how do we fix this once and for all?

I’ve been feeling a little bit of writer’s block the last couple of weeks. I haven’t had much to say, and I’ve been in a really good frame of mind.

Today I have a lot on my mind, as I have been feeling a flurry of emotions during the past 24 hours. The shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha Wisconsin hits very close to home, as Jenn and I are very good friends with his aunt and uncle here in Arlington. Knowing that he was shot eight times for being the guy trying to break up a fight and help cooler heads prevail makes me incredibly angry. Why did they shoot him eight times? One bullet in his back wasn’t enough? And there is no excuse for shooting him in front of his children. Now we hear that he may be permanently paralyzed.

This is the same bad dream all over again. The riots, the denial and the pursuit of justice. A family’s lives are changed forever, and the odds are that the cops responsible will not be properly reprimanded. As easy as it is to show anger towards all law enforcement, that is not the right answer. And now is the time to look at a bigger picture.

First, we have to realize that this is a problem that HAS to be solved. There are those who feel like racism doesn’t exist, or are quick to justify what happened with the Blue Lives Matter/All Lives Matter statement. While we are all God’s children, certain colors of people are targeted differently than others. That’s just plain fact. There’s talk of defunding the police – wouldn’t it be better to have a better vetting process and additional diversity training? These are issues that must not be swept under the rug.

We need good cops…no question about it. There are fantastic cops nationwide who go above and beyond (in a GOOD way) to serve and protect. They do not deserve our scorn and disrespect for the job that they do and the outlook that they have.

I’ve found myself watching reruns of shows like CHiPs and Rizzoli and Isles….both shows try to represent cops in a positive way. Although it’s fictional, you see cops like Ponch and Jon trying to make a positive difference. This was the image that my generation had of police officers. Shows like Hill Street Blues, Cagney and Lacey and Barney Miller showed cops as caring individuals, and I want to believe the majority of law enforcement in America has the same outlook.

I will continue to pray for Jacob Blake’s recovery, and I will pray for justice for Breana Taylor. I not only hope for the correct resolution, but I sincerely hope that as a country, we find a way to no longer have these types of tragedies.

Peace.