So You Want a Conversation?

We’ve all heard about the shootings of unarmed black men in this country. We’ve seen endless disrespect shown to protesters as they make their voices heard, and to media who cover these situations. The notion that a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich falls away as none of these officers are held to account for their behavior. SWAT teams can throw flash bang grenades into homes when raiding them, harming innocent children and nothing is done about it. Never mind that they never seem to find the person they’re looking for, and the families are left holding the bag.

It’s become an us versus them environment in some cities, pitting police against pretty much everyone. It doesn’t help when representatives of law enforcement appear on news programs spewing all kinds of disrespectful nonsense about the people involved. It also doesn’t help when the prosecutor in the Michael Brown case gives an interview where he glibly admits he knowingly put lying witnesses in front of the grand jury.

How is justice supposed to work in this country again? Did we not learn the lessons of the past? Racial animosity destroys everything. Any kind of discrimination does, regardless of the type. The Oregonian published a letter written by the Portland Police Bureau President about the shooting of the two NYPD officers, asking for the community to come together for a conversation. He wants everyone to talk about how we should be supporting our police better, and to acknowledge the positive work they do in the community. While I’ve known many police officers over the years and agree with him to a point, he must understand that it was police action that has brought us here. None of this happened in a vacuum. The letter he wrote seems to be missing that fact. It’s as if he wants to control the narrative of the conversations we’re all supposed to be having now, leaving out the one thing we don’t want to face in this country. Racism is alive and well, and to assume that’s not in play in at least some of these incidents would a lie. And we all know it.

The election of Barack Obama was a turning point for this country, and for all of us as Americans. It proved that we can move past racial barriers that should never have existed in the first place and elect someone qualified irrespective of skin color. But it also revealed much about who we still apparently are. And that’s uncomfortable. Instead of writing a letter saying that we need to come together and talk about how we support each other, the PPB President wants to talk about how we support and respect the police department. Probably should have left that part out of his letter.

I’m glad the police officers in Portland who were in visible support of Darren Wilson were told to stop. That’s a plus. I have no idea if the officers in question are racist, but neutrality should be in order given the emotional nature of this. That they had to be told to stop, however, is of concern.

Yes, we need a conversation. Yes, we need it now. However, if a culture of hatred exists toward the police in this country, as opined by the PPB President, it’s due to police behavior, not the media, or the public, or the politicians. We’re just the people you’re paid to protect. When you want to have that discussion, let us know.

 

Here’s a link to the Oregonian article.. Portland police union president blames ‘media, politicians, community activists’ for fueling anti-police hatred, shooting of 2 NYPD officers