Can you look at a person and tell if they are a good guy or a bad guy?
If you can, you should consider becoming a police officer. Now you have to be able to use your talent on a moment's notice and you have to be right every time.
I’ll also point out the bad guys may get upset with your decision and they may pull a gun or knife and question your opinion.
No, I don’t think that being a police officer is a job I could do.
But I do want to be safe and secure in my person and property.
I’m just glad some people are willing to strap on a gun and pin on a badge and go out every day and every night to right our messed up world.
America’s burden
The civil unrest and rioting following the tragic and senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis adds to America’s burdens in the midst of COVID-19 and the economic and political crisis we face.
I will be the first to say there are bad cops. There are also bad preachers, teachers and maybe one or two bad newspapermen.
Americans have a right to voice their objection to both police brutality and lawless violence. And as a nation of law and order, it sometimes takes time to sort these things out and for justice to be served.
I do want to point out America seemed to be behind the arrest of police officers in Minneapolis until the anarchy and rioting broke out. The fires, and destruction of property and neighborhoods has diminished the power of peaceful protests and the ongoing national struggle for equal justice and equal protection.
One of the things I cherish most about this county is – if we are given time – we usually do the right thing.
Sadly, a show of violence usually leads to another show of violence. It’s a vicious cycle and our only hope is the good guys get it right.
Covering cops
I’ve chased cops for more than 25 years.
I’ve known many, but only gotten to call a very select few my friends.
You see, police can’t afford to trust very many people. They must lead a quiet and reserved life as they watch our world abuse kids, sell drugs for millions of dollars and respond to calls for help from crazy people doing crazy things.
Did you know police have one of the highest divorce rates in our country? How would you like a job where you couldn’t go home and explain what you saw and did today to your wife and kids?
And how many of you have to be prepared to be shot at when you go to work today.
I once had a sheriff explain it to me this way:
“Most officers aren’t bad and don’t want to be bad,” said this lawman of more than 30 years. “But you have to be willing to be ‘badder’ than the bad guy. You have to stand taller, be stronger and have the guts to win that fight against good and evil.”
The good guys win
Watch any American western and the good guys win. It’s the way we are raised and it’s the hope of good people.
And while the real world does not always look like that, I do believe good will overcome evil in the end.
“These are the times that try men’s souls,” was first penned by Thomas Paine in December 1776. America has gone through a lot of soul searching since then; civil war, a great depression, world wars, Spanish flu, AIDS, the drug-crazed 60s and a long list of crazy people doing crazy things.
The past few months have not been easy for America and the path ahead looks long. But as I said earlier, good people will overcome.
I hope you will keep the faith, stay safe, work hard and remember we are the good guys and America still is the greatest nation on earth.
Floyd Ingram is the Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. Good guys and bad guys can call him at 662-627-2201.
