Capitol Report
By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
Just when you think things can’t get any worse — another unspeakable calamity happens.
Recent world and national events have many around the world shaken and concerned about the state of current affairs.
Because of the recent police-involved shootings coupled with the retaliatory attacks against the police, racial tensions are extremely high all across the country. Ironically, both sides (the Black community and law enforcement) feel they are under attack and totally misunderstood.
Blacks resent the fact that many in this society refuse to believe their assertions of systematic police abuse. While the police counter that they feel disrespected and all alone in their duty to maintain the peace.
Please, allow me to digress for a moment. The GOP held its national convention in Cleveland (Ohio) this week and as anticipated Donald Trump is the Republican standard-bearer for 2016. As one would expect, Trump and his convention minions unleashed a series of scathing attacks against Hillary Clinton.
At times the tirades it seemed very reminiscent of a KKK rally being televised live to the nation. Moreover, the prevailing theme in all these verbal attacks were: fear, dissension and mistrust of others. Clearly, this kind of thinking does nothing to move the country forward and bring Americans together.
And, given the current state of crisis and political unrest that exists, this kind of inflammatory rhetoric is not only reckless but ill-advised as well. With that being the case, we must stop castigating each other and painting one another with a broad brush.
The fact of the matter is this: not all police officers are rogue cops that are bent initiating violence and mayhem in the Black community.
And, the converse is equally accurate: not all young Black men are dangerous thugs that are solely engaged in nefarious acts and terrorizing the community in which they live.
Until we begin to see each other’s humanity and extend mutual respect to one another, the chasm the divides law enforcement entities and communities of color will only deepen, as respective suspicions continue to mount.
That’s a frightening prospect to ponder and doesn’t bode well for the collective good of our nation.
