We are all Americans.
But some of us feel less American than others.
That’s not new. But it should more unacceptable in 2016 as it was in 1776, 1860 or 1962.
Earlier this week 37 year old Alton Sterling was selling CDs in Baton Rouge. White police officers forced him to the ground and restrained him. A cellphone video shows one officer yelling that he had a gun, and another officer shooting Sterling on the ground multiple times at close range.
The next night, 32 year old Philando Castile was fatally shot by a white officer in Minnesota during a traffic stop. His girlfriend tried to talk to the officer repeatedly addressing him as “sir.” As her boyfriend bleeds to death, her four-year-old daughter cries in the back seat.
Both now are the subject of federal investigations. Just two of the latest incidents, of which there have been far too many, of white police officers shooting dead black suspects, acting as their trial, jury and executioner.
In response, rallies across America were held last night to bring attention to the growing feeling among African Americans that police departments are not listening. In downtown Dallas, nearly 800 citizens came together to march peacefully. As the protest ended, a black U.S. Army reservist, determined to strike back at white police officers, killed five and wounded seven more.
The nation has gone numb in disbelief.
President Obama has ordered the nation’s flags to half-staff more than any other president in history. A total of 162 days. For the 67th time the flags have, once again, been lowered due to senseless shootings in America.
The issue of race and our police departments is not new. It has dominated the headlines far too often the past few years.
The reality is too many of our law enforcement agencies are taking too long to identify and confront potential racist officers in their departments. That can be almost immediately corrected. We also need more minority officers to reflect communities all over America.
But in response to all these tragic deaths, there cannot be bloodshed in the street for our many outstanding and brave police men and women who work hard everyday to protect all of us. They have families too. And none in blue should go to work worried about being gunned down for the actions of others.
The fact is there is no line in the sand on this issue. There is no “team white” or “team black.” It may feel that way to some, for now, but in the end there can only be “team red, white and blue.”
There is no conflict between having the rational view that you can strongly support our men and women in blue, and honor and respect their service and willingness to protect us, while at the same time absolutely demand that they set a higher standard on the issue of race.
We must figure this out. The shouting and one-sided opinions are not helpful. A conversation with all voices must be had. America is better than this, and we should be ashamed of ourselves until we find real solutions.