To the Editor,
At 61 years, I’m having flashbacks to the ‘60s race-riots watching the awful goings-on in Ferguson. Haven’t we learned anything, or is history just repeating itself in a ‘New Age’ way?
And it’s not just about racism, it’s about over-reaching authoritarianism—which people never accepted, no matter what their race, colour or creed.
Coming from a police-family, the “militarization of police forces” and a “Rambo-like attitude” is something my Father (R.C.M.P-retired) expressed concern about in the 1970s as he noted how quickly police personnel resorted to overbearing (beating) if not deadly (use of firearms) force against unarmed individuals—often mentally ill and/or high on drugs.
Being pre-pepper spray days, Dad would say, “Whatever happened to teaching hand-to-hand combat, like we were taught (in RCMP basic training) or throwing a net over someone?”
And he also used to ask: “Who is being accepted into police forces and how are they being vetted now?”
Finally, if we aren’t learning from our history then is it any wonder disaffected youth will give the finger to “The Man” like we did as teenagers in the ‘60’s?
Rebellious youth never changes.
Problem is, today some teenagers don’t board buses and travel miles overland to meet on the lawn of the White House to protest war and racial or gender inequality. Instead some are recruited by deadly misguided forms of idealism and run away to become jihadists.
So let’s take a few lessons from Ferguson as we send condolences and pray for their recovery and reconciliation. For there’s a little “Ferguson” to go around, and give us all pause for consideration.
Liz Stonard,
Port Alberni
