Skip to main content

Social Exhaustion - Random Thoughts From the Latest Non-Indictment

I'm just not sure what to say anymore. To be honest, I don't have the exact words to really describe what happened - again - today regarding the police officer who strangled Eric Garner not being indicted. Truth is, and some may not like this, I expected it. I honestly did, because after all, what else is there to expect? Sadly, what else do we know in these cases? I touched on this very same issue six years ago - SIX! - after the Sean Bell incident. Sticking to the script...and here we go again (Sticking to the Script: The Sean Bell Verdict)

In comparison to the Ferguson situation, I truly feel this one is very, clear, cut and dry. There isn't various witnesses with multiple versions of their own story to what happened. Eric Garner's situation was recorded. The entire incident was. There isn't much to dispute there, other than how to serve up justice in the situation. Video evidence. Homicide cause of death from the autopsy. 

But as we know, the idea of prosecutors ringing up police officers, whom they work with day in and day out, is a glaring flaw in our judicial system. How can we honestly say these are fair trials?

And then there are the protesters, the riots, and the extreme emotions from those who seem to be running with the leeway this situation has given them. Again, I'll be honest, I have no idea why some are finding such "joy" and "revenge" in protesting and demonstrating. Whether it be through non-violence or rioting, the extreme protesting has gone from it's purpose of bringing awareness to the issue, to outright being a caricature of our right to protest, and dare I say, a means of exploiting an issue that is on the border of going from serious social concern to the latest flavor of the month. 

Some of the discussions and comments being used by many are downright unbelievable. The hate being thrown around is similar to the language one would hear in films or read about in books from the 1930's. It's all so concerning. It's all so sad. It's all s frustrating. It's all so well, exhausting. Just so exhausting. 

I just hope several weeks from now, we're still not just protesting and issuing "solutions" and sudden enlightened social concepts for social media platforms, but instead, making serious progress for all of us to move beyond these troubling matters. 

After all, if we don't, then what's the point of all of this? 

Recent Favorites

Dome Pondering Movie Review: The After (2023)

What is it about? In a short film, a grieving man confronts his past when he comes face-to-face with a passenger.  Who is in it? David Oyelowo - Dayo Jessica Plummer - Amanda Amelie Dokubo - Laura  Favorite Scene: It's an extremely short film, so...the final few moments.  Favorite Quote:  None. (not much dialogue) Review: This eighteen-minute masterpiece is amazing. You're absolutely taken on this ride of emotions that ultimately leaves you with a great realization of questioning what we value in life.  The lead character, in eighteen minutes, is powerful. His grief is carried through the film, exploding at the end. It very much leaves the viewer with so many questions - what was his life before the tragedy? What was his life after that moment? Did he ever reconnect with that family? Did he rediscover happiness?  Again, a very, VERY, powerful eighteen minutes that will jolt the heart, mind, and soul about life, what is important, and what we overvalue in its place.  Grade: 4/5

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Thoughts

There's something wrong with the All-Star Game.  Yeah, we've definitely had this conversation before. Expect to pick up this very discussion (again) in July when Major League Baseball has their version in the "Mid-Summer Classic" when it is the ONLY current topic to bounce around in the stratosphere of sports discourse.  What's wrong with the All-Star Game?!  I'm not dismissing the obvious - yes, the NBA All-Star Game is very much at an alarming point of necessary refinement and change - evaluation is needed. What we saw on Sunday night was not disappointing, but outright embarrassing. Also yes, gone are the days when the game flooded your television screen at a respectable 6:30pm on NBC, and you were wowed by the athleticism and star power of the first half of the game, and treated to what felt like the world's best players playing pickup basketball on the grandest stage.  Now? Not so much. So yeah, we got the message. The outrage - and shock TV and hot t

Quick Ponder: Daily Armor

Imagine, if we can see the dents and scratches, the smashes and chaos,  on the daily armor, each of us put on. Just imagine.