Dirty police officers around the country are continuing to kill Black men and the police departments are continuing to do nothing about it.  Their fellow police officers, along with the politicians who are responsible for and supposed to be overseeing these police departments, are afraid to address the problem.  These police officers are afraid to address it because they are afraid that one day they will call for backup and no one will show up until it is too late.  Politicians are afraid to address it because it is a political hot potato and they believe that if they do address it, they might not be reelected.  Statesmanship no longer has any meaning to them; it is just a word and everything else that matters revolves around keeping their job.

In light of the recent shootings and killings of unarmed Black men, this makes the national message that Mr. Trump sent out to police, that if they rough up those whom they arrest a little bit that it is okay, even more disturbing.  In essence he said to police officers, don’t worry about it because they deserve it.  At least with the clean police officers it is easier for us to empathize with them when they fail to address the problem because their lives might be on the line and they want to assure to the greatest extent possible that they return home to their wives and children at the end of each shift.  Still, this is the profession that they have chosen and to serve in it honorably is a part of their job.  As regards the politicians who are supposed to be responsible for protecting us as a country and leading us with honor but have instead chosen to protect their jobs at all cost, there is not even a semblance of an excuse for them; they have neither dignity nor honor left.  They have unfortunately sought out the nearest heap of reprobates and willingly cast themselves upon it.

It is obvious that Mr. Trump’s vision for how America should move forward (backwards?) and what she should become does not align with that of most Americans.  Most Americans – whether they are white, black, brown, yellow or any other color among the melting pot of colors that exist in our country – believe in fairness and equal justice for all.  And although oftentimes we disagree on exactly how evenhanded and fair that America is to all peoples, whether or not there is a problem in that arena and how – if there is a problem – that problem should be addressed, most Americans are caring people.  If we could only somehow rid ourselves of all of the chaos and crap that is swirling around us, take a step back  and look at the beautiful and breathtaking heritage of each culture and embrace that heritage, we could recognize  and accept the beauty involved in each heritage; then that way, we would likely fight a lot less often.  And when we did fight, it would be like fighting with those in our personal families; there would be rules.  What would be wrong with that?  After all, we are family; we are the American family!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line