Minneapolis Burning

When I first saw the video of the murder of George Floyd, I knew things were going to get bad. Already dealing with a strained relationship between the police and the black community, here we have a white cop slowly suffocating a handcuffed black man on a crowded city street. It didn't long for the video to make it's rounds through the media and it immediately got everyone's attention.

Unlike many of the police-involved deaths in the past, there was not much debate on this one. Everyone, black and white, was saying the same thing: this was a straight-up murder. When a cop has a hand-cuffed guy on the ground and basically kneels on his carotid artery for several minutes, what else can you call it? This guy isn't a cop, he's a thug with a badge....

A few days later, the cop was arrested on third-degree murder charges. Many think that this is too light of charge. And I believe they have a valid point. Maybe second-degree murder might have been more appropriate, I dunno? But when legal teams come up with charges, especially in these high-profile cases, they are looking for a charge to will most likely hold up in court.

Commence the rage.....

Over the past few of nights, Minneapolis (the city where the Floyd murder took place), has taken a brutal beating at the hands of rioters (By the way, there is a big difference between protesters and rioters). Businesses, that were already reeling from the COVID shutdown, were looted and burned. The police building where the arrested officer was stationed was overtaken and burned.

In Atlanta, police cars were set on fire and the CNN headquarters was vandalized.

In Washington DC, an angry crowd threw bricks and bottles at Secret Service agents as they attempted to gain access to the White House.

A Philadelphia bike officer was ran over by a car during a protest.

Countless police vehicles were torched in New Year city while officers took a barrage of bricks and bottles. This is New York, people! These were the heroes of 9/11! And now we're throwing bricks at them? It's heartbreaking to see this....

I can understand the outrage over Mr. Floyd's senseless murder. But what is accomplished by burning down your own neighborhood? Yes, you are certainly getting people's attention. However, it's for all of the wrong reasons. The death of George Floyd is now being overshadowed by the lawlessness and destruction. What kind of message are you sending to America? If you're burning down buildings and throwing bricks at police, you're not a protester anymore, you're a domestic terrorist!

The problems lie deeper than anyone wants to talk about. Instead, we are led to believe that police departments consist mostly of rogue cops who systematically hunt and prey on black men. While one can certainly make the argument that this situation exists to some degree, the overwhelming majority of cops are decent people who put their lives on the line for use everyday.

So what do we do to fix the problem?

First off, we need the good cops to call out the bad cops. Yeah, I've heard about the thin blue line and all of that stuff. But when one of your fellow officers is literally killing a guy in front of you, you don't just stand there and watch him. You take action and make him stop!

And we need real black leaders, and not race hustlers, to step up and speak out about the absurdity of the random lawlessness following these incidents. And we need these same leaders to work directly with high-ranking police and community officials to rebuild these strained relationships. If you have a discussion with a room full of people who you agree with, the status-quo will likely be the result. However, if you have a conversation with someone you disagree with, you'll have a better chance of achieving progress.

And here's something that media likes to avoid: While these controversial police incidents only seem to only be happening in black communities, the statistics would prove otherwise. There are plenty of white deaths at the hands of police as well. In fact, there is actually quite a few more*. The media seem to be very selective on the stories that they run in the situations. They pit us against each other because they know it will inevitably get a reaction and thus boost ratings. Just something to think about...

We should all be equally outraged when people of any color are senselessly killed at the hands of the police. This is the 21st century, the division and hate need to stop. Let's ramp up the conversations and stop trying to destroy each other. I'm betting that George Floyd would agree....

kw

* https://www.statista.com/statistics/585152/people-shot-to-death-by-us-police-by-race/

A Memorial Day Message

As several of his high school friends prepare for a virtual graduation ceremony, a young soldier prepares to get some much deserved rest. He has spent the better part of the day working in the 100 degree heat in a land half-way across the world. From a different perspective, he too, shares in the desire for better days.

Early the next morning, at an hour where most of us are deep in REM sleep, he awakes and gets ready for another day. Although the heat and humidity will be brutal, he doesn't complain. To revive himself, he splashes some cool water on his face and follows the smell of brewing coffee.

He gathers with his fellow troops for a quick breakfast. Afterward, they gather up their backpacks and head out for another day of fighting the good fight. The young soldier pulls a photo of his high school sweetheart from the side pocket of his BDU's. Imagining the day when she will meet him at the airport on his return trip home puts an instant smile on his face. Everyone needs a beacon of hope in these circumstances. And she will be his...

As the young soldier makes his way up the hilly terrain, he jokes with his brothers. It temporarily takes their minds off of the inevitable danger that awaits them. They march on, deeper into unknown volatility.

The soldiers stop around mid-day for a much needed lunch break. They hunker down in a patch of woods that should serve as a good cover from any potential enemy. Making the most out of their MRE's, they exchange light stories about their lives back home. It's during this time that there is a distant rustling in the woods. Although it could be nothing but a small animal, they can not take any thing for granted. They instinctively draw their weapons.....

They all take strategic positions as they survey they area. Whatever or whoever is out there appears to be motionless now. Tensions are high. They need to verify that the area is safe before they can march on.

A tree branch snaps about 50 yards behind the young soldier. He turns around to view the source of the sound. And then everything goes dark....

The trip home would not be as expected. Nor would the reunion with his high school sweetheart. Instead of joy, there would be heartbreak and sorrow. She should be looking forward to sharing a first dance with her new husband. But instead, the high school sweetheart will cry at his funeral while a somber version of Taps plays in the background.

The young man's life was over before it even had a chance to begin. He will always be remembered as an American hero. But even that will not take away the pain that his family and friends will feel. The sacrifice reaches deeper than most people will ever know...

.......................................................................................................................................

I know everyone has been going through a lot during the COVID shutdown. But today, it's not about us. Today belongs to those who gave all.

We are so lucky to be living in the United States of America. And it's because of our men and women in uniform that we are able to bask in it's freedom. To those who made the ultimate sacrifice, America can never repay you. But you will always be remembered as the heroes that you truly were.

kw

Coronavirus - The Longing

Today, I find myself thinking about how simpler things were in the pre-coronavirus world. I'm wondering how long, if ever, we can get back to any inkling of normalcy.  Although I have been able to venture out into society for work-related and personal reasons, it's still far from business as usual.

Under normal circumstances, yesterday would have been the 145th running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. Although I'm not a huge horse racing enthusiast, I do look forward to the watching the Preakness each year. Tina & I started a tradition several years ago of heading to the nearby Two Rivers Steakhouse and watching the race over dinner and few drinks. But this year's dinner date will be delayed until at least October.

So many other things have been put on the shelf due to the COVID outbreak. And as depressing as it can be, for sanity's sake, you have to look forward to better times....

I long for a day when I grab a beer at a local bar/restaurant and engage in spontaneous conversations with random strangers.

I long for a day when I can venture into the Home Depot and not have people react to me as if I were a venomous snake.

I long for a day when I can enter a Safeway and stroll in either direction down a fully-stocked toilet paper aisle.

I long for a day when we can get together for a large family cookout and not have to worry about infecting one another by exchanging corn-hole bags.

I long for a day when I can sit in a crowded baseball stadium and buy an overpriced beer and hot dog. And I want to rub elbows with the person next to me and exchange Oriole stories.

I long for a day when I can take my grand-kids to the local Burger King for Kid's Meals and video games.

I long for a day when I can get back to sitting in 495 traffic on my ride home from Bethesda. OK, I'll take that one back. The free-flowing roads are something that I'm actually enjoying during all of this.

I long for a day when I can have a lengthy, animated conversation with my barber. I haven't went this long without a haircut since I was a teenager. If my hair gets any longer, I'm going to re-string my old guitar and try to join a band.

Speaking of which, I long for a day when I can go see a band. I want to stand on the crowded floor and feel the music with the masses.

I long for a day when my trivia team can sit in the same room and bust Ray's balls about asking bullshit questions.

I long for a day when I can toss my face mask and have good old-fashioned conversations with people.

And lastly, I long for a day when social distancing is a distant memory....

Our society is making slow strides to move beyond all of this. Hopefully, one day soon, this will all be behind us. Until then, take care of each other and be safe....

kw

The Murder Hornet - A Bee's Tale

As if we don't have enough to worry about with the Coronavirus, now we're being told that "murder hornets" have made their way to the States. Yeah, I know, this could be nothing more than a another sensationalized news story. But it's still a bit unsettling.

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a big fan of bugs. And since I'm not particularly a big fan of pain either, I don't like bugs that are the size of hummingbirds and have the ability to plunge a large stinger into my tender flesh.

These so-called murder hornets (aka Asian giant hornets) are quite unique. First off, if you look one square in the eyes, you might be lured into a false sense of relief. With it's cartoonish face, you'll think you're staring at Spider-man. But the sheer size of the creature will make you back peddle and realize that this isn't your average bee. It's sting has been described as feeling like "a hot nail being driven into one's flesh". Comfortingly, huh?

Several years, against better judgement, I decided to throw hands with a large bumblebee. It wasn't quite as big as a murder hornet, but it was pretty damn big nonetheless. So, while I'm out in the yard cutting the grass, he starts buzzing around my head. I guess he was pollinating a dandelion or whatever large bumblebees do and I disrupted him by running him over with my lawn mower. Well, as I found out, bees don't like to be run over with lawnmowers...

Although I was in my suburban back yard, I saw this as a no-holds-barred urban street fight. So, I took my baseball cap in hand and began to swat at the raging bee. With every miss, the bee would fly closer to my head. He actually bounced off of my temple at one point but my cat-like reflexes allowed me to dodge away before he had a chance to drop his stinger. Feeling a bit cocky now, he came towards my head again. But on this attempt, I timed his arrival perfectly and caught him mid-air with my baseball cap. Even though he was a bee, he dropped like a fly. I could almost hear the shouts of  "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"

The bee was laying on it's back in the nearby grass. He was clearly stunned. If he was human, as a show of respect, I would have walked over and helped him up, Maybe we would have even shared a beer and a few laughs. But since he was a bee, I left him there.....

Riding the wave of victory, I proudly put my baseball cap back on and strutted towards my lawnmower. As I threw my right leg up onto the mower deck, I heard a distant buzzing. Before I could even turn my head, I felt a searing pain in my right calf. I looked down and sure enough, there was the bumble bee. Donning a pair of cargo shorts, the bottom half of my leg was a prime target for my opponent. And he fully exploited my vulnerability. He had successfully landed his stinger into my exposed flesh. The damage was done....

Dazed but not yet completely confused, I instinctively brushed him away with the back of my right hand. He floated off into the distant air and left my throbbing calf behind. Now, I was the stunned one laying on my back in the grass. The sting had left a burning sensation that lasted for about two hours. He had set me up and ended the fight on his terms. Well played, Mr. Bumblebee. Well played...

Ok, so now you can probably understand why I am a little apprehensive about this murder hornet. From what I've read, the murder hornet's sting is exponentially more painful than that of a bumble bee. Can you imagine finding one of these things inside of your home? I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that a Super-Sized hornet was lurking around in the darkness of my house somewhere. If that happens to me, I'm immediately putting a "For Sale - As Is" sign on the front lawn and rolling out.

As always, stay safe and be careful out there.....

kw

Coronavirus - One Way Shopping

During these trying and restrictive times, the inevitable need to hunt and gather will periodically come along. I initially tried to limit my grocery shopping to Walgreens. But I eventually came to realize that limiting my diet to beef jerky and white-chocolate M&M's was probably not such a good idea. So, I dusted off my surgeon's mask and headed into the local Giant supermarket.

As I attempted to enter the door, I noticed that it was locked. A person inside the door pointed to the other entrance and mouthed some unintelligible instructions. I immediately wished that Governor Hogan's animated sign language guy was here to interpret it for me. But nonetheless, I followed the direction of the guy's finger and moved towards the other entrance.

As I half-limped across the front of the parking lot (yes, my broken toe is still a bit tender), I saw a middle-aged woman inspecting a shopping cart. She looked at it from a few different angles and then took a cloth out of her purse and wiped down the handle. Figuring that I would sanitize my hands after shopping, I bypassed the personal inspection and wipe-down of my cart. I then wrestled the cart from the other carts and headed inside. Of course, I happened to get a cart with a wobbly wheel. Why does this always happen to me?

As I approached the first aisle, I noticed that there were arrows. Yes, in case you didn't know, the aisles in most of the stores are now one way. So, as I roll my cart about three-quarters of the way down the first aisle, I realized that I forgot to pick up a can of coffee. This presented a bit of a dilemma....Do I break the rules and head back to the coffee shelf in the work direction? Or do I do the right thing and exit the aisle and re-enter it? Can you believe that simple things like shopping for coffee can now be complicated? Nonetheless, I decided to buck the system and backtrack in the wrong direction towards the coffee shelf. No one needs to know this, ok? Can we agree on "what happens in the grocery store, stays in the grocery store"?

As I made my way around the rest of the store, I couldn't help but check out the status of the paper goods aisle. Like a kid peeking down the stairs in hopes of catching a glimpse of Santa Claus, I craned my neck to look down the aisle. As expected, with the exception of one large pack of Bounty paper towels, the shelves were bare. Now, I can almost understand the initial panic and subsequent run on toilet paper. But we're now two months into this pandemic lock-down situation. Why are people still hoarding toilet paper?

As I finished up my shopping and headed toward the check-out line, I noticed there was only one "live" cashier. Everything else was a self check-out station. Don't you think you should get a discount if you're doing the self check-out? If the store is paying a cashier to do this, why would they expect me to do it gratis? Anyway, because the "live" line is full, I go the charity route and scan/bag my own groceries. I always feel the urge to take a "free" item. like a pack of Tic-Tacs, for compensation. But my conscience always gets the best of me and I take the high road instead.

After all of my items are scanned, I go to swipe my credit card. I notice that the credit card machine is covered in thin plastic. On my first attempt to swipe, I catch a piece the plastic and my card gets semi-jammed in the machine. Giving it a firm pull, I tear a half of the plastic off. Now, the plastic is flapping in the wind, leaving most of the keypad exposed. I'm not even sure of it's purpose anyway. I mean, unless you are going to replace the plastic after each shopper touches it, what's the the point?

As I made my way back to my car, I had a brief chat with a lady next to me who was loading up her groceries. We both agreed that these are some crazy times. And we both looked forward to the days when we can, once again, go shopping maskless down bidirectional lanes.....

kw