Why???

Protests Should Have an Objective

Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chavin was wrong. He caused the death of George Floyd, and he should be held accountable for his actions. The three officers who stood by and did nothing while George Floyd died were also wrong and should be accountable. Those who collectively and individually went beyond peaceful protest were also wrong. The Mayor of Minneapolis who allowed the rioters to burn a police station was wrong. The national media who went overboard to criticize the police were also wrong. President Trump’s inflammatory statements were wrong. Looting and destruction of property were wrong. Everything about the death of George Floyd was wrong. Nothing was right.

My military experience tells me that all operations must have a clearly defined, obtainable, objective. Protest without a definite goal is just noise. Martin Luther King said, “Riots are the voice of the unheard.” But Dr King never advocated riots, and he never held a protest without a clear purpose. I can’t find the purpose of the recent lawlessness. Our Governor jumped on the bandwagon to say, “We must change to achieve justice.” But Governor, officer Chavin is being charged with murder, and the three onlookers have lost their jobs. Is that not justice? What would you have us change? Racial discrimination, everywhere in America, is against the law. Should we change our trend toward diversity in key positions? The Minneapolis Police Chief just happens to be a black man. The Minneapolis Fire Chief is both black and female. They have risen to the highest ranks of their professions. Our last President was a black politician. What would you have us change?

One community leader who organized the protests said they wanted “educational and financial equality”. We declared independence from a tyrannical king with the statement, “All men are created equal.” No one said that all Americans would remain equal forever. We are all offered the same opportunity, but we are not guaranteed educational or financial equality. My Grandfather was an illiterate sharecropper. In 1938, he went to a farm sale to possibly buy another cow, and bought the entire farm. His wife, my grandmother, went to work in an army munitions plant to help make payments. He recognized his opportunity and seized it. My family didn’t have money for college, but I was a pretty good high school football player. I had the opportunity to sacrifice my knees to pay for my education. The opportunity for educational and financial equality is there now. Seize it.

Another protest leader becried, “years of racial injustice by law enforcement.” How does throwing rocks and firebombing police cars solve that? Mobs shouting that the “police are our enemies” will only make it so. Police officers are recruited from the human race, and unfortunately, some humans are prejudiced. Most police officers, however, are dedicated to protecting all citizens. Why are we spring loaded to declare every example of police misconduct a racial incident? The daughter of the Mayor of New York added her voice to those who protest injustice. The injustice she protests is not her own, however, but the perception that others are treated unjustly.

Maybe what needs to be changed is a mindset. John Lewis and his peers in the Congressional Black Caucus spread the belief that black Americans are handicapped by society. The Chairman of the NAACP, Leon Russell, has a job because racism is perceived to be widespread. Lenard Pitts is the voice of oppression. The objective of his column seems to be to promote the concept that white America oppresses Black Americas. We need to promote black role models. If Barack Obama can become President, so can any intercity youngster. If Ursula Burns can work hard and smart enough to become CEO of Xerox, so can you.

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.