Take responsibility
Dear editor:
I am sickened by the violence in this country. I am sickened by the death of George Floyd, which was totally unnecessary. Does this death reflect the hearts and actions of the many thousands wearing the uniform? No!
The death of Rayshard Brooks is a tragedy, but one of his own making. He was asleep at the wheel of a running vehicle in a drive-thru lane at Wendy’s. After the police officer awakens him and gets him to move his vehicle to a parked spot, the conversation begins. Rayshard admits to being in town to visit his mother’s grave. The officer is courteous, polite, and professional. It is determined that this young man is intoxicated and he resists arrest. Did he maybe fight with the officers and flee because he was out on parole due to COVID-19 for felonies that consisted of false imprisonment, battery, cruelty to children, family violence battery, theft by receiving, criminal interference and obstruction.
My opinion, for what it is worth, is that those charges and his parole had more to do with his fighting with the officers and fleeing than fear for his life as some have suggested. He physically fought with the officers then forcibly removed the Taser from one and used it, he then fled and turned around to use the Taser again. Now, some say that the officers could have let him walk to his sister’s home where his children were. What if he did walk there and then in his intoxicated state proceeded to beat up or kill someone in the home? The police would be at fault. If he walked into traffic and was hit by a car, the police would be at fault. If he kept the Taser and used it against anyone in his path, the police would be at fault. If, God forbid, he fell down at some point and hit his head and died while intoxicated, the police would be at fault. What if he, in his sleepy state, stepped on the gas and hit another person or vehicle and someone got hurt? It would be someone else’s fault. This man did not just get tired and pull off the road to rest he was in a drive-thru with his engine running!
How about instead of automatically blaming the officer we step back and take responsibility for our actions. How about we strengthen the family including respect for authority and obeying laws. How about we sit down and identify problems and solutions rather than burning, looting and rioting?
I am grateful that the protests here in Hot Springs have been peaceful and we have not had the violence that other cities have had. Is that maybe due to the open dialogue that the community has with the police department and others in city government? Is it due to the way our youths have been raised? I don’t know the answer to that, but violence is definitely not the answer. Parents, wake up and teach your kids how to behave. Parents model how to behave the right way, and when any of us sees something wrong, stop it. Sharon Parrett Hot Springs