Saturday, August 16, 2014

Thoughts on the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson Missouri

An unfortunate situation has taken place in our community.  When those who are sworn to protect and serve are faced with an impossible choice, to use deadly force or not to use deadly force. 

Because of this impossible choice a young man, Michael Brown, is dead and a police officer’s life has changed forever. Two families are facing the terrible.  One the untimely death of a son. The other the feelings of guilt and dread over the taking of a life.

We will never know the complete truth of what happened that night as Michael Brown is not alive to tell us what his thoughts were and why he did what he did.  Earlier in the evening he had stolen a seemingly small dollar item, a box of cigars. Yes, he intimidated the storeowner and that is uncalled for (this fact was admitted in public by the friend with Michael that night).

Maybe those actions lead him to another poor action when the officer confronted him, we will never know.

But having worked as a Chaplain for twelve years with police officers I know that they do not desire to inflict harm.  They do not go out on their shift looking for someone to hurt.  The majority of them truly serve because they want to protect the public. But when faced with a life-threatening situation they will react and they will react as they were trained.  That sometimes ends in the death of a citizen.

Now, the question comes, why is our community responding with hurt and pain and anger?  Why are there destruction of property and the looting of stores?  What does that accomplish?  I understand the pain and anger from people who feel disenfranchised by those in authority, but in a civilized, educated society I would hope that we would behave better and be able to come to the table and dialogue about what happened.

If the officer acted poorly and abused the use of power he will be dealt with.  If he acted within his authority let us remember that we the people are the ones that gave him that authority in the first place. 

I think it is a sobering fact to realize that out of the first 47 arrests that were made in Ferguson during the looting that 34 of those people had previous criminal pasts and that they didn’t even live in the Ferguson community.  They came from outside the community to inflict the damage and try to gain some material gain.

Ferguson is a good community.  It is filled with kind, generous, loving people who are good neighbors to each other.  They want their community back from those who seek to bring harm to others.

Why does the media report all the violence and crime, but they refused to report the good that is happening?  Why don’t they report of the prayer meeting at First Baptist Church of Ferguson that saw over 400 people, both black and white, come together to pray together and seek God’s guidance together.  Eight pastors lead this evening, four black, four white.  Why didn’t the media show that positive event?

Then what about the groups of church members and community groups who have come together to serve the community by cleaning up the areas that have been destroyed? What about the citizens that have come together to try and protect business from being looted by non-violently standing vigil at the stores?

Don’t let the media give you just their one sided nature of this issue.  Look for the good and realize that our community is strong and will show the good that it is.  The family of Michael Brown wants the truth, they have asked for the truth, and they have asked for the violence to stop.  The police want the truth and they will get to the bottom of it if allowed to do their job.

Let’s just realize from both sides that sometimes the truth is hard to accept, whatever it turns out to be.


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