Andre Hill, another Black man shot, raises the spectrum of debate as people grasp the nature of justice and policing. There are no easy answers as we grapple with the wider ramifications of decades/centuries of discrimination and its long lasting impact on our society. Another life is lost, another officer is fired, and trust of American institutions decline. We are struggling with finding a path forward and without new leaders and ideas we are unlikely to solve these big problems anytime soon.
First, let me say that people have value and all people are entitled to universal justice. While I have never found a perfect person, and some a lot less perfect than others, there is a sense of inherent worth in each of us. It doesn't matter what race, religion, education attainment, income level or any other heuristic criteria we use to judge one other. It is not our place to use our skewed sense of being to judge anyone with the first thought that comes to mind.
At the same time, policing is not an easy job and officers put themselves at risk everyday to do the right thing and protect their communities from harm. I have seen officers step up against hate and bigotry in their communities and know first hand the positive influence they can have on their communities. Likewise, I am also aware of how an officer can engage in alleged criminal activity with what appears to be immunity.
We also know there are risks and jumpiness when officers respond to situations outside their comfort zones. The mental state of the officer and how they interpret and understand the situation and their unconscious bias can have a big impact on choice (i.e. Choice Theory). Make the wrong choice by jumping too quickly and we have another situation the undermines public trust; a family loses a member. :(
We must begin the process of reform that helps officers become more effective in their jobs while supporting them while they struggle with issues that impact their sense of identity. Police are an important part of our society and connecting them closer to the community they serve and providing for more support before problems before they rise is helpful. That support can be mental health and/or removal/reassignment until they are ready to serve again (or never again).
In many ways I feel we are limiting our capacity to compete on the global market and at the same time engage 50% of our society that do not feel as though they are part of a greater national purpose. Our leaders are trying but they simply never walked in another's shoes long enough to deeply understand the multifaceted ways of viewing and solving problems. Bi-partisan support to make our country a leader among nations is needed to continue on with our national development. While our enemy's watch afar as we tear ourselves apart and we rehash the same worn out solutions from a familiar thinking political class.
I'm working toward climbing Mount Everest (Lots of training and steps to even Base Camp 1 so I will let fate be where it lays) in hopes of raising awareness of universal justice. Something I have been doing before BLM movement. Discrimination is something I have fought against, researched and experienced at multiple times within my life. There is a path forward but I don't think we have the foresight and will to grasp a better tomorrow by making the choices we need today.
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