It's not clear from Tits Mcgee's letter why only the police should police and investigate themselves. That's a major part of the problem we have in this city, and it's the reason the City has worked to develop greater oversight. The problem is that they haven't done nearly enough. This "impression" that the police are doing their best is based on what exactly? How do we know what's going on when the Independent Police Review Division throws out most complaints of police misconduct?

@Geyser - From your response, I'm not sure you read his letter at all. He says the opposite of what you're claiming he says: "Somebody should definitely investigate and report fuck-ups." He does NOT say or imply that 'only police should investigate police,' as you claim.

His main point is - if you're not happy with the job they're doing, why don't you go enlist? Do YOU want that job, for that salary? If you think you could do better than these guys, please do so! We always need good cops - go be one! He finishes by saying 'police departments do the best they can with the people they can recruit.'

It says that if someone is concerned about police misconduct, then they should join the force so that they can report said misconduct. Saying, "join up" because "somebody should definitely investigate" implies that police are the ones who should investigate it. Otherwise, why would someone join the police force in order to do so? It assumes that there is no role in oversight for anyone outside the police. And even if good people joined the force, there would still be bad cops. I'm all for good people joining the force, obviously, but we've got to confront these problems in other ways. Responding to people concerned about questionable deaths in police custody, "Well, you go be a cop then!" isn't constructive.

Mark Abell sounds like an asshole whereas Jamdox is awesome. Get bent Abell - since when do you get to decide what art is to anyone else but your sorry self?

Mark Abell, you sir are a dumbass.

I'm curious as to why The Mercury has decided to entitle Luka's comment "No Questions Asked," since he has clearly *invited* questions. Huh.
Furthermore, Luka has a point. ALL people deserve respect and dignity. Anyone who associates being trans with being mentally ill clearly doesn't understand the issue.
I was disappointed (understatement) to see the July 7th letter, in which a gay man disparaged the trans community... whatever happened to united we stand, divided we fall?? To equal rights for LGBT?

I read an interview with Fassbinder once where he claimed there is no one in our society who isn't mentally ill. It rang true.
I don't understand the big deal about about calling tran a mental issue. It certainly isn't a physical one, at least in the sense that all the plumbling seems to work just fine but just don't want what's there.
All dignity and respect to those, of course.

Dear Luka, First off, I don't hate you or care about how you dress, talk, act or fuck.
Second, first you state very 'matter of factly' that transidentity disorder is indeed just that, a real life psychological disorder and that that fact is inarguable. Then you seem to imply that it is not a disorder and it is just like homosexuality, and that anyone who would refer to it as a disorder is a hateful bigot. Are you referring to the doctors or yourself?
Anyway, The real problem here is the sense of entitlement the man (I have no problem calling him that.) in the article had, to the point where he thought his insurance company should pay for his cosmetic surgery. 80% of the population has things they don't like about their body but insurance companies are not responsible for giving everyone the body they desire. Just because you announce to the world "I'm trans! I have deep-seated psychological issues!" That doesn't make you special. If you want to remove completely healthy parts of your body, that's fine, but you have to foot the bill. Also, don't call yourself mentally ill in order to get free surgery and then start yelling at other people for calling you mentally ill.

I think there has been enough written on the subject of Elective Genetal Mutilation to call into question the entire practice itself.

"I think there has been enough written on the subject of Elective Genetal Mutilation to call into question the entire practice itself."

Seriously! Wait, we're talking about male circumcision here right?

That too...