another flag down

  Been hearing about the removal of the BLM mural in D.C. I'm hearing a lot of complaining, moaning and groaning about that. It's the removal of history! Reminds me of what I heard while they were renaming military installations and removing statues. I guess you'd have to say it only matters when it is your history being removed. What the mural, statues and naming actually meant isn't the important part in any of that, it's the virtue signaling that matters. Now, another signal flag has been taken down. We're going back to 1963. It's a giant setback alright, no mural on the road in D.C. 

  It cost the taxpayers an estimated 7.8 million dollars to construct. It was constructed in response to, or as a part of, the George Floyd protests. And just what was that all about? Well that certainly depends upon your point of view. The media and the general consensus is that George Floyd was murdered by the police. It is one of those turning points in time. Was he murdered, or did he die as a result of an overly aggressive police reaction? Whatever the verdict is in your mind, it was a pivotal moment. That moment is now being relegated to history. It happened five years ago. The same thing could have happened to anyone, and probably has on more than one occasion, but that incident sparked a riot, really, a series of riots. It began the "defund the police" campaigns. Yes, if we defund the police and just let everyone fend for themselves we would all be safer. That is what was being said. 

  It will go down in the history books as the murder of an African American man by the police, by civil authority. Dereck Chauvin was convicted of second degree murder along with other charges. Whether it was because of Floyd being an African-American isn't known, and never will be. Because Derek Chauvin is white it is assumed that is the case. Was the verdict influenced by threats of civil unrest if he was acquitted? Was the verdict influenced by the city reaching a 23 million dollar settlement with Floyd's family before hand? 

 These are all factors that should have been considered but his appeals were denied. Do I think he was responsible for the death of George Floyd? Yes, he was. Was it murder?  In Illinois second degree murder means you intended to kill the individual but there were mitigating circumstances. Did Derek Chauvin intend to kill George Floyd? No, I don't think he did. It was a reckless disregard for human life, no doubt about that, he has a history of excessive force, maybe a bit pathological, but I don't believe he intended to kill Mr. Floyd. He did cause his death however. 

 There is so much more to all of that that what can be written. We are talking about human emotions, feelings, biases and prejudices. A single incident that can not be definitely explained by anyone. It's like trying to explain the reason for the civil war. History will define that and history will be rewritten many times in the coming years. This is rather fresh, only five years ago, but with todays fast paced media the majority has moved on from that. The BLM mural has been dismantled. That movement has declined in support considerably overly the last five years. People are moving on. Just as civil war veterans from both sides held reunions, shook hands and shared the sorrow and horror of that conflict BLM is becoming history. 

 "We envision a future fully divested from police, prisons, and all punishment paradigms, a future whish invests in justice, joy and culture." That is the official statement on the BLM website. It's quite a vision. A future without accountability. Just everyone being happy and enjoying their culture. If I believed such goals were attainable I would join that movement. They are not. You can not have a society where everyone just gets to do whatever they like and there is no accountability. No punishment for anything! Just do as you please. I don't think that is going to work. Black Lives Matter! Yes indeed, all lives matter regardless of race, creed or national origin. And when others are injured, someone has to be held to account! Derek Chauvin was held accountable and justly so. BLM states their goal as no police, no prisons and no punishment. Under what conditions would that be possible? If that contains two or more people, you are going to need all three.