I Have a Dream..A Victim Free Society!

I truly tried to avoid weighing in on this situation. Yet here it is 4:30 AM and if I'm ever going to get any sleep this is going to have to come to light. President Obama took the time to comment on it so I'm thinking it deserves my input as well.

As the story was told to me a Harvard professor arrived at his home after a trip to find he couldn't gain entry. It's not clear if he'd misplaced his keys or the entry was damaged but I can feel his frustration. He and his partner decided to enter the home using force instead of calling a locksmith. I'm not sure what the thought process was here as a service call from a locksmith has to be cheaper than repairing a doorframe on a house. Anyway a neighbor overheard them gaining entry and as any good neighbor would do called the police for assistance. Apparently this abode has been vandalized prior to this incident, so it was a reasonable assumption for anyone there was a crime being committed. Officers arrive to find two gentlemen inside the residence. Not being privy to their frustrating situation they question their right to be in this house. The Harvard professor assuming his tenure is worldwide becomes indignant and arrogant, causes a public disturbance, and the officer arrests him for disturbing the peace.

That's the story as it should of been told using the only information that is pertinent to the situation. For all men to be treated equal, as defined in the constitution, these are the only details that apply. You see society isn't ready for equality, or the story would end there. It turns out the professor and his counterpart are black, and the arresting officer is white. Because this difference in skin tone somehow the story gets skewed. The professor becomes a victim, and the law enforcement officer is accused of being racist.Let's examine this.

A highly educated individual is confronted with a frustrating situation. His home is locked and he cannot gain entry. Decision time, break in or call for assistance? I've already questioned the thought process, he chose to damage his residence in lieu of calling a qualified professional to assist him. Bad decision? The results say it was. A trained law enforcement official arrives after a complaint from the neighbor of a breaking and entering, reinforcing my bad decision assumption. The police officer is confronted with a loud, arrogant man, who makes another bad decision, he chooses to be uncooperative. The professor then makes yet another bad decision and accuses the officer of racial profiling. The officer happens to be an instructor for race relations. So far the only bad decision the officer has made was to come to work that day. It's determined that the professor is in fact the home owner and the officer attempts to leave. The professor makes his final bad decision, he pursues the officer outside and continues his disrespectful rant. The officer has had enough and makes a decision to arrest the professor for disturbing the peace, the only decision the officer is called into question about.

Here's why I can't sleep! There are so many life lessons in this story! First and most obvious is the decisions you make determine your results in life. The professor decided to become a victim, everything that transpired that evening was not his fault and a direct result of the color of his skin. He went into "self betrayal" mode. His actions from that point on were fueled by a rational that instead of the officer protecting his property, he was there to pick on him because of the color of his skin. He was faced with a choice, cooperate and end the issue or rational-lies his bad behavior with self betrayal. As I pointed out he wasn't making very good decisions that evening and it just continued.When you see a self-justifying world your view is distorted. He inflated his own virtue.

The second lesson is putting other people first. They were likely both guilty of not doing this. View the world from the other person's perspective! The officer was confronting a possible life and death situation. He couldn't have known if the two men he encountered were armed criminals or victims. A little smile and brief explanation of the frustrating situation would of gone a long way in this instance. The officer might of seen the situation with a clearer head had the intensity level been lowered by some understanding. Sympathy flows better when your not being screamed at!

Then there is accountability. Man, is this lacking in our society. Who created this situation? If you follow it back to it's root, it was inflamed by a series of bad decisions by the professor. The policeman wasn't responsible for him not being able to gain entry to his home. Truth be told a quick phone call to the local police asking for assistance would have been a good decision Look, I realize the professor was embarrassed and frustrated, but that is just an excuse. There is no excuse for bad behavior. It also speaks volumes to his character that he denies accountability for the incident and plays the victim card.

Here's what I really find disturbing. This learned man is teaching this behavior to our youth! He's been and is a mentor and an educator to impressionable minds. Harvard is touted as one of the highest academia in this country, and this is a representative of the influence it teaches? I'm thinking some people skills training is in order here,.along with classes about integrity, character, and accepting accountability. Enough said! The whole situation is just plain ugly.

Let's be accountable for our decisions. Something good can come of this! Your only a victim if you chose that path, and the decision is yours. We are all born with equal opportunity, our choices determine our outcome. Decisions have consequences! Your attitude is a difference maker!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill