The shooting death of a young man, Michael Brown, by law enforcement in Ferguson, Missouri is a tragedy that is receiving widespread coverage by various news outlets. The young man robbed a convenience store, assaulted the storekeeper, and assaulted a police officer; and as a result in the space of 30 minutes from start to finish, he was lying dead in the street. Parents have lost a son, a city has become enraged, a policeman’s life has been ruined, and the rule of law has been challenged.
A tragedy of this magnitude should be examined to see what can be learned.
The mother of the deceased young man was quoted after the death of her son that he would never have committed the crimes that were attributed to him. In death it is sometimes hard to confront reality, but there is no doubt that the crimes were committed. As parents we must be committed to knowing for sure what is happening in the lives of our children. There are certainly times to be proud and there are times when actions or moods dictate a close scrutiny as to what is going on.
There has been a huge breakdown in respect and it begins at home. Respect for authority, respect for others, and respect for other’s property must be instilled in children when they are young. Many years ago there was a regular public service announcement on television that simply said, “Do you know where your children are?” Today, where they are is not enough, we must ask “Do you know what your children are doing?”
Michael Brown was a very large man, over six feet and weighing almost 300 pounds. He had just successfully assaulted and intimidated a storekeeper. When he was confronted by a police officer a few minutes later, his feeling of being invincible must still have been present in his mind, he was very wrong. Our youth must learn to respect authority represented by law enforcement.
Law enforcement can and do make mistakes. However, the proper response is not one of verbal or physical abuse. Polite and respectful responses to any authority figure will be well received, especially by law enforcement. Confrontational speech and actions will not have a good outcome.
Law enforcement officials are everyday people. They undergo rigorous training and all must attend law enforcement institutions prior to serving. They carry a firearm because they may be called upon to defend others or themselves at any time. There are very strict rules as to when they can even remove that firearm from its holster.
Officer Darren Wilson of Ferguson was interviewed recently and was very remorseful that a life was lost. However, when asked why he chose to withdraw his firearm, his answer was, “I was following my training.” If the intent of the populous is to obey the law, show respect to law enforcement, and be cooperative when being addressed by law enforcement, then incidents like that of Ferguson would not have to occur.
Our country was founded on the principles of the rule of law. Everyday citizens ultimately decide the validity of serious offenses, whether by grand jury or ultimately a trial by jury. When those in society reject the rule of law and commence with violent civil disobedience, all of society suffers.
Many have expressed that it will take decades for trust and respect to be restored to Ferguson, Missouri. Minutes prior to Officer Wilson being notified of the convenience store robbery, he had answered an emergency call for a young African American girl who was experiencing life-threatening illness. How much anxiety will there be for an officer to answer the next call in a similar manner?
We must regain respect for the rule of law. We see this lack of respect in all aspects of our society and government. How does it get fixed? It must start in the home and most effectively with both a mom and a dad present.
Landrith of Camden is a member of a group of concerned Midcoast citizens who meet to discuss issues of public interest. Their weekly column “Another View” has been awarded by the Maine Press Association.
