A Nation Reels from Police Brutality

In medical terms, the nation has been in status epilepticus – an unrelenting seizure - since the cruel and cowardly killing of George Floyd, an act of evil that we have all witnessed on tape repeatedly.

First, there was the brazen killing of an unarmed man who was already lying face down in handcuffs while a police officer pressed his neck into the pavement.  All the while the officer’s hand was comfortably planted in his pocket, a casual pose that one might expect from an officer ambling down the street greeting folks passing by.  Three of the officer’s confederates hovered over the scene.  Was Mr. Floyd a flight risk?  While I am not a law enforcement professional, Mr. Floyd did not appear to be combative or resisting?

This violence was perpetrated by one who was sworn to protect and serve all of us, including Mr. Floyd.

Protests erupted throughout the nation and beyond our borders.  While Mr. Floyd's passing may have been the spark, the story started hundreds of years ago.

And, there was also violence and looting.

And, there was a reaction to the violence and looting.

And, yes, there was a reaction to the reaction to the violence and looting.

And, so it goes.

How will we find a way out?

Through it all, the nation is headed by one who gives voice and space to the darker angels of our nature.

Astonishingly, for a week or so, COVID-19 was pushed to the back pages of our attention.

Much of the nation who are not black are accepting the existence of structural racism whose roots sprouted here over 400 years ago.  The issue is longer, wider and deeper than we can fathom. And, we have made real progress over the past several decades.  Let’s acknowledge this as we also accept the challenge to pursue fairness and justice.  Making progress will take strength, pain, perseverance, frustration, understanding, protests, compromise, reform, disappointment, fairness, tolerance and, perhaps most importantly,  the ability and willingness to consider an issue from another’s point of view. 

The task is beyond the abilities of any one person to accomplish.  And, we may not personally witness its completion.  

As written in the Jewish Talmud, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.