Don’t paint all police with same brush
The horrific death of George Floyd has prompted national outrage, protests, riots and demands for change in police treatment of blacks and other minorities. And, due to the multiple black victims of excessive force in recent years, there is ample reason for the widespread demands and insistence on systemic change to prevent further reprehensible tactics and insure that police who resort to them will be prosecuted.
The overall population, however, has not limited its indictment to police who have enabled or committed deplorable acts. Many now insist that our collective wrath and indignation be directed at the entire police profession and departments should be defunded. Police officers with no connection to the death of Floyd or any other minority victim have become the targets of verbal and physical assaults with frozen water bottles, signs and other abuse during many riots. Even those who are decent, hard working, and conscientious law enforcement officials are now collectively vilified due to the regrettable acts of the Minnesota Police officers.
Media reports and protests have extended the allegations of prejudice and umbrella of responsibility for the death of Floyd and many other victims to all police, rural, suburban and urban, throughout the country. Any expression of appreciation for the efforts and commitment of decent cops is met with the allegation that the support shows insensitivity and racism since the focus must be exclusively the global problem of prejudice. Our concern and empathy for Floyd, his family and the entire black community is considered disingenuous if even a footnote is included which praises the commitment of the good police officers.
But that is where we are today. We live in the land of hyperbole where the historical slavery that exists in “Gone With the Wind” will now cause the film to be indeed, gone with the wind.
Examples of dangerous generalizations:
If players on Red Sox opponents were recipients of racial slurs from a few bigots in the bleachers, Boston is a racist city.
If a teacher or coach is found guilty of abuse, the entire school system is criticized. Since many members of Congress fail to conscientiously perform their duties, all members are considered lazy and ineffective.
There once was a time when fairness required that charges of wrongdoing be directed toward the perpetrators to ensure that others were not wrongfully accused. An allegation against individuals in a particular field resulted in penalties leveled against those responsible, not the entire profession. One could simultaneously recognize the merits of dedicated and conscientious workers while contrasting them to the troublemakers. Not so today.
Police misconduct needs to be systemically addressed. So do examples of misconduct in the media, government, teaching, corporate hierarchy and many other professions. And when misconduct occurs, the perpetrators, not the entire profession should face sanctions — a suggestion that is neither racist nor disrespectful.
Many decent police describe their morale as devastated since they have been identified with the perpetrators. Without them, the safety of our homes and families is at risk. The good ones deserve much more appreciation for their work. It is not racist to simultaneously appreciate their efforts while protesting and prosecuting those whose atrocities caused George Floyd and others to succumb.