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Public officials' actions make you go "hmm ..."
To the editor:
I have read a number of commentaries and even submitted a few myself concerning the dissatisfaction with decisions or lack thereof made by our city officials and Police Department. We have become a laughingstock to other communities, but most of all to the justice system itself. Our leaders clearly send the message that the law does not apply to legislators and executors or people of money or power, but we are swift to execute punishment to citizens of certain ethnic groups. The law was designed to be applied uniformly to all, and in my personal opinion, there should be stiffer penalties applied to "leaders" who knowingly betray public trust and expectations. Apparently, our leaders have never heard nor give any merit to the phrase, "You lead by example."
I have tried to suppress myself from making comments on all the political actions by these officials that disturb me because I don't want to appear to be someone who complains about everything. But at the same time, I feel that if I don't speak out, it will be construed as "silent approval." Where is the logic in some of the statements made by these officials and the decisions they have made? Ponder with me for a moment and turn on the "common sense" switch, and you decide what is logical. The following are just a few scenarios that would make a reasonable person go Hmmm:
The shooting in the back of Terrance Dawson which was ruled justifiable. If Mr. Dawson posed a threat to his hostage, why would police take a chance on further endangering the victim's life by using force against Mr. Dawson, while he had a knife to the victim's neck? I have not been involved in a lot of fights and certainly have never witnessed or heard of anyone fighting or posing a threat with their back to the person they are threatening. Hmmm ...
The IRS debt, which no one still seems to know how this situation happened or who is responsible which resulted in the imposition of a 1-cent sales tax to satisfy this debt, seems to go unquestioned by the city officials. This debt was nearly 1,000 times the amount that Felicia Bell was accused of defrauding the city of, yet while some observant unnamed citizen pointed this fraud out, they were unable to determine anything about the much greater IRS debt. Furthermore, the City Council had the nerve to be incensed, calling her sentence a slap on the wrist, even though she is required to make restitution; yet they seemed unconcerned about this nearly $4 million tax deficit. They even went so far as to schedule a meeting, summoning the prosecuting attorney's office to question them about the sentencing; however did not question the findings in the Dawson case or speak about other issues which should have concerned them which I will further discuss in subsequent examples. Hmmm ...
Blytheville police officers were involved in a shootout in December of 2013 resulting in damage to residential properties and jeopardizing the safety of the residents. To this date, no one from the mayor's office (appoints the chief of police), Blytheville Police Department or the city's Fire and Police Committee chaired by Stan Parks has addressed this issue in any way nor has restitution been made for the property damage. The Fire and Police Committee (which address matters pertaining to the Fire and Police departments) stated that they didn't see where the issue concerned them. This committee is also composed of some of the same Council members who question the sentencing of Ms. Bell by the prosecuting attorney's office. Chief Ross Thompson took personal issue with the residents, questioning the unsafe actions by the officers and commented that "His force will not be run by public opinion." Standard procedures should have already been policy where the officers would know when it is appropriate to shoot, thereby eliminating the need for the public to have to make comments or question the actions of the officers. A pupil is not greater than the teacher so if the chief though their actions were appropriate, it's not wonder they thought there doing the right thing. Hmmm ...
The last issue I wish to discuss is the county sheriff, Dale Cook, not being cited after the car chase. The sheriff himself admitted he was going over the speed limit and that he was not on official police business which would merit his speeding. Just as these police cars are equipped with dash cameras, I'm certain those officers also had radar or some other mechanism for detecting the speed Sheriff Cook was traveling. Not only was the sheriff not cited or issued a warning, when the officers determined who it was, they turned around without even questioning Sheriff Cook and "returned to service." Chief Ross Thompson of the Blytheville Police Department stated that he approved of the way his officers handled the situation. It is clear that the actions, or lack of, by the Blytheville PD is based on who was involved. The chief supported his officers shooting a man five times in the back in the presence of his mother and apparently a wild west shooting in a residential neighborhood occupied predominantly by black residents, yet when a citation should have been issued to another law enforcement officer, he supported no action being taken. Hmmm ...
In observing what is going on not only in the world, but in my own community, I'm beginning to understand why God's Kingdom of Righteousness must come and that man, if left alone, cannot govern himself due to wickedness and sin. Men have the power (by way of what Jesus did on the Cross) to overcome the sin nature, but because they choose to fulfill the desires of the flesh, they harden their hearts to what is right. Just as the prophets of old called for repentance and prophesied of man's ultimate destruction if he doesn't repent, the same holds true today. Isaiah prophesied to the people saying, "Hearing you shall hear and shall not understand and seeing you shall see and not perceive." (Isaiah 6:9-10). This comes from the willful rejection of Truth which will bring about a willful judgement of the hardening of the heart. Simply put, those same persons have no conscience about the evil deeds they do and will make every effort they can to deceive you when it is convenient to them.
Election time is forthcoming and you will experience false promises being made even some back room and under the table offers to persuade you and get you to persuade others to vote for certain candidates some of whom are already in office. For those who are in office, you've had the opportunity to know if their word is true and what they will or won't do for you. Others you may not know, but, surely if they are from the area, someone knows them. A person of integrity reputation will speak for itself and you will know them by the fruit that they bear in addition to others speaking well and giving examples of how they were helped by their service. There will even be some who will have the audacity to interrupt God's worship service and try to use your church as a platform for them to campaign. As you are considering who you will vote for, don't be sold out by events such as barbecues and other underhanded tactics that will be offered. Judge the candidates character and if you really have no idea, ask God to show you the heart of these people. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.