While many people may not have read that old and famous novel, we are many of us familiar with that famous line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." That line, from Charles Dickens' classic, A Tale of Two Cities, seems to best describe the tragedy, the anger, the fear, and all the other emotions experienced by both those actually involved in the Ferguson shooting and by those who were and are "third parties," that is, persons not involved but who felt compelled to involve themselves in the "protests" and violence that followed the initial incident AND the violence that will no doubt go on as this night passes in Ferguson.
First, the tragic incident of that day in August. There are two versions, in the final analysis - the officer's version, and what actually happened. I do not know, nor do most other Americans, what actually happened in the officer's patrol car while he and Michael Brown were both out of view of the public. Michael Brown, of course, is not able to tell his version. The available forensic evidence had to suffice to tell Michael's version, as best as is humanly possible to know. Then Michael Brown got out of the patrol car, at which time the officer, Darren Wilson, fired his weapon at least one more time. That part of the incident DID occur in full view of many people, and again, two versions emerged from the one incident. Some say Brown had raised his hands in surrender. The officer, obviously, felt that he needed to fire another round because he was still in danger.
Second, the tale of two Michael Browns. The first Michael Brown that we, as a nation, heard of was the "teen" who was walking down the street, en route to visit his aunt, or grandmother. Suddenly a belligerent and White police officer confronted Michael Brown, yelled at him, and shot him. A White cop shot a Black "unarmed teen." The people there, and soon the media, began shouting across the nation and around the world that "yet again" a White cop MURDERED a Black "youth" who was unarmed. Within minutes rioting had broken out. Within hours the people of Ferguson were in a war zone. But...there was a second Michael Brown, also described in the media, a huge and hulking Michael Brown who was recorded on video as he strong-armed merchandise from a neighborhood store. This Michael Brown stood head and shoulders taller, and was much heavier, than the small man trying to prevent the theft. This Michael Brown was a "teen" ONLY in age, not in size or in criminal intent. He was clearly not new at theft and not willing to abide by the laws of a civilized nation. When confronted by a police officer, Michael Brown did not comply with the officer's reasonable and lawful order to get out of the traffic lane and walk on the sidewalk, so that he would not impede traffic. Michael Brown made the decision to lay hands on the officer, who incidentally, was much smaller than the "teen." Michael Brown was not afraid to attack an armed police officer. Is there any reason to believe he would hesitate to attack an unarmed citizen and commit a crime? This criminal was much different from the Michael Brown portrayed most loudly by the media.
Third, the Ferguson incident. This shooting, though tragic enough in itself, was viewed in two widely different ways by people all across America. First, many Ferguson residents, and the vast portion of the media, played this incident up as a racially motivated, legally sanctioned murder of a Black person by a White person in authority. Those proffering this version of the Ferguson incident linked it to a national and continuing assault on Blacks and other persons of color by the mostly White policemen of this nation. To foster this version, the people and the media hysterically cried "MURDER" without any thought whatever to the possibility (however slight they may have believed it to be) that the shooting of the unarmed Black man by the White cop was legally justified. On the other hand, some people in Ferguson, and some members of the Media, entertained the possibility that, while tragic, the shooting COULD HAVE BEEN A JUSTIFIABLE SHOOTING. This version of the Ferguson incident acknowledged that the officer was apparently overpowered by the "unarmed teen" to the degree that officer believed his own life was in danger. After all, no one was able to see what happened during the seconds that the "teen" beat Officer Wilson to the point that he suffered a possible skull fracture. These people acknowledge the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Michael Brown was trying to wrench the officer's gun out of its holster, an action that clearly put the officer in danger of losing his life. An officer in fear of his life has the right (AND THE DUTY) to use force, including deadly force, to stop the threat to his own life.
Finally, the United States justice system itself, comes in two versions. The first version is the belief that Black people will NEVER get justice in the White criminal justice system. These people, egged on by the Media, tore down the town of Ferguson while screaming hysterically that Black people will never get justice in America, thus setting up the Ferguson grand jury for inevitable failure if, after looking at all the known facts, it should decide that there was no reasonable grounds to indict the officer for the criminal act of murder. The second version of this is the belief that the grand jury would look at all the facts, hear the testimony of the officer involved as well as the results of the forensic investigation, and then render either a true-bill or a no-bill. That is, either indict the officer or not indict him, based on the facts presented.
As I wrote this post, the grand jury decision was announced to the nation. A short time later the President of the United States came on television to ask the nation for calm, and more importantly, to ask the nation to understand how the justice system works, and thus understand that the Ferguson grand jury had reached its decision after reviewing the facts. This one of the few times I have ever agreed with anything President Obama has said. Mr. Obama stressed that people may or may not agree with the grand jury's decision, but they should respect this decision, as this is how the American justice system was designed to work. I have to give credit to the President for his speech of reconciliation. The President rightly pointed out that no matter how outraged some Americans might feel, no matter how satisfied with the justice system other people might feel, the people who lost the most were the parents of Michael Brown. President Obama read a statement from Michael Brown's parents asking the people of Ferguson and the nation to be calm in this decision, and to protest, if they felt the need, in positive ways that could result in positive change, rather than in more senseless rioting and destruction. I would like to add that another person, Officer Darren Wilson, has lost so much as well. In all likelihood, he will never be able to work in Ferguson again. And, he has already born the brunt of much negative media attention, even though, as the grand jury's decision bore out, he acted lawfully in defending himself while performing his duty as a public servant.
The Ferguson grand jury decision is now behind us, and I hope the people of Ferguson will soon be able to settle into some sort of normal existence. I certainly wish comfort on the family that lost a son. Obviously they are not satisfied with the grand jury's decision, and honestly, I do not know that I would be satisfied if I were in their position. Michael Brown's parents have continuing recourse, however. They still have the option filing a wrongful death suit against the officer and the City of Ferguson. And they have the option of requesting that the United States Department of Justice look into the incident. Officer Wilson can still be filed on by the federal government if the Justice Department feels that he violated Michael Brown's constitutional rights.
The Ferguson shooting has indeed been a Tale Of Two...
Two versions of a tragedy...
Two versions of Michael Brown and the officer who shot him...
Two versions of the response to the tragedy...
And two versions of the American system of justice...
There is also another "Two" that emerges in the wake of the Ferguson shooting, and that is that there are two possibilities facing this nation as we move forward. The first possibility is that people can choose to become bitter, or more bitter, to become cynical and to say, "I told you so...a Black person cannot get justice in the White justice system." I know there are some that will never accept the Ferguson no-bill. They have already convinced themselves that somehow the various components of the American justice system have connived against people of color, and will continue to do so, as "proven" by today's grand jury decision. On the other hand, we can choose to believe that this specific grand jury did its job, that is, they considered all the testimony and evidence presented to them, and they rendered a just, if controversial, decision. We can believe that grand juries across the nation examine each case presented on its own merits. And we can believe that, most of the time, the American justice system works. The Ferguson incident is truly a Tale of Two...but it is my firm hope that we all realize there is one America and one system of justice, and that this system of justice works most of the time.
God Bless America
