Instead of healing wounds, of late, time just gives us reasons to create new, tragic ones, so perhaps we can agree on a few basic principles: 1. ALL lives matter. Stop putting a color into the conversation. Its disrespectful. 2. All are entitled to their opinions, and we should respect those whose are different than ours. At the same time, if were going to share an opinion, we should make sure its an informed one. Dont parrot second hand news. Be an historian. Go to the source information, not the rhetoric. 3. I have done that on Ferguson. I have read all of the released information, and I say this as a professional. Regardless of race, that case should never have gone to a grand jury. There was no evidence of a crime. There was ample evidence of a tragedy. In this instance, those are different things. 4. Ferguson is unique. We do not get a look into what grand juries hear in any other instance. Therefore, we have to trust them. You may not like their decision, but you also dont have the evidence. And, as with Ferguson, many times the evidence and the rhetoric are vastly different. 5. I do not care who you are or why you do it. If you shoot two people execution style in a public street, regardless of the victims professions, you are not fit to live freely, if you are fit to live at all. 6. There is racism in society. It exists in all professions, including those that protect us. When it surfaces, it should be called out and not tolerated. But, racism is a mindset, not a result. An accusation of racism cannot be a default response to tragedy. That minimizes the scourge that racism is. And yes, I know thats idealistic on both sides - many will not fight racism where it exists and may others will allege racism where it doesnt. All I can do about that is aspire not to commit either of these sins. 7. Destroying people or property because you do not agree with these or other opinions expressed by me, grand jurors, or others is not an appropriate response. EVER. 8. Many class acts appear in the face of tragedy. Remember them. Then, aspire to class before there is tragedy. That way, we may avert some tragedy. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 13:22:12 +0000
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