Thoughts on Ferguson

The tragic and controversial shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9, 2014 continues to be a very prevalent topic in the news. Nearly four months after the shooting, there is much unrest in many major cities in our country. The death of an unarmed, African-American teen at the hands of a white police officer will no doubt remain an infamous case for discussion in our lifetime. It may even be included in subsequent editions of history textbooks for future generations to examine and debate.

As I walk through the halls at NDA, I can hear the strong opinions of my peers. Some students have voiced outrage at the lack of conviction of police officer, Darren Wilson. My questions to them are: Were you there? Were you present at the shooting? Were you present to hear the grand jury’s testimony? How can you form an opinion on what has happened 1,300 miles away? Don’t get me wrong, I feel grief-stricken when I think how Michael Brown’s family and friends feel. It is ridiculous that we, as a country, are still dealing with racial tensions in the 21st century.

There are many examples of racial injustice. Consider the case of Ricky Jackson, in Cleveland, who was just released in November after 39 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Jackson, along with Wiley and Ronnie Bridgeman were wrongly convicted of murder due to the coerced testimony of a 12 year old. This “witness”, no longer a child,  recanted his testimony after years of overwhelming guilt. It is sickening that these innocent men lost so much of their freedom over deliberately fabricated evidence.

Michael Brown should not have died. Why did someone our age, a mere teen at the beginning of his life, have to die? In contrast, I also feel strongly that those who were not there cannot unequivocally state an opinion to be true with no personal knowledge. A grand jury heard the evidence and we should respect their decision as part of our constitutional process. We do not have to like or agree, but we must respect the results of this proceeding.

Further action should be taken responsibly through the political or judicial process. Pretending to be all knowing will not help us get to the truth. Riots, fires, fights, and looting are not the answer. Obviously, some of our citizens think this is the only way to be heard. I would ask them whether they have gained respect through their actions or whether they think by destroying their community adequately states their disagreement. Wasn’t there a better way to voice their concerns? It is obvious these injustices should not have happened. The United States has come far since the 1960’s and the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King, Jr. would most certainly not condone this uproar.

It is essential that everyone step back and come up with a plan to curb these recurring instances of injustice. We, as Notre Dame Academy students, need to start with the maturity of our own statements and actions. We should not have an opinion that is fueled by any one side of the media. We should not engage in uninformed commentary. We were not in the courtroom listening to the witnesses. We are not primary sources. We should instead practice equality and justice in our own lives. We should practice compassion every day. It is our vocation to set an example that future generations will be proud of. If everyone took a few simple steps, we could stamp out racism once and for all.