Posted on Nov 24, 2014
How do we heal after the Ferguson grand jury decision?
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It will take quite a bit to get past this. There are those out there who want there to be a confrontation and they want to cause trouble, and they will be the reason our country will have a difficult time healing. Without people taking accountability for their actions, they will always blame the police, other people, or society in general for their shortcomings. Will we move forward, possibly. How will we move forward? That is to be determined.
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Photo: Police officer and young demonstrator share hug during Ferguson rally in Portland
A powerful image, shot by freelance photographer Johnny Nguyen, shows Sgt. Bret Barnum (left) hugging Devonte Hart during the Ferguson demonstration in Portland on Nov. 25, 2014.
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I dont think this will ever end per say, even though blacks are no longer minorities they still want the laws to help them get through life as minorities. As long as sides are taken people will always hate. I personally think its time to let it go from both sides, stop being so damn stupid, stop forming Armies and mobs and live together at peace with each other but blind stupid pride from both sides will not it happen.
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Parents need to teach their children morals and how to be an overall good productive citizen. That is one way we can move on. Another way we can move on is to accept the truth about Michael Brown. He was a criminal, and before he failed to follow instructions from Officer Darrel Wilson and then attacking him, he committed a strong armed robbery and assault. His actions cost him his life which is unfortunate.
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Great now the jihadists are trying to recruit....
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/11/27/global-jihadists-tweet-in-bid-to-recruit-ferguson-protesters/
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/11/27/global-jihadists-tweet-in-bid-to-recruit-ferguson-protesters/
Global jihadists tweet in bid to recruit Ferguson protesters
Islamic jihadists worldwide have launched a barrage of recruitment messages amid the latest unrest in Ferguson, Mo., using Twitter accounts to call on African-Americans and others in the United States to join their cause.
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This is something I posted, and is generally where I stand. As a nation I don't know how we will move forward. But I doubt it will be how we should.
Let me be clear, there is an epidemic problem with racism in law enforcement. Something that really needs to change. Many police forces have already started drastic change. However, many communities can't afford to take the necessary actions to do so. I read one police chief's problem where he had 10 openings on his force, all white applicants, the police force was already over 90% white, and the community was only 17% white. With the prejudices that exist in this country, that's a problem.
If the protest today and yesterday in Portland was bout fixing that problem, I wouldn't object, I might even join it. But it wasn't. People that argue that it was are kidding themselves. I walked through it, I read the signs and listened to the chants. It was about disagreeing with the Grand Jury's decision, and establishing that all police officers are evil. Which is stupid. The case went to the Justice department, which is more daylight then the vast majority of these cases see. The impartial grand jury sees more evidence then any of us, or the media. They chose not to prosecute. It wasn't a D.A. or a police investigator. It was an impartial jury of our peers. Anyone who disagrees with that process, and thinks someone should be prosecuted despite a grand jury decision, really needs to leave the U.S., your citizenship and rights are being wasted if you don't believe in them.
Again if this was about positive change I would support it. But it wasn't. It was about mongering hate for the police and the system. Which makes the people participating no better then those already hating. The people that effected great change in our society have done so through courage, love and compassion, not anger, fear and hate.
I hope everyone remembers that police officers are by and large good people. Some are bad, just as some in any profession are bad. Though they are sworn to protect us. They've taken an oath most would never take. If you want to change this epidemic that has gone on longer then we've been a nation, do so positively, with that in mind. Do that, and you have at least my support.
Let me be clear, there is an epidemic problem with racism in law enforcement. Something that really needs to change. Many police forces have already started drastic change. However, many communities can't afford to take the necessary actions to do so. I read one police chief's problem where he had 10 openings on his force, all white applicants, the police force was already over 90% white, and the community was only 17% white. With the prejudices that exist in this country, that's a problem.
If the protest today and yesterday in Portland was bout fixing that problem, I wouldn't object, I might even join it. But it wasn't. People that argue that it was are kidding themselves. I walked through it, I read the signs and listened to the chants. It was about disagreeing with the Grand Jury's decision, and establishing that all police officers are evil. Which is stupid. The case went to the Justice department, which is more daylight then the vast majority of these cases see. The impartial grand jury sees more evidence then any of us, or the media. They chose not to prosecute. It wasn't a D.A. or a police investigator. It was an impartial jury of our peers. Anyone who disagrees with that process, and thinks someone should be prosecuted despite a grand jury decision, really needs to leave the U.S., your citizenship and rights are being wasted if you don't believe in them.
Again if this was about positive change I would support it. But it wasn't. It was about mongering hate for the police and the system. Which makes the people participating no better then those already hating. The people that effected great change in our society have done so through courage, love and compassion, not anger, fear and hate.
I hope everyone remembers that police officers are by and large good people. Some are bad, just as some in any profession are bad. Though they are sworn to protect us. They've taken an oath most would never take. If you want to change this epidemic that has gone on longer then we've been a nation, do so positively, with that in mind. Do that, and you have at least my support.
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree with the bulk of the latter half of your response but I have to heavily disagree with part of it. While I don't doubt there is still some racism in the country, I do NOT believe it is as prevalent or epidemic as some may believe. What IS an epidemic is the willingness of many to fall into the trap of "groupthink" without knowing all the facts.
Let me illustrate the point by partially using your example of the police chief's problem. How is his situation a problem? If the vast majority of people who are applying for an opening happen to be white does not mean there is prejudice or racism.
This next part is JUST an example. Let's say for instance with his 10 openings he had a total of 20 applications. Out of those 30 applications, let's say all 30 are white. This just tells me that no blacks, Asians, Latinos, etc were interested in the job. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Let's mix it up. Say out of those 30 applications, 20 are black and 10 are white. Should all 10 openings be filled by blacks because they compromised the majority who applied? No. The openings should be filled by those who are the most, best qualified for the position regardless of their skin color. If the best ten are all black, so what? What if the best qualified happen to be the ten white ones? Again, so what. I want the best qualified person to fill a position. Does this always occur? Of course not but I believe that in most instances it does.
Let me illustrate the point by partially using your example of the police chief's problem. How is his situation a problem? If the vast majority of people who are applying for an opening happen to be white does not mean there is prejudice or racism.
This next part is JUST an example. Let's say for instance with his 10 openings he had a total of 20 applications. Out of those 30 applications, let's say all 30 are white. This just tells me that no blacks, Asians, Latinos, etc were interested in the job. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Let's mix it up. Say out of those 30 applications, 20 are black and 10 are white. Should all 10 openings be filled by blacks because they compromised the majority who applied? No. The openings should be filled by those who are the most, best qualified for the position regardless of their skin color. If the best ten are all black, so what? What if the best qualified happen to be the ten white ones? Again, so what. I want the best qualified person to fill a position. Does this always occur? Of course not but I believe that in most instances it does.
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I don't have a one-solution solves all answer. The issues between the black and white communities in Ferguson, MO must be fixed. You cannot make me believe that having a minority white group with all the power, authority and money controlling and dictating how things are done in a majority black community will ever be done fairly or with an even hand.
However, with that said, destructiive protest solves very little. It certainly sells newspapers and puts a situation on the 24/7 news rotation - but it solves nothing.
Somewhere in the middle of all this are a few individuals, both black and white, that are seeking common ground and working towards a different future. They are staying away from the limelight and cameras .... and to truely be successful, they MUST stay out of the cameras eyes until conversations have developed enough to come to the forefront.
Heal? Only time will heal. But in the meantime, everyone involved must seek out answers to all the problems in that community - not just a few, but all the problems.
However, with that said, destructiive protest solves very little. It certainly sells newspapers and puts a situation on the 24/7 news rotation - but it solves nothing.
Somewhere in the middle of all this are a few individuals, both black and white, that are seeking common ground and working towards a different future. They are staying away from the limelight and cameras .... and to truely be successful, they MUST stay out of the cameras eyes until conversations have developed enough to come to the forefront.
Heal? Only time will heal. But in the meantime, everyone involved must seek out answers to all the problems in that community - not just a few, but all the problems.
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