What troubles me is that Chauvin has been tried and convicted in the media. There is not a single mainstream media personality that has expressed even the slightest doubt about his guilt. Basing it on a video of Chuavin choking George Floyd, a black man to death by pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck until he stopped breathing. Seems pretty cut and dry. But is it? The problem is that none of us were at the trial. None of us were jurors. None of us were privy to the perspective of the 12 jurors now deliberating the verdict. They are the only ones in a position to judge whether Chauvin’s actions were the result of an intent to murder Floyd.
But even if justice might actually demand a guilty verdict, and he is somehow found not guilty, does that warrant the kind of destruction that these great American cities are preparing for?... irresponsible politicians are calling for? ...and the mainstream media sympathetic to the protesters are anxiously awaiting... and salivating to report on?
Clearly it does not. Any resulting violence and damage to person (possibly even death) or property resulting from a not guilty verdict is just as criminal as what Chauvin did. If not more so. Chauvin may still be guilty of murder at some level (most likely manslaughter). But I strongly doubt he intended to murder Floyd. He did not get out of bed intending to lynch himself a black man that day. He was just careless - even negligent - in how he subdued a suspect that resisted arrest after being reported passing a counterfeit 20 dollar bill.
In the event that the verdict is unfavorable to the anticipated protestors, all hell will break loose. Mostly perpetrated by people from the ghetto and extremists from the left whose agenda has little to do with racism. A sympathetic media will surely exacerbate the violence cheering them on - explaining it as justifiable outrage. And blaming the violence on outsiders.
But at the same time there is something else that has been happening in this country for decades that is exactly the opposite of that. There has been institutional ‘Affirmative Action’ - giving black people unprecedented opportunity in a variety of ways. I am not going to comment on whether I think that’s wise or fair. But it has in fact succeeded in its intent of giving black people opportunities denied them in the past.
I believe that where it counts the most is in the case of educational opportunities. There is an entire class of black people whose access to education has made them the cultural equals of white people with their own access to education. While I believe merit should be the sole determinant of all college entry… and that a black man who does not rely on ‘Affirmative Action’ would be far more respected for his achievements than one who relied on it.... the fact is that ‘Affirmative Action’ has contributed mightily to to the growth of the black middle class. They are a lot better educated, the a lot less ignorant.
Being better educated is how Barack Obama, a black man, became President of the United States. He was a Harvard Law School graduate. And he sounded and looked like one. Obama was just one of many thousands of black people like him. The black middle class is filled with people like that whose education and thereby values are not all that different from their white counterparts.
The problem is that most black people are not college educated. Some of them rise beyond their humble and often impoverished beginnings to achieve great success. But many are doomed to a very poor if any general education leaving them in poverty and ignorance. That often ends up with some of them becoming violent gang members and criminals. Usually preying on their own people. This is also true about white people. Only there are a lot more black ghettos than there are white ghettos. (Why that is the case is beyond the scope of this post. Suffice it to say that the history of even subtle racism in this country is at least partially responsible for it.)
So, yes... I admit being prejudiced against ignorant people. But it has nothing to do with race. I am just as prejudiced against the ignorant people in the world of Orthodox Jewry. The Orthodox Jews most often guilty of violent protest are the ones with the least education. I have no tolerance for them. Even though it may not be their fault individually. Same as I am with ignorant people in the American ghetto. Whether it is the ignorant Jew in Meah Shearim or the ignorant man - black or white - that grew up in an American ghetto.
When I see a black American like Barack Obama (politics aside) I swell with pride that America has enabled this to happen. He is an American success story. But when I see a black protestor or a white supremacist being violent to the point of hurting others or damaging property - I have nothing but disgust and contempt for them.
Unfortunately there are many people who are not that ignorant that nonetheless join the violent protesters. They may be well intentioned - sympathizing with the cause. But they seem to be oblivious to the violent reality in which they are participating. I have no tolerance for them either.
I realize of course that not all protesters are looters and gang members. Just like not all white people that joined the protest early January are white supremacist's. But enough of them are in both worlds to make something like this possible.
This is also not to say that all of the protestors aren’t educated. Some of them are highly educated who have gravitated so far to the left that they would overthrow the government if they could. And behave in ways that forward that agenda. But I believe that the vast majority of participants are just plain angry about what they see happening in this country. And that in the heat of the moment get pulled into the violence without thinking about it too much. This happens with people on both the left and on the right.
What about the claim that there is systemic racism in this country – particularly among the police? I don’t see it that way. I see too many black police chiefs in big cities (like Chicago) for that to be the true. That said, I do think that it does exist at some level among a few cops across many police departments in this country. That needs to be addressed. And routed out! The police need to be color blind. And not have greater suspicions of a back man over a white man.
But I also believe that the vast majority of the police are not racist in any way. They are good people that want to serve and protect. The sad fact there is that crime has increased because police have become reluctant to do their jobs. Fearing the consequences of being called racists and losing their jobs. Not to mention the fact that there has been an uptick of violence against police all over the country.
This, in a nutshell, is my take on what is happening now. It is a complex issue. Not the simplistic one so often painted by the media that believes a major overhaul to American policing - making it kinder and gentler - will do the trick. That will do more harm than good in my view. Fighting crime is not a gentle enterprise.
If there is anything that might be done to erase racism in its entirety it would be to focus on education – rethinking and broadening it to include a much greater variety of options with a focus towards good jobs. And prosecuting any individual or company where race is the only disqualifier for a job. If we can get those two things done, we will end up with a lot more people like Barack Obama and a lot less people like the violent protesters and looters who are about to make an appearance on the world stage. God help us all.
Update
Derek Chuavin has been convicted on all 3 counts of murder. The Jury has spoken.
