then, B., what do you propose we do with them.
One knows but cannot say.
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Detective Serpico was as courageous as he was honest. But in the 1970s, a whistle blower such as Serpico could count on an independent media who would report police corruption and make possible the Knapp Commission . . . . Today, however the financial situation of the press is precarious. Once lucrative, they are now dependent on loans from banks. These banks are in turn are hooked on the narco dollars from big time dealers who are protected by the New York police. The interstice between the NYPD and the drug dealers are the motorcycle gangs, who include as members both police and dealers, and who operate with impunity in the city's ghettos. . . . Since the 19th century, American cities have been run by partnerships of financial/real estate interests, local newspapers, the police and criminal syndicates. But the abandonment of their customary watch dog role over the police by the press is another symptom of our country's drift toward police worship, militarism and, in a word, Fascism.
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@Red Allover - regarding "Today, however the financial situation of the press is precarious."
That's why we need to go to the high-ticket ads, and click early and click often. For some reason, maybe because I comment crabbily about premium theater pricing so much, I get all these ads for stuff I couldn't ever afford - but I figure it helps the paper get more ads for high-ticket items to get clicks from this site, so I browse a few seconds anyway. :)
It does look like there are more ads, at least on the desktop, so I like to think I did my part!
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@Freddie Agree but I wish they would offer a membership model or a tiered pricing option. I'd gladly pay more for ad free reading. The proliferation has become beyond obnoxious.
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The closing statement suggesting that the political parties compromise suggests that Mr. Serpico's is no more intelligent than anyone else. This sentiment has been expressed for decades, and everybody avoids the inconvenient truth by blaming the other party for nefarious political strategies - dirty tricks.
The inconvenient truth is that the entire three levels of the government are systemically flawed, because even the best and noblest of statesmen did not have the complete information necessary for ordering more reliable charters, and subsequently, more reliable government operations. Although, the subsisting charter system has effectively served the start-up of the new nation, the basic model is an inadequate organizational structure, because it lacks an aligned subdivision of the three parts. The amendments that have been enacted in an effort to relieve what seemed to be problems with the original structure, such as, the appointment process for the federal Senate and limiting the population of the House of Representatives, have essentially compounded the structural problems that provide the opportunities for corruption. Furthermore, the antiquated system designed for a different era of sophistication has unwittingly instituted contradiction as a cultural mores.
You want an honest and "transparent," then we need to have a constitutional convention series for all three levels of the government: municipalities, states, and federal. It is an inevitability.
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These days it's hard not to think of the White House whistleblower as anything other than a true patriot.
This is a person who knew what to do when he saw not only our country's fate, but the state of our Democracy at risk.
This has nothing to do with being a Republican or a Democrat and everything to do with being an AMERICAN.
Thank you, Sir.
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I’m sympathetic about everything Serpico said and stands for, but his last comment where he wonders why the parties can’t work together shows he hasn’t been paying much attention to the news these past few years. The reason there isn’t bipartisanship in Washington is simple: the GOP is no longer a conventional political party but a radical faction hostile to the rule of law and to democratic norms and traditions. Since taking over the House in January, Democrats have passed 275 bills on everything from expanded federal background checks on gun purchasers to green energy, and the GOP Senate has killed every one. The responsibility for government dysfunction lies solely at the feet of Republicans.
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@AlNewman - raegrding "his last comment where he wonders why the parties can’t work together shows he hasn’t been paying much attention to the news these past few years". -
It feel like even in the 1960s, Mr. Serpico knew well about politics, but it sounds like a "why" of dismay. Somehow, it takes a certain kind of ego to be willing to go through an election process, and that means we don't always get the most honest or humble people in office. (Other than Jimmy Carter, I cannot think of one in my lifetime, and look what happened when he ran for another term. I believe, though well never know, Hubert Humphrey would have been that, but we got Richard Nixon.)
I took that "Why?" not as him wondering, but more like when I wanted to say about even Gov. Cuomo the other day "So incredibly much that I like in his policies and goals for the State. But why can't he be honorable like his Dad?" or something like that. I know why, because that's never who he's been all the previous eight years but we the people still re-elected him by acclamation even against a popular smart celebrity who seemed so honest. It's just like the person we date and fall for and marry thinking we can change the aspects we don't like while keeping what we do like, but he/she is what he/she is.
Or even a parent to a kid, "Why can't you wipe that junk off your shoes before coming into the house?" They come into the House, Senate or White House with all the junk - even the Supreme Court, maybe?
9
So let's see. Mr. Allasheed Allah was so enraged by the sight of a woman kissing another woman on the cheek -- something that must happen thousands of times every day in New York City alone -- women meeting up with old friends, women at office parties, women saying goodbye on subway platforms, women offering sympathy at life's set-backs -- he was so enraged that he had to pursue her and then shove her into a platform column.
And his fury was fueled by his religion. He felt the women disrespected him and his faith. Despite a guilty plea, it is what he based his excuse on -- his feeling of being disrespected.
This is some dangerous guy. He has no self control. One to three years in prison aren't enough.
This story should be (but will not be) a lesson to those who prize their feelings above rationality and law.
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