I have made an editorial decision here at The Tempest. From now on, I resolve to have nothing to say about any news item that concerns allegations of police brutality. It's not that I don't care about such stories, it's just that it doesn't matter.
Over the past couple of years it seems that there have been hundreds of incidents of policemen behaving badly. There emerges jumpy video that seem to catch the cops red handed in some excess. Then the brightest lights of the grevience industry show up, bullhorns in hand, to fan the flames. Soon a catchy slogan is born...Hands Up, Don't Shoot...Black Lives Matter. But then counter-factual evidence begins to emerge calling into question the initial rush to judgement. Mitigating factors contribute to a new narrative that seems to at least partially exonerate the police. But by that time, it's too late. The protests, sometimes violent have already begun and there's no turning back.
Then it's on. Liberals are out for blood, convinced that the police are no different that the Gestapo of Nazi Germany. Conservatives go all in with the police, decrying the soft on crime anarchy of the left. You look at Facebook after any of these incidents and you will see clearly drawn battle lines with no room for dissent. If you show any sympathy towards the protesters, or question the tactics of law enforcement, you will get hounded by the law and order crowd. If you show support for the cops, you'll be judged as just another priviledged, racist white guy who doesn't think that black lives matter.
So, I've decided not to go there ever again. Part of the reason I have made this decision is because of one of the operational philosophies of my life which is:
" With regards to any subject about which I develope a strong opinion, there is at least a 50/50 chance that I will eventually be proven wrong by events."
What follows is a partial list of just a few of the many things about which I have been proven very wrong during my life:
1. There is nothing of value above the Mason-Dixon Line. Umm...Maine.
2. The Republican Party is the party of small government.
3. Lebron James is overrated.
4. Indian food is gross and you have to sit on pillows when you eat.
5. Walt Whitman was an over-hyped hack.
6. My son will never make it through college because he's so disorganized.
7. Jon Manchester isn't good enough for my daughter.
8. If I can just make $------- a year I'll be happy.
9. God is interested about my views on tax policy.
10. Eventually the Cubs will win a World Series.
So, with this formidable track record, I will exercise restraint with respect to writing opinion pieces about something as incompetently reported and evidence-free as domestic unrest.
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