Two back-to-back tragedies have over taken the world. On Tuesday, July 5, Alton Sterling was fatally shot multiple times outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The very next day, Wednesday, July 6, Philando Castile was fatally shot in his car in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Both incidents were video recorded and released to the public within hours of the incidents. They went viral shortly after.
The video of Alton Sterling shows two police officers forcefully subduing Sterling and bringing him to the floor. The shots were fired when an officer discovered a handgun in Sterling’s pocket, but the video clearly shows that Sterling wasn’t reaching for the weapon. Louisiana is an open carry state, meaning a holder doesn’t need to conceal or carry a permit to purchase and use a gun.
The video of Philando Castile was taken by his girlfriend after he was shot. In the video she was explaining what happened, before Castile was shot in the arm by a police officer. Viewers can also see that a child was present during the incident. According to the girlfriend, Castile was pulled over because of a broken tail light. When the police officer came to the driver side Castile told the officer he had a weapon on him, and he was also had a license to carry. When Castile reached to his back pocket to retrieve his driver’s license, the officer opened fire and shot him in the arm.
The officers involved in both incidents have been put on paid leave, as is the protocol for incidents being put under investigation. Once again this nation is rocked by the compromised power control of federal police officers. Yes, it’s true that unjust men and women have taken the title police officer and poisoned it with their ego’s, and times are even more dangerous than before. The men and women meant to protect our communities may be the ones pulling them a part. However, to every bad cop there’s a good cop and now they have targets on their backs.
Shortly after the two tragedies, another happened in Dallas, Texas. On Thursday, July 7, civilians and police officers were ambushed by Micah Xavier Johnson, an Army Reserve Afghan War veteran, toward the end of a peaceful and organized Black Lives Matter protest that was against the killings of Sterling and Castile. During the ambush five police officers were killed, and nine officers were injured; two civilians were also injured during the ambush. Johnson used a semi-automatic rifle and handgun to carry out his plans. A standoff ensued until Thursday, July 8, when Johnson was killed by police.
Before his death Johnson revealed his motives behind the ambush. He was outraged by the killings of the Castile and Sterling and wanted to kill police officers, white police officers specifically. Once again another large tremor is felt through the nation as more people are stolen from this Earth. Many people are referring to this crime as an “eye for an eye” situation.
Human beings have a right to be outraged when lives are lost through violent actions, but we can’t take on the role of giving out consequences. When others decide to play God, and take the lives of people they didn’t have any hand in creating, humanity starts to lose faith in one another. This situation can’t be an “eye for an eye” situation, because if it continues like this the entire world will go blind. If it escalates to a “tooth for a tooth” then the entire world will lose its ability to communicate. We can’t put ourselves in control of other people’s decisions. It hurts to know that those with this ability are abusing it, but we have to remember that the actions of a few don’t speak for all of them.
Not all cops are bad, not all white men are racist, and not all men with authority are on a power trip.
Unfortunately, they are the ones we give so much attention too. Recently they have commanded our attention. One tragedy after another, and they all concern police officials. The people we rely on to serve and protect us, and they seem to be picking us off. That’s what the media is allowing us to think. But we can’t deny the issues we have in the legal system.
Denial comes in many forms. It’s strongest form, right now, is violence; violence to others and fulfilling the saying “eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. We as a nation can’t deny these issues anymore. We as human beings can’t deny that innocent lives are in danger everyday they walk in the world. The authorities that were meant to protect them have started to take them. Instead of taking more lives, we have to start protecting lives.
How can a future be feasible when generations are becoming endangered? Without wisdom the future can’t grow, and without mistakes we can’t make a better future. We have to teach ourselves, and others how to get past these tragedies. We have to learn about what must be done to prevent these tragedies. Communication and sight are necessary for the future to happen. Don’t take that away.
