Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone!  I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and hearing your opinions in class!  When we started together, most of you hated politics, and now you are ready to go out and change the world!  I wish all of you blessings and success in the future.  Please stay in touch and feel free to visit and post on the blog whenever you like.

So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class.  "What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make it better?"  Answers are due no later than Monday, December 15th, 2014.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter.  May you all have a joyful and peaceful holiday season!  Enjoy the break!

Hands up! Don't Shoot!

I hope you all enjoyed a nice holiday last week.  My Thanksgiving did not go as planned.  As those of you who were in class with me know, I was sick right before Thanksgiving.  At the time, I thought I might have the flu or a sinus infection.  Long story short, I never got any better.  In fact, I got worse.  So much worse, that I had to cancel the work trip that I had planned for this week because my doctor advised me not to fly. 

While I’ve been recovering, I’ve been watching more television than usual.  One thing that has kept me occupied has been the unfolding of events in Ferguson, Missouri.  As I’m sure you all know, on August 8, 2014, Michael Brown, an 18 year old, unarmed, African American was fatally shot by police office officer Darren Wilson.  Brown was walking in the middle of the street with a friend, when Officer Wilson drove up and asked them to move to the sidewalk.  An altercation occurred through the window of the police vehicle which resulted in Wilson’s gun being fired. Brown and his companion fled separate ways, with Wilson following Brown.

What happened next is in dispute.  Some witness report that Brown raised his hands and surrendered, in fact saying, “Don’t shoot!”  Others, including Officer Wilson say Brown turned and started charging the officer.  We’ll probably never know for sure exactly how things unfolded on that fateful day, but what we do know is that Officer Wilson fired a total of 12 rounds, fatally shooting Brown.  On November 24, a grand jury decided not to indict Officer Wilson for his actions, sparking turmoil and unrest throughout the city of Ferguson and in many cities around the world.

My thoughts on this issue are a jumbled mess.  I was raised to respect the police and am grateful for those that put their lives on the line every day for my protection.  I have friends and family members that are police officers.  They’re faced with split-second, life-changing decisions every moment they’re on the job.  That being said, I know first-hand how we’ve been treated when my African-American boyfriend and I have been stopped.  There is no denying that we (and by we, I mean basically him), get different treatment by the police than our white friends get. In some cases, I feel our Constitutional rights have been violated – and yes, I’ve said that.  The sad thing is, it hasn’t just happened once or twice.  It’s happened over and over again.  I’ve felt violated, I’ve cried and I’ve felt rage.  It’s a very small part of what I’m sure thousands of minorities feel across our country in terms of the police.  The whole incident just makes me sad.

So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of the events in Ferguson, Missouri?  How do you personally feel about police and what could be done to bridge the gap between people’s perceptions and reality?”  You must answer both questions in their entirety to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Monday, December 8^th.   As for me, I need some chicken soup and a nap!