Stop MORE Snitchin'
CBS' "60 Minutes" had a segment last night addressing what has become a combination of cultural imperative and viral marketing campaign: the "Stop Snitchin'" movement.* As CBS points out, it used to mean "don't tell on others if you're caught committing a crime," but it now means "don't cooperate with the police, period," even if you're just an innocent bystander. And apparently it's intended to cover everything from drive-by shootings to corporate and governmental fraud.
Folks, that way lies real anarchy, not the fake punk rock kind, and if it happens you are much more likely to lose than win.
After the incident at Guilford College earlier this year, I wrote a bit about the obligations of being a grownup. Part of being a grownup is being a snitch. And I'm not just saying that because I count on news tips for a living. I mean that there are bad people in the world who will never be held to account if you don't step up and open your mouth, or at least drop the incriminating documents in the mail to someone who will know what to do with them.
The rule of law is a fragile thing, and right now it is trying to hold itself up against many forces that want it broken. If you want to keep that from happening, start snitching. And then look around you and see what needs snitching about, and keep snitching. Heck, fight the power trend and make yourself a "Keep Snitchin'" t-shirt. Write a rap song that urges listeners to keep snitchin'. You want to be cutting-edge? That'll do it.
Ain't nothing riding on this but the future of the country, and this is one area in which one person can make a difference. You're a grownup? Go make a difference, then.
Hold. Them. Accountable.**
*Hat tip: Ed
**Make that one a t-shirt, too.