Officers at police departments across the country keep murdering unarmed black men with impunity, many of whom are then aquitted of any wrongdoing. This is a timebomb ticking. Am I anti-blue, absolutely not, but as they say, "Houston, we have a problem."
It is an absurd concept to tell a a group of "citizens" that their rights can be swept away along with their lives in an instant, the most extensive lawlessness imaginable, yet then when they protest point at the group as lawless. Or worse, whn they riot. And that is the ony place this is headed if things don't change.
In the most recent case of Philadro Castile, the officer claimed he feared for his life. Hmm. Mr. Castile was in the passenger seat, his girlfirend driving, and her child in the back seat. Not exactly a car of thugs.
Mr. Castile told the officer calmly and politely that he has a "licensed" firearm. When he reached, slowly, for the license and registration -- as the police officer instructed him to do --, the officer then panicked, started yelling and shot the man dead, seven times.
Th group you'd thnk that woul dcome racing to condem the police actions is that group that LOVES guns and the right for everyone to have one, the NRA. Here was a licensed gun owner murdered in his own car. Certainly the NRA would be outraged? No. Nothing. Silent.
Was the officer racist? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. People say not to classify cops as racist or not, that they're all just "blue." O.K. then the question isn't was he racist, but was he cut out for the high-pressure responsibilites of being a cop? The answer is a resounding no.
But we can't turn our head and pretend that an inocent, unarmed man just had his entire life snatched from him, because a cop got scared and "fered for his life." That just isn't a catch-all excuse that can be used over and over in every situation.
To give him a pass, to look the other way, to pretend it doesn't affect you is blind and rediculous. This growing problem in America, separate and apart from the already deep divides in this country, are going to ignite and tear this country apart.
Police officers have a tough job, no doubt, and I salute those that wear the uniform each day. But when they put on that uniform that also take on enormous responsiblity, because whether they act out of courage, fear, suspecion, anger or level-headed resolve, what they do saves or takes lives.
If we as a country continue to look the other way, this community is going to continully be pushed further and further into a corner. And if nature has shown us anything, it's that anyone -- man or beast -- pushed into a corner will eventually bite back.
I seriously hope we don't return to the days of riots of the 1960's, or the likes of the Compton riots across the country before we come to the realization that we can't simply sweep legalized murder under a rug and pretend nothing happened.
Foot note, on July 21, a Milwakee officer was aquitted for shooting death of Sylville Smith. I don't know the particulars, so i am neither advocating or denouncing that verdict.
Comments
Post a Comment