All can gather peacefully to grieve together
LEE’S SUMMIT, AUGUST 17, 2014 – Ferguson Missouri continues to deal with the aftermath of the August 9th Shooting of Mr. Michael Brown, eighteen years old at the time.
Representative Cleaver made several statements to the Fox4KC per their website. Note that the statements were made on Saturday before some of the latest news and the latest events unfolded.
Congressman Cleaver said, on Saturday, that “I don’t expect there’s going to be much violence in the future,” He based the previous statement on the visits, in previous days, to Saint Louis and to Ferguson.
Regarding the Ferguson Police Chief and his department Congressman Cleaver stated they were, “monumentally inept” at dealing with such crisis. He further stated that “Having military style weaponry moving down the main street of a middle-American town is as un-American as a coup d’état rather than an election,”
Cleaver also wishes Congress could intervene, according to the Fox4 article on their website, through inspiration, saying “Can you imagine the United States Congress issuing a statement about civility, about handling disagreements differently? We can’t do it. And I think that’s one of the embarrassing moments of this time.”
I rarely agree with Congressman Cleaver; but I think it is a shame that Congress, and Washington in general cannot lead by example on how different mindsets can find common ground. The Ferguson community has a huge challenge. They must rise above the media. They must rise above the interlopers who are taking advantage of an incredibly sad situation. They must find a way to reach their arms around each other, and offer comfort for a sad and horrible situation.
No one involved in this situation is going to totally recover; but perhaps they should not go back to where they were. Perhaps knowing the preciousness of life, and knowing the ramifications of actions taken, people in the future will reach out first to those who understand the great sadness
I would hope that Congressman and Reverend Cleaver can come to the realization that soft words, hopeful words, blameless words of sympathy and understanding can do more good to the community in total.
Let us find the reasons for the events of Saturday August 9th, 2014. Let us figure out how to give Ferguson a chance to move forward. Let us find civility to resolve the problems and let us move forward.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Lee’s Summit Conservative
August 18, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Personally. I hate the concept of militarized police forces. While possibly prudent in situations like this (or more severe), police forces then continue to use military style force and tactics in other areas where it is completely unneeded and unacceptable. SWAT for example, is basically the military wing of a police force. While I don’t think the National Guard should be called up for every little tiff. I do think, in situations like this, I would rather see the National Guard called up for temporary military force than have police turned into a military unit because that is a dangerous path and encourages police brutality.