I think Teasle made a slight error in judgment
It probably would have been best to let John Rambo get a meal at the local restaurant.
Considering the events that transpired later Teasle made a slight error in judgment.
Correct?
Yes. Very correct. I never understood what his problem was with Rambo. I now know that Teasle was mad because the war he served in didn't get as much attention. But even if that was the case...arrested for vagrancy? All I saw Rambo doing was walking.
shareI never understood what his problem was with Rambo.
It was his appearance. His long hair and the flag on his jacket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNOrPXvnIg4 share
I know that's what he said his problem was. But was his long hair reason to turn the town upside down?? That's what I meant when I said I didn't understand what his problem was.
shareHe thought he looked like a criminal. So he treated him like one. After he finds out he's a Vietnam War vet he acts like a jealous jerk and refuses to listen to a stinking thing Trautman says.
Green Goblin is great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1L4ZuaVvaw
99% of Cops know the difference between a tramp and a bum. A bum is looking for handouts and really doesn't care about himself or others. A tramp is living a transient life and will accept either handouts or work. Many tramps travel til they're out of money, then stay in flophouses and work until they build up a poke, then hit the road again. Rambo is clearly a tramp and would be accorded a measure of respect by the vast majority of LEOs. Most, not all. Some LEOs respect nobody and are the ones deserving of the scorn they get.
I'll share an encounter between a tramp and a Missouri county sheriff I witnessed in 1984, a couple of years after the release of First Blood. The sheriff was alerted one evening by the sheriff's office of the county just to the east about a transient they'd given a lift to the county line, headed into his county now. The sheriff was having a slow night, as usual, so he went to the county line and offered the transient a lift. Yes, he was scoping him out. He made clear to the guy that he was not ordering him to accept the ride, but if he'd like a lift, he could get him to town. The sheriff did not request ID or search him or even ask him his name. The guy accepted the ride (I was along as a civilian) and as we rode back into town we all chatted in friendly fashion. The guy was in his mid-20's and was just traveling the country as a lark for about 2 years. As we approached town the sheriff asked him if he had money to eat on, if he didn't, he'd buy him supper, whatever he wanted. The guy accepted the offer of supper at a local cafe' (it happened to be operated by my aunt), which was provided out of the sheriff's own pocket, not county funds.
During the meal which we all shared sitting together at a table, the sheriff asked him if he would like to stay overnight. The motel could put him up, but it would cost about $20. If he didn't have money, he could let him sleep on the sofa in his outer office. The tramp declined, saying he'd just keep going west. The sheriff offered to give him a lift to the west county line, which the tramp accepted. As we rode west, the sheriff contacted the next county over and said he was dropping a traveling man off at the county line.
End of event as I witnessed it. I'm pretty sure somebody from the next county over met the guy and offered him the same things. There was absolutely no heavy handedness on the part of any LEO in this situation. However, if the guy had been troublesome or out of whack, I'm pretty certain he'd have been dealt with lawfully but with respect.
So in my view, having seen what's possible and probably likely, Teasle was way out of line from the very beginning and the movie flows rather logically as a result. I'd have been pissed off about the treatment, too, if I was Rambo.
I've stated this before and I'll state this error. Sheriff Teasle may have made a slight error in judgement, but John Rambo also made an error as well in that he could have at least tried to be more professional, respectful, and courteous to the Sheriff by making a statement such as:
"Sheriff, I'm very hungry right now and I'd like to get a bite to eat at that fast food restaurant over there. As soon as I'm done, then I'll be on my way."
It was definitely worth at try to make a statement like that to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
John is a man of few words though.
shareI've stated this before and I'll state this error. Sheriff Teasle may have made a slight error in judgement, but John Rambo also made an error as well in that he could have at least tried to be more professional, respectful, and courteous to the Sheriff by making a statement such as:
"Sheriff, I'm very hungry right now and I'd like to get a bite to eat at that fast food restaurant over there. As soon as I'm done, then I'll be on my way."
No offense but there was nothing impolite about the way he asked Teasle for a bite to eat. Teasle was just a no good stinking jerk and a complete disgrace as both a police officer and a person. There was no good stinking reason for him to not let Rambo get a bite to eat in town. He also comments when he brings Rambo in and gets asked who he is, "Another smart ass drifter." indicating he has made up charges against anyone who is homeless that is walking through his town.
He's a no good stinking jerk and I doubt he's ever given a single cent to a charity and probably has never tried to help out a homeless person. It's a shame cause in the book he actually lets Rambo get a bite to eat in town and doesn't arrest him til he tries to come back into town after that. Also unlike the movie, in the book,Teasle actually listens to Trautman and feels bad about how he treated Rambo. Also unlike movie Teasle he's not jealous of Rambo's Congressional Medal of Honor.
Green Goblin is great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1L4ZuaVvaw share
The book had Rambo in more the antagonist role.
share