WaPo | We have a choice to make.
We
can look at violence and racism as scourges that all of us must join
together to fight. Or we can turn the issues of crime and policing into
fodder for racial and political division.
In principle, it shouldn’t be hard to recognize two truths.
Too
many young African Americans have been killed in confrontations with
police when lethal force should not have been used. We should mourn
their deaths and demand justice. Black Lives Matter turned into a social
movement because there is legitimate anger over the reality that — to
be very personal about it — I do not have to worry about my son being
shot by the police in the way an African American parent does.
At the same time, too many of our police officers are killed while doing their jobs. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund,
1,466 men and women in law enforcement died in the line of duty over
the past decade. We should mourn their deaths, appreciate the dangers
they face and honor their courage.
Now
I’ll admit: It’s easy for me to type these words on a computer screen.
Circumstances are more complicated for those on either side of
confrontations over the obligations of our police officers. Things get
said (or, often, shouted) that call forth a reaction from the other
side. A few demonstrators can scream vile slogans that can be used to
taint a whole movement. Rage escalates.
