Injustice and the police
We can support “black lives matter” and not have to vilify all police officers. We can support our men and women in blue, and not have that mean we support any police racism, brutality or corruption. We don’t have to choose between lending our compassion to one group or the other. We are putting an unnecessary pressure on those who don’t easily succumb to black-and-white thinking, people who may end up standing for nothing because they can’t choose.
It is of utmost priority for us to unite in truly abolishing all racist attitudes and practices that exist within our law enforcement system. To eradicate egregious abuse of power. To make the recovery from these violations and the prevention of recurrences an urgent command.
It is also of critical importance to become educated about the systemic discrimination practices that have demoralized generations of people who couldn’t work, live or learn in the way they wished to — all because of the color of their skin.
And yet, there is a difference between standing forcefully against these deplorable murders and other racist behaviors, and enabling anti-police attitudes and actions on a general basis.
That line has become way too blurred, one whose consequences will be grave if we don’t also make it crystal clear that we are standing fiercely against that which is unacceptable, and yet not standing against our police officers as a whole. If anything, they need our understanding and support now more than ever.
There is much to understand about the unique challenges of being a law enforcement officer, ones that can result in lineof-duty injuries or deaths and that lead to a disturbingly high suicide rate. I dread to imagine how the current sentiment will affect this.
But we don’t have to choose between one and the other! Holding up the second hand does not weaken the first hand. It only allows us to be united and connected rather than divisive and apart.
We must begin somewhere, for we are being called to go deeper within us and further beyond us than we ever have.