In The End

Indictment.  No indictment.

There was never going to be an answer that satisfied everyone.  There simply wasn't. 

What there was going to be is what we see happening.  Anger.  Sorrow.  Fear.  Suspicion.  Gloating.  Goading.

And at the end of it all, when the collective attention of the spectator-comment-board-Facebook-armchair-jurist rabble is turned by something newer and shinier, all that will remain is this:

Another life is gone too soon.

All evidence presented to the Grand Jury will be released.  It will be available for any interested party to wade through and decipher.  And in the end, all that will remain is this:

Another life is gone too soon.

Will this be a teachable moment?  For police?  For media?  For the general public?  Sadly, I doubt it.  The life that was lost did not belong to anyone of import.  Just another young black man easily stereotyped as a "thug," "punk," "criminal."  And just another police officer just as easily tagged as a "dirty cop."

Sadly, this country's history holds that our most important changes; most stunning civil rights victories; most eye opening lessons come only on a wave of blood.  When will we learn without bloodshed?  When will we embrace changes without first embracing carnage? 

What is the TRUTH in Ferguson?  I. Don't. Know.  Until the evidence is released and I invest the time, I don't know.  What I do know is this:  In the moments of their encounter, a life was taken, and another life was altered forever.  And the truest answers of what happened went to the grave with one, and remain in the conscience of the other. 

To everyone watching Ferguson:  If you agree with the decision, don't gloat.  If you disagree, violent words online are not going to change the answer any more than will violent action in the streets.

Tonight there will be serious unrest in Ferguson.  No, violence is not the answer.  But as I go to bed, I fear waking to find that another life, more than one, will be gone too soon.

Because tonight, so many are blatantly celebrating - that has already been documented. 

And because tonight, the community of Ferguson is angry - that has already been documented.

And in the end, all that will remain is this:

Another life is gone too soon.  And another teachable moment is passing us by on a river of someone else's blood.

Comments

[nikki in nyc]

What I don't get is what burning down businesses, many black owned, proves? How does it get justice for the Brown family or anyone else?

[Chicky]

Amen Cindy. Amen.

[Cindy S in Jax]

I am having such a hard time with this. Nothing about that August day was right. It was a day of everything wrong. Theft. Intimidation. Thumbing nose at authority. Shooting to kill rather than to maim. Every single step that led up to a death was wrong. But it is still a death. And while the Michael Browns of the world may not be the angels they are made out to be, there are far too many other young black men that are seen as a threat when there is no reason for them to be.

[Katy]

please pardon (or delete) my comment. apparently what I saw was an attorney explaining THE process of a grand jury and not particularly THIS grand jury. I didn't see the prosecutor's statement last night fully (was partying with friends and just heard the grand jury's decision), and have since learned this morning that no charges are to be filed, based on what evidence they have.

[Linda S]

Too many people posting about a "not guilty verdict." That is not what happened. The grand jury did not hand down an indictment. It could still be pursued by the prosecutor, but that is unlikely given his track record and demeanor last night.

[Katy]

Posted this on FB, and I'm not a lawyer, but from what an attorney commentator said, what this means is that the grand jury did not find enough evidence to indict the officer for FIRST degree murder, however, the prosecution could still move forward with charges, lesser charges, if they feel the evidence warrants same. Maybe they do have enough evidence, and maybe they will prosecute....we'll just have to wait and see. But agree Linda, the violence and rioting is NOT the solution to making that happen.

[Chicky]

The whole thing just makes me sad.

[NH/NY Diane]

I truly believe that if there had been evidence to show the police officer did wrong, he would have been indicted. I hate that people (as usual) don't look at the whole picture.

[Pam J.]

So true. No matter the final decision, not everyone would be happy.