What if they threw a war and no one came?

 There is a long, deep trench and many people are lined up facing it. There are many soldiers around the trench, making sure that the unarmed are under control. The soldiers intend to shoot the men and women and dump them in the ditch. What would happen if one brave soul among those threatened was to turn to face their murderers? Would it change anything? Would one soldier see the humanity in the eyes of the resistor? Would others in line turn to resist the cruelty of men and testify to the common understanding of our shared suffering in the world? How many innocents would die anyway? Would any hearts be changed by our love of peace?

Falling

 

Time passes

And men fall down

Passing the torch

And women fall.

Reaching for the stars

And children fall down.

This is the truth,

Our raison d'etre,

Then we fall down.

It isn't complicated,

Clear as a bell,

We grasp at moonbeams

And then we fall.

From time immemorial

It's been done before.

We do what we have always done:

We learn to tie shoes,

We learn to fight war,

We build tall buildings,

We sing a song

And then

We all fall down.

The only thing that means a damn

Is not our footprints in the sand.

It's not our children.

Not the ladder climbed.

It's soul and compassion

And loving kindness shared.

Then we fall

Down.

Protect and Serve

Could you be a cop? You would be admired by many, feared by some, and hated by others. Could you wield deadly force, if necessary? Aye, there's the rub. In the heat of the moment, could you take another''s life to save your own or that of another? When the smoke clears and the one who threatened is found to only have fake gun, how would that make you feel? 

In Madison, until recently, cops were told "the purpose of deadly force is to stop the threat." This seems to be a clear-cut directive that would entail little hesitation when time is of the essence. Now suddenly, cops must first consider that their duty is to ensure the "protection and preservation of all human life", victims and perpetrators alike (New Police Procedures). This new policy takes into account not just the appearance of imminent violence, but the circumstances in which it occurs and the state of mind of the individuals involved. And still a decision needs to be made on the fly as a situation unfolds. The point is, that cops have other options, including deescalation and non-lethal force. 

The trick is processing this additional instruction in a short amount of time. The other part of it is overcoming preconceived notions about the citizen being confronted. Will the mentally ill and people of color be given the the same benefit of the doubt? Training to implement the new policies will help cops adjust the way they interact with the public, but changing their cultural response may take a more concerted effort.

Grasping at straws

Conflict comes in many forms. This year has been tumultuous on the political front, with everyone choosing sides and no one giving an inch. As a liberal it has been weirdly satisfying to see republicans battling other republicans (WI Republicans squabble over state budget ). On the other hand, it just increases the ongoing splintering across the political spectrum leading to greater inertia on issues that need to be acted on.

There might be one bright note that could come from this free for all, and that is the possibility that those remaining moderates of either persuasion might feel more inclined to break ranks, meet as equals, and forge a compromise on legislation that would both help people and not crush the economy. It is a slim hope, but one I grasp at.

those who serve

This veterans day, I would like to honor those who served. Not because they traveled to war torn countries and protected the US from threatening forces by systematically eliminating the enemy, but because they were willing to risk so much for an ideal of homeland and freedom. What is appalling about this sacrifice, is that their patriotism was used as a foil by rich and powerful men to preserve their own wealth at the expense of those less fortunate.

Someday, peaceful missions will not entail the deployment of air and ground troops, but rather healers, teachers, engineers, and social workers who seek to mend the wounds of the world, not throw salt in them. Until then I urge you to serve as independent emissaries to the struggling families and individuals of far-flung corners of the earth, where little is known of mercy and hope has not been imagined for many, many years.

Call to Arms

Young men have been running off to war since men filled the valleys and rubbed shoulders with another sort.
They have been called by men of power with voices of fervor and admonition.
They have been promised honor and glory and the reward of the righteous.
They have been taught to hate and kill and set fire to the land.
They have been average men, not murderers.
They have been seeking meaning in their lives.
They have been mourning the loss of their homeland, their bright futures, the love of family.
Will you also join the fight and kill other young men?
You seek to protect the innocent, but when you fight, kill the real enemies of men:

• prejudice,
• injustice,
• poverty,
• intolerance.
•  

If they were white

Watching the videos of police responding with lethal force in traffic stops and simple pedestrian violations, it is hard to believe that grand juries fail to convict officers of illegal conduct and that federal investigations also fail to indict the officers of violating citizen rights.

They say that procedures were within the law and that the actions taken were justified. You just wonder if things escalated so quickly because there is no policy in place to provide for a calmer treatment of circumstances. Was the suspect about to kill someone or was he just not paying attention and went through a stop light?

You have to wonder if the police are so quick to rush to judgement when the person stopped is white. You just wonder if the person would not have even been stopped if the person was white. White folk do not have a monopoly on lawful conduct. Black folk can drive their cars from one side of the city to the other, but they better not look cross-wise at the man, because then they're guilty from the get go.