Jan 09 2009
The Sorrow and the Pity
I don’t usually write about serious topics. Wars, politics, and other grave issues are for wiser heads and greater pens than mine. Critics of the late Duchess of Windsor have pointed out that her letters written during wartime omitted this huge fact in favor of things like gowns and parties, and the same thing can truthfully be said of this dilettante featherhead. But this is so close to home and so upsetting that I just have to speak up.
I mentioned in passing that there was a shooting at my local BART station on New Year’s Day. Shootings are not a rarity in Oakland, but this one caught my attention because it was the station I always use, whether I’m going to the city or downtown Oakland, and it’s only a mile and a half from my house. I guess it’s human nature to give more attention to news items that happen in one’s own neighborhood.
Things went from bad to worse when it was discovered that the young man who was killed was unarmed, lying on his stomach on the platform, and surrounded by BART police and others. Cell phone video shows the officer taking out his gun and shooting the 22 year old father in the back.
The officer in question had his lawyer hand in his resignation at the exact time he was to face an internal affairs investigation. At the very same hour, his victim was laid to rest as family and friends shared their terrible grief at this senseless loss.
Protests followed, and escalated into violence, with police cars overturned and storefronts burned. There were 105 arrests, but there were more protests, more peaceful, the following night. A makeshift shrine is still in place outside the BART station. When I go to work, I walk past the candles, flowers, and messages to the man who died on the platform where I wait for my train, wondering that such a tragedy could occur in such banal surroundings of uninspired concrete, commuters walking over a grave.
4 Responses to “The Sorrow and the Pity”
Horrid to live in such a violent society…I wonder why policemen don’t aim for a limb rather than to kill. This has always puzzled me – they are certainly trained to use fire their weapons .
jx
As a child, I wanted so terribly to become a Police Officer, so since the age of about 12, I exercised, played lots of sport and made my body ready to be one.
At the age of 20, I finally achieved my goal, I appied and was accepted as a Ottawa Police as a constable. Oh, the six months of training was perfect, I was at my best physically and I felt that nothing could stop me now.
I could never have guest what was waiting for me out there when I really was sent on my own out on the street. Out there, you are never always mentally ready for what you see happening around you. It only took a few months to realise that the man who wanted to do such good, could not handle what he saw at that time, so I quit.
By no means am I excusing what the Police do or have done in similar cases and circumstances, you’re right, he could have chosen to aim better, we are trined to do so as a Police Officer, but I always wondered that if I had not chosen to leave, what actions would I have taken in similar circumstances. It takes a very special individual to become a good law officer, many are called, few are chosen, believe me.
Since that time, I turned my thoughts around, studied and read about all kinds of Religions around this beautiful world and became a Spiritualist. So you see, some good always comes out certain experiences in life.
Respecfully
grandpapa
Grandpapa – how wonderful to hear from you! I really appreciate your perspective and wisdom.
Suzy
I have recently decided to retire, now that I have more time to myself, I will be able to read and comment to your blog more often.