It seems to me that the only “justice” the rioters, the looters, the lawless, the race-baiters, and the opportunistic politicians in Ferguson, Missouri will accept is the public execution of a white man.
Evidently, the public execution of a Jew wasn’t good enough.
“Father, Forgive” by Gustave Doré
Would somebody please remind the “Reverends”?
The Recovering Legalist 
I’m so sorry that this is where your mind has taken you. I can tell you all that I want is for the cop to be arrested. All I want is for Black people to stop being gunned down in the street by the people who have sworn to protect and serve. All I want is not to be terrified when I or my loved ones are stopped by the police.
Is that unreasonable? Seriously. Ask yourself is that truly unreasonable?
LikeLike
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. But let me respond to your comment by asking some questions.
First, where, exactly, do you think my mind has taken me? To the cross? Because that’s what I’m thinking about? I see supposed preachers doing nothing but stir up strife at every turn. Rarely, if ever (and definitely never on the news media), do they talk about Jesus who “is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14). They talk religion, but where is the fruit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. – Galatians 5:22-24
You see, I see people rioting, destroying innocent people’s property, hurting and threatening innocent people, even ones just doing their jobs, and I see no one “crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts.” No, all I see and hear are people running the streets calling for the “crucifixion” of a man before he is even tried and convicted!
Second, no decent person wants to see anyone gunned down in the streets, Black or not. But I will be very honest with you, a culture that promotes violence against police will never be friends with the police, not as long as any of those police fear for their own lives. And what’s more, people who have no respect for the law or those who try to enforce it should NOT live without fear.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. – Romans 13:2-4 KJV
So, no, it is NOT unreasonable to want to live in peace. No one should have to live in fear of those who are entrusted to protect them. Crooked police are as much criminals as any in prison. If the policeman that shot Mr. Brown had simply treated him like any other victim of a drive-by shooting, not a young man who just robbed a store, then he should be prosecuted. But when all people want to do is threaten violence and cry for the arrest of a policeman without even letting even outsiders have the time to investigate, what is the rest of the nation supposed to think? Where are our minds supposed to go?
I pray for peace. I pray for justice. But I do NOT pray for justice that has already been pre-determined.
LikeLike
I’m not sure where you are getting your coverage of the events in Ferguson. I’m following people on the ground in Ferguson through many social media sites. I’m following the live feed from Ferguson. I’m not watching snippets from main stream media that frame the events in ways they see fit. I’m watching the actual events, as they are happening. Can tell you what I see? I see leaders calling for calm. I see people peacefully marching. I see the media being attacked and arrested. I see cops provoking peaceful protesters. I’m not making this up. I have literally watched HOURS of coverage and seen these things first hand. I can provide links for you IF you are interested. I see protesters protecting stores from the FEW that are there to cause trouble and to riot.
I see people who are TIRED of being harassed by police standing up and saying enough is enough. I see people exercising their American rights of freedom of speech and assembly. I see people demanding change.
Why do you think Black people are angry with police? Seriously? Why? Do you believe that we are inherently more violent or criminal than any other race? I really need an answer to that last one. Statistics show the crime in the Black community has been on a decline while crime in White communities has INCREASED. Why do you think this is not being reported in the main stream media? Crime is about proximity and opportunity. White people murder white people. Chinese people murder Chinese people and so on and so on. Why have only Black people been labeled with the tag of Black on Black crime? Why have you NEVER heard the term White on White crime? There is a purposefulness in our portrayal as savages. This portrayal is not rooted in any factual reality and yet…it persists.
I have seen my father thrown to the ground by police officers at a routine traffic stop. They couldn’t fathom that there were no drugs or weapons in our car. I have seen my man unlawfully detained by police officers for NO determinable reason while they screamed in his face and dared him to “Do something!” Is this the America you would like us to peacefully submit to?
Excuse me for not having faith in a system that incarcerates men who look like me while letting men who look like you walk. That is not hyperbole. It is fact.
You quote scripture very well. Do you LIVE it as well? Wrong is wrong. Right is right. Opposition to wrong should be universal.
LikeLike
“Do you believe that we are inherently more violent or criminal than any other race?” No.
Why do people say “black on black” instead of “white on white,” or “Chinese on Chinese?” Honestly, that would depend on the context of the conversation at hand on any given time. Otherwise, I don’t know. Ignorance? Racism? Crime is crime, regardless of the race.
With regard to the news media, why is it that racism only goes one way? Why is it that the networks refuse to talk about the black grandmother who killed a white 12 year-old with a blow torch? For that matter, what happened when the four black guys kidnapped, tortured, raped, sodomized, gagged, cut, and shot an innocent white couple here in Tennessee – all because they were white? Did we burn our own cities to the ground?
Crime is on the increase all over. Well, may up some places and down some others. We are dealing with the Bloods and the Crips (mostly black), Gangsta Disciples, Vice Lords, Aryan Nation (definitely White), and some Mexican hybrids – all in Chattanooga! But when crime happens, we go after the criminal, not burn the town. For crying out loud, just a few years ago we arrested our own sheriff and put him in prison for dealing in drugs! And, for the record, he was as white as a snowflake.
Do I live the scripture I quote? Do you? I hope so. But am I perfect? No, I’m not. But you are right when you say opposition to wrong should be universal. The problem is when right is wrong and wrong is right (there’s scripture I could quote, but I won’t). If the police in Ferguson are truly as corrupt as you are portraying them, then they deserve to be arrested and removed from society. Those who are peacefully demonstrating have every right to do so. But no one should have a right to march through the streets of any American town and loot, destroy, and threaten. Without the rule of law we have no basis for society – that’s when tyranny comes – which is not far away.
Tonight we will be praying at church, and one thing we’ll be praying for is peace to come to Ferguson. I pray that the real men of God (not the Sharptons and the Jacksons) will continue to stand strong, preach Truth, point to Christ, and encourage a unity that goes beyond race.
LikeLike
When criminals commit crimes no one burns anything to the ground. When systemic oppression takes residence in your town rage is human and necessary. Power concedes nothing without a demand. No, I don’t condone rioting. But I DO support and condone people protesting that system. I heartily support it. The cops are out there threatening PEACEFUL protesters. Some are pointing machine guns at their faces and threatening to kill them. There is actual video of this occurring! Can you really NOT understand at all the RAGE?
You are a man and a father from what I see on your blog. Imagine being routinely pulled from your car and disrespected and demeaned in front of your wife and children for nothing other than the color of your skin. That does something to a person’s very psyche. Being a follower of Christ is all about loving. Being a follower of Christ is about embracing empathy and commonality. Can you really not take a moment to imagine what life is like in the skin I am in? And once you start imagining can you not understand that we need change? Something HAS to give.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare crime coverage of criminals and cops. Cops are supposed to protect and serve. Cops are supposed to follow and enforce the law. We ALL have rights. All of us.
Your whiteness makes it hard for you to understand (without a conscious effort) what my reality is like. It is your right not to try. But while you sit in the safety of your home I ask that you not cast aspersions on people who are fighting for our very right to LIVE. You don’t even have correct information, with all due respect.
If you are interested in learning more I’m providing some links. I truly replied in the interest of fellowship.
http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/cop-pointing-rifle-at-ferguson-protestors-i-will-fuck-1624463375/+robharvilla
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2014/08/15/new-orleans-cop-turns-body-cam-shooting-man/
http://gawker.com/the-price-of-blackness-1622972582/+kieselaymon
http://newsone.com/3046015/don-lemon-ferguson/
http://www.upworthy.com/5-black-crime-myths-which-ones-did-you-believe?g=2
http://gawker.com/jake-tapper-on-the-police-in-ferguson-this-doesnt-mak-1623782001?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
We live in the same country. I live a reality you don’t ever have to understand or experience, unless you care enough, love enough to try.
Have a blessed day!
LikeLike
Again, thank you for taking the time to comment. I do appreciate it, really. Before I say anything else, I hope you can appreciate that I, too, am responding in the interest of fellowship. I respect that we come from totally different circles (I suppose), but calm dialogue can bridge many chasms built by ignorance.
I will watch or look at the links you posted. One I saw earlier on the news. When I do, as time permits, and for the sake of fairness, I will attempt to respond to what I see. Is that acceptable?
LikeLike
Absolutely acceptable. I know I provided a lot of links. LOL I had to hold myself back from posting more. I believe we serve the same God. These interactions are so necessary. I’m glad we were able to do so respectfully. Thank you.
Have a great night. I’m going home to hug my little girl. 🙂
LikeLike