Sunday Musings - April 25, 2021
Since the jury found Derek Chauvin guilty there have been six more fatal shootings by police in the United States. Some of the those killed were alleged to have weapons. In all cases, the police had lethal weapons. Each case may have presented a dangerous and complicated situation. I am not suggesting that we have given the police easy tasks. As many have already stated, public safely requires experts in various fields who are trained to diffuse potentially dangerous situations. We cannot just tell the police to not use lethal force. We have to provide realistic options. Some options which have been suggested by community members, elected and appointed officials, include:
Do not foot chase alleged violators of various laws. Many foot chases are going
to result in more violence than the original concern.
Do not car chase alleged violator of various laws.
Decriminalize all drugs use. Follow Portugal’s example for drug dealers.
We do not go after pharmaceutical companies with guns although we may pursue them in a court of law.
Change federal laws to regulate gun manufacture.
Tighten laws about who could own guns not used to hunt for food.
Behavioral change - teach non-lethal ways to problem solve.
Religious bodies quit making assumptions that only some lives are worthwhile.
End capital punishment. (Quit asserting that killing is the only viable way to problem
solve.)
It is way past time to decide in this United States of America that:
All lives matter.
People are more important than property. It is never okay to kill to defend property.
Punishment does not work. Behavioral change does. If we treat people as less than
sacred they are not going to trust that they can become a valuable part of the
community.
Close all jail/prisons. We may still need some secure places for those who are unable to consider the needs to others. This is not punishment and are not “snake pit” mental
illness warehouses.
Tell the truth to ourselves and others. Do not pretend to care about the rights of others
while passing new Jim Crow type laws.
Do the next right thing because it is the next right thing and just because one is
frightened or otherwise uncomfortable.
As humans accept that it is okay to be imperfect, fumbling, stumbling, fragile, strong,
creative, limited, fearful, courageous creatures.
All readers could, I am sure, add to this list. If we truly want to stop violence we must take responsibility for our active or passive roles in supporting verbal, physical, emotional and spiritual violence. This morning I listened to a new podcast entitled Resistance hosted by Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr and Courtney Vance. The episode to which I listened was entitled “F... Your Water Fountain. For the younger viewer who may not have lived with more blatant Jim Crow laws, not that long ago in many places in the United States there were public water fountains, bathrooms, hotels, and other facilities which were designated as “whites only”. I am old enough to remember these in the area surrounding our nation’s capital. If I went anywhere with a black friend we could and were denied access to basic facilities including public restrooms and restaurants. The clear message was and still often is that some are more worthwhile or deserving of basic human rights. Every positive change which has occurred has occurred because many have stood up (often non-violentently) and said “F...Your Water Fountain.”
If this life journey has any meaning or any purpose beyond survival then daily we must, with love, be willing to say at work, in the public realm, and in legislative bodies, F... “Your Water Fountain.”
In the Christian tradition this requires one to say that Grace - God’s unconditional love - applies to all. It cannot be something we just mouth. All of us have to be willing to metaphorically say in the walls off church/synagogues/temples, “F...Your Water Fountain.” No matter the form the white only, heterosexual only, republican only, male only, young only, a participant cultural heritage only, Israeli only, Arab only, United Sates only takes we must say with love - not guns - “No more. No More. No more. F... Your Water Fountain.
Written April 25, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Since the jury found Derek Chauvin guilty there have been six more fatal shootings by police in the United States. Some of the those killed were alleged to have weapons. In all cases, the police had lethal weapons. Each case may have presented a dangerous and complicated situation. I am not suggesting that we have given the police easy tasks. As many have already stated, public safely requires experts in various fields who are trained to diffuse potentially dangerous situations. We cannot just tell the police to not use lethal force. We have to provide realistic options. Some options which have been suggested by community members, elected and appointed officials, include:
Do not foot chase alleged violators of various laws. Many foot chases are going
to result in more violence than the original concern.
Do not car chase alleged violator of various laws.
Decriminalize all drugs use. Follow Portugal’s example for drug dealers.
We do not go after pharmaceutical companies with guns although we may pursue them in a court of law.
Change federal laws to regulate gun manufacture.
Tighten laws about who could own guns not used to hunt for food.
Behavioral change - teach non-lethal ways to problem solve.
Religious bodies quit making assumptions that only some lives are worthwhile.
End capital punishment. (Quit asserting that killing is the only viable way to problem
solve.)
It is way past time to decide in this United States of America that:
All lives matter.
People are more important than property. It is never okay to kill to defend property.
Punishment does not work. Behavioral change does. If we treat people as less than
sacred they are not going to trust that they can become a valuable part of the
community.
Close all jail/prisons. We may still need some secure places for those who are unable to consider the needs to others. This is not punishment and are not “snake pit” mental
illness warehouses.
Tell the truth to ourselves and others. Do not pretend to care about the rights of others
while passing new Jim Crow type laws.
Do the next right thing because it is the next right thing and just because one is
frightened or otherwise uncomfortable.
As humans accept that it is okay to be imperfect, fumbling, stumbling, fragile, strong,
creative, limited, fearful, courageous creatures.
All readers could, I am sure, add to this list. If we truly want to stop violence we must take responsibility for our active or passive roles in supporting verbal, physical, emotional and spiritual violence. This morning I listened to a new podcast entitled Resistance hosted by Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr and Courtney Vance. The episode to which I listened was entitled “F... Your Water Fountain. For the younger viewer who may not have lived with more blatant Jim Crow laws, not that long ago in many places in the United States there were public water fountains, bathrooms, hotels, and other facilities which were designated as “whites only”. I am old enough to remember these in the area surrounding our nation’s capital. If I went anywhere with a black friend we could and were denied access to basic facilities including public restrooms and restaurants. The clear message was and still often is that some are more worthwhile or deserving of basic human rights. Every positive change which has occurred has occurred because many have stood up (often non-violentently) and said “F...Your Water Fountain.”
If this life journey has any meaning or any purpose beyond survival then daily we must, with love, be willing to say at work, in the public realm, and in legislative bodies, F... “Your Water Fountain.”
In the Christian tradition this requires one to say that Grace - God’s unconditional love - applies to all. It cannot be something we just mouth. All of us have to be willing to metaphorically say in the walls off church/synagogues/temples, “F...Your Water Fountain.” No matter the form the white only, heterosexual only, republican only, male only, young only, a participant cultural heritage only, Israeli only, Arab only, United Sates only takes we must say with love - not guns - “No more. No More. No more. F... Your Water Fountain.
Written April 25, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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