One can’t help but think that the horrific actions of 4 police officers set off a chain of events when they brutally murdered George Floyd. They knew full well that their actions undermined the rule of law, violated civil rights, and committed murder with malicious intent. As a result, coinciding with other police atrocities of the past that also targeted African-Americans, what could be the spark that ignites the flames of open rebellion has been unleashed.
When the police act above the rule of law, anarchy arises. And many of us are already witnessing the violent protests that are now breaking out across the country. In too many cases, law enforcement officers duly sworn to protect and serve the public fail to do their sworn duty. As a nation already succumbing to the rising tensions of racial injustice from years of bogus government policies, political corruption at the highest level, impoverished millions in the midst of a deadly pandemic, the president and Congress continue to play as America burns. History repeats itself only because we let it happen.
The actions of those police officers are a disgrace to law enforcement and every one of them should be butchered as they say. No person or suspect should be brutalized by anyone, especially law enforcement officers. On the contrary, when such horrendous actions occur, the public must refrain from becoming and behaving as horrible and despicable as these 4 police officers who brutally murdered George Floyd. No one has the right to destroy property or injure other people just because of actions that defied the rule of law. There is no justification when a violent act warrants violent retribution in response.
If we as a society continue to allow such violent retaliation by the general public when at any time a law enforcement officer or anyone committing violent atrocities like what happened to George Floyd, this nation that is already in the tyranny of Thin ice will rise from the ashes of anarchy. What concerns this writer is that such actions by the public do not respect the rights and safety of others while they are still in the death throes of a deadly pandemic where social distancing and quarantines are still in place. Other major concerns are the fact that so many jobs have been lost, wages have been cut, the cost of living continues to rise, while the moratorium on evictions, late fees and mortgages have all been rescinded. These safety nets that were put in place when the pandemic hit are disappearing, leaving millions homeless, hungry, and will continue to cause this nation unbearable suffering.
When Congress passed that stimulus last spring, it knew full well that it would not be enough to avert what is sure to become another national nightmare unless more financial support flows into the wallet of every American. And, with the Scrooge mentality of the Republican Party, millions of Americans will continue to fall into the deepening cycle of poverty with little chance of getting out. The frustration shows the strain not only of the financial situation millions of Americans find themselves in, but also when atrocities like the ones these 4 police offices did when George Floyd was murdered have brought out the worst in our society.
If we stay on this current course, this nation will soon self-destruct. What this nation needs is a total overhaul of the government, its policies both at home and abroad, and essentially waking up to the facts that our nation is in deep trouble. Acknowledging this is the first step in correcting the injustices that currently keep this nation divided. And, as Abraham Lincoln said: “A divided nation cannot stand.”