Consequences for bad behavior doesn't change the heart, but it's a start

Those who may not have been strongly affected by George Floyd, helpless on the ground with a police officer's knee in his neck surely were troubled by what transpired on June 4 in Buffalo New York. An unidentified 75 year old white male was assaulted by two police officers and it was caught on camera. The man walked up to the officers and obviously said something. The next thing you know, he was shoved and fell straight back onto the concrete. As he lay there motionless with blood pouring from his ear, one of the many law enforcement officials who were decked out in riot gear tried to reach out and help. A fellow officer pulled him back and they all walked by leaving the man helpless on the ground.

Later the police reported that the man stumbled and fell, but even if he had, why was no assistance rendered? No one checked his pulse or called 911. More importantly, the incident was caught on tape which clearly shows what happened. The elderly man was pushed and the policemen just kept rolling along, There was no thought of saving a human life or assisting an older adult. One would think, that with all that has been going on, these law enforcement officials would have gone out of their way to handle things differently but they did not. They played right into the stereotype of the bad cops running a muck in this nation.

Everything that has been said recently regarding bad cops, is now playing out in living color for the entire world to see. Now that an elderly white male has been assaulted perhaps this will make a difference to some who were skeptical of the stories told by African Americans. It causes me to think about what Hilary Clinton said after Donald Trump won the 2016 election. She gave her opinion that vitriol would be released and destroy the entire nation. It looks like Hilary may have known what she was talking about. It appears that many are exhibiting very bad behavior since Trump has been in office but there is a bright side.

The four officers who were responsible for the death of George Floyd have all been arrested. The one who actually killed him has been charged with second degree murder. During the past week a number of police officers have been fired for being aggressive with protesters including two related to the 75 year old man in Buffalo. Gregory and Travis McMichael are in jail for the killing of Ahmaud Aubrey and this sends a message. It lets racists and bad cops know that their actions have consequences in 2020. They may think twice about hurting an innocent person if they believe they will be arrested and convicted of their crimes. What does not necessarily change, however is the content of their heart.

Locking someone behind bars is not going to cause them to have a different world view, but it does keep them off the streets. We have seen time and time again that criminals are released only to return to the lifestyle that put them in prison in the first place. While there have been some testimonies of individuals changing their ways when they get out of jail, this is not everyone's story. If arresting and convicting police officers who are abusive or racially insensitive saves even one life, it is worth it. Thanks to modern technology, it is easier now to know what really happened. The McMichael's at first said that Ahmaud Aubrey fit the description of someone who had been breaking into house in their neighborhood, but police records later indicated that no break ins had been reported.

If not for video footage the truth about how the elderly man was knocked down, and the death of George Floyd both would have been swept under the rug. We all know that these bad cops and racist individuals do not represent the majority, but their recent actions place them in the spotlight. The police should make sure that peaceful marches do not turn into rioting and looting. If someone's life is in danger they should be able to defend themselves. What should not be happening is citizens taking the law into their own hands and law enforcement harming or killing innocent Americans. Now that more people are aware that these situations are real, perhaps some changes will be made. The biggest one however, lies within the heart of each and everyone of us.

In 2020 there are more biracial and multicultural citizens in the United States than ever before. These individuals are often stuck in the middle when circumstances become about black and white. America is supposed to be the melting pot and we must learn to accept those who do not look like ourselves. Even if you are not feeling it, you should at least treat others with respect instead of contempt. Now that law enforcement officials are facing consequences for their actions perhaps others will think twice about using excessive force. Maybe, just maybe with the entire nation addressing these issues and improving sensitivity course for police officers there may be a few who get it. For the sake of the entire nation and a watching world I certainly hope so.

We should be respecting our senior citizens and it was difficult to watch the police officers march by that 75 year old man and leave him lying on the ground. It was even worse to see the life drain from George Floyd's face as the knew of Derek Chauvin choked the life out of him. All Americans must come together and be on the same page, in our neighborhoods, civic organizations and faith communities. We have got to stand up to this bad behavior and continue making certain that those who cross the line face appropriate consequences. The police officers who do serve and protect are truly appreciated and they need to know that Americans admire their sacrifices.