The line on this gentleman’s sign: “WE ALL MATTER” is the path by which understanding, order and peace can be achieved. It alienates no one. The systemic problem being put forth is not with any particular ism, and there are many, but rather with the failure to maintain “equal application of the law.” In an example: Two men are arrested for stealing bread from a baker. Each is guilty of theft. Brought before a Judge it is revealed that motivation in each case was different. One man stole because of an animus toward the baker and the other because he had no means to feed his children. The first is expected to be held accountable and the second given a pass, right? No, for justice to be done both must be held accountable because each committed a crime. Judgement and mercy are both necessary in justice. For justice to be done each must receive a sentence but mercy determines the severity of that sentence. Any observer can agree and accept a sentence that fits the crime and the motivation for that crime.
A double standard in the application of the law is what makes people upset and at times to take to the streets in protest. When common sense is so offended that it becomes obvious that the application of the law has lost its fairness and lady justice has removed her mask in playing favorites then original undistorted protocol must be restored in practice. Judge not a people by any inherent characteristic other than that they are human beings and American citizens due their constitutional rights in obeying or disobeying the law. Anyone in authority be they enforcement, judiciary, legislator or political leader who does not stick to the letter of the law without bias has broken their oath of office to which they have sworn and should be held accountable to the highest extent, for as servants to the public, they are most responsible for a stable society.
In a just society status or position carries no favor, rich or poor who violates a law have the law equally applied. When society veers from that, then frustration builds to anger and anger builds to emotionally induced retaliation. And as we have recently seen the innocent sadly are retaliation’s victim. To dismantle law enforcement will be a nightmare beyond what we now witness. The vast majority honor their oath to “serve and protect.” The officer who caused the death of Mr. Lloyd honored neither and brought to all men and women in law enforcement the repercussion of the sin he committed upon Mr. Lloyd and the sorrow now being endured by his family and friends.
For order to be renewed and trust be restored to law enforcement a nationwide universal protocol of how policemen and policewomen police should be implemented devoid of any political biases with the wellbeing of the citizen first, last and always the goal. The relationship between the public and their police department can be reliable and of goodwill despite the political affiliation of the communities’ mayors or governors. This nationwide protocol must usurp any tendency for political interference that would potentially jeopardize that goodwill relationship which ensures secure and harmonious neighborhoods through “equal application of the law.”
CROSSROADS-Right Choices 