Tag: Ferguson grand jury

There will be no indictment in Ferguson, Missouri. The grand jury did not find there was ample evidence to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of unarmed, 18-year-old Michael Brown. Remember that Wilson is white; Brown was black. Also be aware that the 12 person jury is the only group of people that has heard all the collected evidence. They had a “monumental responsibility.” Their job was to separate fact from fiction. Their job was not to be pressured by the public nor seduced by subjectivity. Their job was to search for truth.  I pray they did their job well.  I do not claim to know.

I also wholeheartedly believe there is no reason for looting, riots, destruction nor any celebration. There is grief that a young man died far too early. There is heartache for his surviving, hurting family. And as is typical of our Intramuralist dialogue, there are questions. I will offer only a few, written in the immediate aftermath, witnessing the response:

How many of us made up our minds ahead of time what the verdict should be?  — what was that based upon?

For some, was an indictment more important than truth?

Is a non-indictment an absolution of guilt?

Why do we feel empowered to discern right from wrong in absence of all the evidence?

How does the media affect the process?

Are we getting an accurate perspective?

Does our emotion ever obstruct us from truth?

Does social media help or hurt?

Does  public pressure ever trump actual evidence?

Do we feel capable of dictating justice?

Do we ever become demanding?

Where are we unwilling to allow justice to play itself out?

Do we feel warranted in taking justice into our own hands?

And…

…do we believe that God is just — that justice will eventually be served through him?  Is that enough for us?

I have few answers — mostly just questions, as it’s a sad time in Ferguson, Missouri. A young man died far too young, and a lack of unity and trust exists amid the community.

That lack of unity was evident last night. When I witnessed a sign by one in the crowd, saying “black lives matter,” my heart hurt. The protestor is right; black lives do matter;  all lives matter.  Therein lies the challenge; we are inconsistent in the valuing of life or the life of another.  Sometimes we see differently in regard to only one “kind of life,” when yes, all lives matter… black, white, Asian, Hispanic, male, female, born, unborn, gay, straight, religious, non-religious, old, young, Republican, Democrat, special needs, you name it… Sometimes, for some reason, we passionately seek justice only for some.  Perhaps we should instead trust God for justice for all.

Prayers for peace… prayers for the Brown family… prayers, too, that wisdom, truth, and love would always reign most important.

Respectfully…

AR

The wise man is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm. He is steady. He is not afraid.

We continue to watch what’s happening in Ferguson, Missouri.

In anticipation of the grand jury’s decision — whether or not to indict the police officer who shot the unarmed teen — so many have their minds made up… so many who haven’t been privy to all the facts… who haven’t sat in on the grand jury testimony… who weren’t there.

That’s the bottom line, is it not?  So many of us have made up our minds in regard to what we want to believe, even though we weren’t there. And because we weren’t there, there could be aspects of the situation, we don’t know. If there’s something we don’t know, then we could be wrong.

Where else does this happen?

Where else do we disregard prudence in the name of passion?

Where must we humbly acknowledge it’s possible we don’t have all the facts?

And where exist persons poised to benefit personally or professionally who provoke us to impatience — as opposed, yes, to what’s harder… to waiting…. being still… humility… and that coveted respect.

That does not delegitimize the time for a peaceful protest — albeit I said “peaceful.” There is no place for the looting or destruction that many seem self-justified in engaging in when an unfortunate civil situation occurs. But too many who call for protest are ok with the omission of the peaceful. Too many lead poorly. Too many incite. And too many forget that even in leadership, there may be something they don’t know.

In Ferguson, local gun dealers report significantly increased sales, especially for first time buyers. The Governor has called in the National Guard, and he has already declared a state of emergency — all in anticipation of the decision.

On August 9th, Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, an 18 year old, who was unarmed. According to leaked accounts, the incident occurred at close range, in or near Wilson’s car; it lasted less than 90 seconds; Brown died; Wilson had some bodily injuries. Wilson is white; Brown was black.

Some have made up their minds one way or the other because one was an officer and one was not. Some have made up their minds one way or the other because one was armed and one was not. Some still, have made up their minds one way or the other because one was white and one was not.

None of those aspects change the fact that we weren’t there.

The wise man is not afraid of bad news. He not afraid of news nor perspective he seemingly disagrees with. The wise man recognizes there are things this side of heaven he will never know for certain, regardless of how he feels.

Oh, for more wisdom in this world.

Respectfully…

AR