I got some pushback on my last post from a good friend, to the effect that I was denigrating all cops, and perverting the notion of justice. Let me say this clearly, and as clearly as I can: I recognize that the radical suggestion I proposed would not be fair, in an individual sense. But don't we tell our children, "Life's not fair"? If we have a major structural problem, such that a recent black Atlanta police chief can express his opinion that 20% of his own department is racist, the inconvenience of losing a job ought to be worth it for the sake of overall justice. I don't think we're ready to consider the idea as white people that this problem is much bigger than we ever thought. What if the problem is not at the margins? What if our attitudes about those who raise their voices against police brutality are more formed by a desire for stability, than for justice?
I do not intend to suggest that I know the hearts of every police officer in America. I do not even intend to suggest that I know the extent of racism among white people in America. I don't even truly know the extent of my own racism. What I intend to suggest is that a free society functions almost entirely on trust. If trust is lost to any great degree, the society itself is in danger. If we have a large plurality of citizens who do not trust the police--and rightly so--our society is in danger. Any sensible person would want to confront an existential threat to his or her society. Confronting this existential threat is worth a few inconveniences, even for those who are not actively participating in the injustices.
One needs only to examine his own thoughts and feelings about the phrase "sensitivity training" to know that we have a long way to go. Because it's no longer about a few off-color slurs with the boys off-duty. People are literally dying at the hands of the police. And frankly, we were a little too casual to assume that those off-color slurs had no impact upon how police would do their jobs.
I shouldn't have to say that I respect the danger of police work. I shouldn't have to say that there are actual bad people in the world of every color, who need to be confronted and subdued by police. I shouldn't have to say that I am a moral absolutist, ever and always. Yet apparently, I do, because I was invited to take responsibility for things I never said. I said we should at least consider--here comes a modification--firing all the white police, and starting over. I never actually said that the very concept of due process should be permanently eliminated, or that every unfortunate person impacted by this is guilty of something. I am saying that sometimes justice is more important than fairness.
I know it's a radical suggestion; I know that to make a suggestion of this type--even to think about it--marks me as some kind of "liberal". But if you have been following this space for any length of time, you know what I think about our labels right now, with respect to politics.
Anyone who has ever held a conservative attitude about anything intends to conserve something. That which is not worth conserving ought not to be conserved. I leave you to consider how much of our society--reflected in the actions of police--is infected with white supremacy, and how far you think we need to go to fight it. I've stated my views, and I don't intend to revise them at this time. Take it or leave it.
I do not intend to suggest that I know the hearts of every police officer in America. I do not even intend to suggest that I know the extent of racism among white people in America. I don't even truly know the extent of my own racism. What I intend to suggest is that a free society functions almost entirely on trust. If trust is lost to any great degree, the society itself is in danger. If we have a large plurality of citizens who do not trust the police--and rightly so--our society is in danger. Any sensible person would want to confront an existential threat to his or her society. Confronting this existential threat is worth a few inconveniences, even for those who are not actively participating in the injustices.
One needs only to examine his own thoughts and feelings about the phrase "sensitivity training" to know that we have a long way to go. Because it's no longer about a few off-color slurs with the boys off-duty. People are literally dying at the hands of the police. And frankly, we were a little too casual to assume that those off-color slurs had no impact upon how police would do their jobs.
I shouldn't have to say that I respect the danger of police work. I shouldn't have to say that there are actual bad people in the world of every color, who need to be confronted and subdued by police. I shouldn't have to say that I am a moral absolutist, ever and always. Yet apparently, I do, because I was invited to take responsibility for things I never said. I said we should at least consider--here comes a modification--firing all the white police, and starting over. I never actually said that the very concept of due process should be permanently eliminated, or that every unfortunate person impacted by this is guilty of something. I am saying that sometimes justice is more important than fairness.
I know it's a radical suggestion; I know that to make a suggestion of this type--even to think about it--marks me as some kind of "liberal". But if you have been following this space for any length of time, you know what I think about our labels right now, with respect to politics.
Anyone who has ever held a conservative attitude about anything intends to conserve something. That which is not worth conserving ought not to be conserved. I leave you to consider how much of our society--reflected in the actions of police--is infected with white supremacy, and how far you think we need to go to fight it. I've stated my views, and I don't intend to revise them at this time. Take it or leave it.
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