By Elmer
Whittaker
Virtually just
days after the murders of 5 Dallas, TX Police Officers another 3 Police Officers
have been murdered, now in Baton Rouge, LA. With a fourth Police Officer still fighting
for his life, at the time of this writing.
Law Enforcement
and their biased supporters have long before Dallas called it a “War on the
Police”. Well, it wasn’t. But that goes to show how powerful words are. After
Baton Rouge, it can now be called a “War on the Police” and all their once
unfounded fears have now become true.
But this is not
the time for violence or an internal war of revenge against law enforcement. Without
making an excuse or finding a justification, let this though serve as a warning
that a people can only be pushed so far, before they rise up.
I can only plea
with both sides, the oppressors and the oppressed. End the violence on both
sides. What this country needs now is an open minded and honest discourse and admitting
to the wrongdoings which have brought us to this point and then find and
implement real solutions to the problem.
Amends for past
wrong doings must be made and a phase of sincere regret and healing must
commence. Although the problem of police misconduct and abuse of power is not
only restricted to the black or minority communities although they have always borne
the brunt of the abuse, the problem is on that affects our entire society. Not only
the victims and their families, but all of us. Not only law enforcement and
their abusers, but also our entire judicial system from the prosecutors to the
judges.
The abusers of
the past must be held accountable as much as reasonable and practical possible.
But also forgiveness must be exercised on both sides with the promise of a
better future and understanding. Our judicial system must be reconfigured and
the criminal “Blue Code of Silence” must be banished, abolished and prosecuted.
There must be
accountability not only for the citizenry but also for law enforcement and
judicial system. No matter what the racial, ethnical and economic make-up of a
society is, if there is no accountability, abuse and corruption will flourish.
The wounds and
injustices of the Rodney King case some 25 years ago are still open and have
never been healed, while it is clear now that there is a Rodney King happening
in our country every day. The people need justice, healing and acknowledgement
along with the reasonable hope for a better future.
