27 April 2008

I am a member of a minority. Although I am not a member of the oppressed African-American minority, I really wish I were. Seriously. Because if I were, I would have grounds to write on the Sean Bell acquittal. As it is, the only foundation I stand on is the common bond of humanity. As a fellow human being, I write against Justice Cooperman's decision, and call out the case for what it is:

This is a democratic civilization, is it not? The last time I checked, no one informed me we have become a police state...

Of truth and justice, these are very skewed ideals when left to men. In the hands of the corrupt, truth and justice are tools, manipulated for a purpose, for a cost-benefit, for a leveraged power, so in the end, they are but ersatz versions of their original intent, purpose, and value.

Facts people, facts.

Facts are what should be foremost to and provide the exclusive basis of the judicial system. I naively thought it was. I guess I am wrong, miserably wrong, as the Sean Bell case proves.

Here is my rough understanding of the facts:

I thought the purpose of opening fire - the only purpose - is to stop the suspected criminal from fleeing. If you are a good shot, you only need to fire once. Opening fire over fifty (50) times is intent to 'shoot to kill' - intent to murder - and I thought the police badge is a license to serve and to protect, not to murder the innocent.

Perhaps the only fact that matters in the case is Sean Bell was an African American.

Here are two equally important facts: the police officers were incompetent at their job and murdered and got away with murdering an innocent man - a fellow American - in cold blood.

To Justice Cooperman and the three officers, the one caveat I have is this:

Kharma man, kharma. I would really hate to stand in your shoes when that time comes...

How about this America:

Let us call a spade a spade and do away with the self-deception. You are anything but the Land of the Free. You are not nation of democracy. Your justice is certainly not blind. You are a sham and can take a lesson from Finland.

To Americans today:

What grounds do you stand on when you take pride in being an American?

Haven't African Americans been through enough? How much further must we beat them down? How far deep into the cesspool will we drown before we take steps to correct centuries of wrong?

America is so young, and yet it has committed and continues to commit its lion's share of atrocities, abuses, and crimes that far outweigh its years...

Perhaps a little stunned paralysis is necessary to force us to pause and reconsider, or is this just wishful thinking...