I am writing in response to “Ferguson grand jury protest lands In Dolores,” (Journal, Dec. 2).
While I respect Maggie Cooper’s lessons to her daughters about voicing their grievances in regard to true injustices, she has done a grave disservice by not giving them lessons in critical thinking and logic at the same time. The mixed-race grand jury chose not to indict Darren Wilson because credible witnesses and forensic evidence clearly showed that Wilson could not be successfully prosecuted for a crime in a court of law. Undoubtedly, the federal probe into whether Wilson violated Michael Brown’s civil rights will come to the same conclusion. Sadly, this verdict did nothing to stop the misguided and ongoing mythological narrative (“Hands up, don’t shoot,” etc.) advanced by unreliable witnesses, professional race-hustling agitators and well-fed progressive commentators.
Even though criminal justice and law enforcement reform are needed in many parts of the country, and no one should be shot for stealing cigars, Michael Brown was clearly an aggressor and Wilson showed poor judgement in what turned into a tragic situation for everyone involved. Neither burning down minority-owned businesses nor holding up signs along the highway in Dolores will alter this truth. I would say that thinking for yourselves logically rather than allowing inflamed passions to guide you wins every time.
Turn off MSNBC and “Democracy Now!” (and to the right, Fox News and Rush Limbaugh). If you truly believe that black lives matter, then work and fight for economic growth and public school reform in disadvantaged communities. All the rest is just stagecraft.
John Mumaw
Cortez