I am concerned

I am very concerned with the recent events in  Ferguson, Mo.  I am concerned that a young man was shot by the police. I am concerned that nothing has been confirmed regarding the events just prior to the shooting. I am concerned when I hear people say, “Brown had just stolen a box of cigars, he deserved it.” This is America. Our constitution is clear that no one should be “deprived of life, liberty or pursuit of happiness without a trial.”  There is no death penalty for stealing cigars in America.  The store owner could have certainly shot Brown in self-defense but once Brown left the store the only option for punishment was through the courts.

The only exception to this is in self-defense.  If the officer was being attacked the situation is different BUT not one report indicates what happened.  I am concerned that some media outlets seem to be fanning the flames.   Michael Brown, Jr. is always referred to as a teenager.  Teenager refers to the years between thirteen and nineteen.    Michael Brown, Jr. was certainly a teen BUT it has been my experience that to refer to any young man of 18 as a kid, a teen or a boy, he will set you straight in a minute. “I am a man.”

Although teen is accurate it would be more accurate to call him a young man. It would also be good reporting (for national news media) to post a current photo of this “child,” this “gentle giant.” All the public has seen has been the video of a large violent man stealing a box of cigars and manhandling the store owner.  The man shown on video stealing cigars doesn’t look a bit like the child shown in the pictures at the funeral.

I have asked people who believe the shooting was justified based on the cigar incident, “What if that was your son?” Several have responded, “If he (their son) breaks the law he has to take what comes.”  I am concerned that anyone would support a penalty of death for a teenager for a crime that would generate a relatively minor sentence in court.  This concerns me.

I am concerned that some people think rioting and looting is the answer to any problem.

I am concerned that many people have climbed aboard this runaway train for personal gain and are fanning flames.

I am concerned that hundreds of teenagers die violent deaths each year and only a few receive media attention.

I am concerned that few people are concerned with the truth. I am concerned that sound bites are more important than truth.

I am concerned that there was a news article titled “Michael Brown was no angel.” Of course he wasn’t. Neither am I-or you-or anyone else. That is a detractor just like the angelic pictures used in cases like this.

I am concerned that it appears in the news clips that dozens if not hundreds of officers were pointing weapons at peaceful protestors.  It appeared (but may not be true) that there were more officers than protesters. This is concerning for two reasons. One is that the majority of the protesters were peaceful and the situation did not call for weapons being pointed.  In the case of the looters it is a different situation.

My greatest concern was the officer on top of an armored vehicle with a 50-caliber fully automatic machine gun pointed at the protesters.

Suppose that just one officer overacted. Suppose one officer accidentally fired. Suppose one officer made a mistake. Just one mistake by one officer and dozens of peaceful protesters would have died.

My concern is that the truth is discovered. My concern is that justice is served.