Accepting Quote by Gerry Spence
“Nearly every day on the television set the hero cop breaks into the bad guy's house and beats a confession out of him and we cheer on the cop. Propaganda smears our clear vision. It causes us to accept the diminishment of our constitutional protections as something to be lauded - after all, the cop was protecting us.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: American Bar Association, 1993
Media glorifies police violence, eroding civil liberties under the guise of protection.
In simple terms: Media glorifies police, weakening rights.
Critically evaluate media portrayals of law enforcement.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- courtroom advocacy
- public policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape your view of police?
- What safeguards protect constitutional rights?
Some view strong policing as necessary for safety.