AOL – by Ryan GormanThe New York Police Department social media strategy got the force in hot water again on Monday.
NYPD Twitter accounts have endured a series of well-documented fails in recent months, and a precinct did not do itself any favors Monday when it tweeted Jack Nicholson’s famous courtroom rant from the blockbuster movie “A Few Good Men.”
The midtown precinct, which covers Times Square, among other areas, fired off a since-deleted “motivational” tweet citing the famous movie monologue. The post was first flagged by Slate.
The rant tweeted by police comes from the courtroom scene where Col. Nathan Jessup, Nicholson’s character, explains the rationale behind a “code red” order issued at a Marine base.
Jessup’s infamous diatribe justifies the extreme violence used against the innocent man that led to his death.
NYPD officers have come under fire, and intense protests, in the wake of Staten Island man Eric Garner dying shortly after being arrested.
Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee (Tom Cruise): I think I’m entitled to them.
Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessep: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Jessep: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Jessep: You’re goddamn right I did!!
This has video of the monologue:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/15/nypd-tweets-you-cant-handle-the-truth-speech-for-motivational-monday/
Thanks Angel
As you can see from my comment history, I love the written word.
It allows me to put myself in the writers shoes, rather than the actors. I can explore a dozen different nuances, “You talkin’ me — Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well I’m the only one here..”
Let’s see now, average IQ of a “flatfoot”, maybe 85-95. That’s on the cusp or just bordering retarded in psychobabble. That gives a perfect explanation for shooting themselves in the foot.
“It’s worth noting that Midtown South’s Commanding Officer Edward Winski, whose photo is on the precinct’s Twitter profile, gained notoriety during the Occupy Wall Street protests for his allegedly heavy-handed tactics. On one occasion Winski was seen on video roughly arresting an activist who was merely videotaping a protest. That’s how you handle the truth!”
http://gothamist.com/2014/12/15/u_cant_handle_the_tweet.php