Ferguson: A Round Robin Folly

Recent events have me seeing circles every where

One definition of folly is: an inordinately costly and often unprofitable undertaking. Was this particular folly preventable? Who was at fault? Where did the Round Robin begin? La Ronde? And where will it all end? Who killed Cock Robin? The events leading up to the Michael Brown killing did not begin that night.

Who is more frightening? An armed white cop or an unarmed black man? It was said Michael belonged to a gang. Why would a young man of color want to belong to a gang?  For protection, to be part of a group, to be tested, to feel like a man, because he can’t find a job? Because his Father left the family or is in jail? Did Michael have “cop killer’ tattooed on his arm? Did the cop have a swastika tattooed on his? Did he belong to the Klan? War, football games and street fighting seem to be have something men have in common. Men have a need to compete, to be king of the mountain, to be the gladiator.  Women cannot stop this tide. They can only wait and be available to pick up the pieces..

The red marks on the cops face did not appear to be bruises. The same marks could have been made by someone slapping him. If he was 6’5” and Michael was 6’5” how could the cop say he felt like Michel was a giant? If Michael had been robbing a convenience store what did he do it with? His finger?  Why did the cop shoot Michael so many times even if he felt threatened? I would think five times would be enough.

Was the Prosecuting Attorney in cahoots with the Governor and Mayor? He was certainly given a free hand to totally control the whole event in such a way as to create the most anger and frustration. What else did he create?

Racial bias is an important aspect of this combined media circus and tragic event. Minority schools are not a popular place to allot public money. That is one way of keeping  those children  from learning that they have equal rights and should vote in their own best interests. But it must be very discouraging to then  be unable to vote because of political manipulating. As a white woman I have never been afraid of being pulled over by a cop because I looked suspicious. And experiencing this on a regular basis.

There are so many causes of such deaths and we all have a share in the blame.  It is a complicated web. History tells us, you get nothing if you don’t ask for it and then demand it and most important of all, organize. If it takes another group of black Panthers to make it known that they are fed up and aren’t going to take it anymore, so be it.  It is unfortunate that one can only mourn for a lost love for three weeks then no one, neither best friend nor media, wants to hear about it anymore. Demands for better schools and honest voting rights, making politicians answer for their actions, help minorities find jobs or create businesses, pass a law making all policemen  wear cameras on their caps are some ways to take action. Some things are being done but it is not loud enough. Prayer helps but people must vent. Venting can be aided by taking action.