Today's Episode Of "The Stupid, It Burns"

 I've often felt compelled to speak out on something I see in the media.  This does not occur daily, but quite often.

And today's turd in the punch bowl comes from Maxine Waters, allegedly a member of Congress, who is encouraging people to stay on the streets and become more confrontational, per this article at CNN's web site.  

I state "allegedly" because when I get upset, I know sometimes I forget my adult responsibilities.  Which is why I'll never be found as an elected official.  Not that I cannot control my temper, for I can.  But rather because when I encounter foul wind blowing across a cesspit, I'm likely to make a face.

And living just south of Minneapolis for the 30 years has been ... well, it has it's advantages and disadvantages.  Of late, the disadvantages are growing.  But it does not help when an otherwise educated and presumably intelligent adult introduces herself into a situation that did not require her, and in doing so, she pretty well guaranteed that the defense in the Derek Chauvin case will be able to appeal on pretty solid legal grounds.  

I know, I believe that what Chauvin did was illegal.  I believe, from what I have seen, he was the proximate cause in the death of a man who did not deserve to die.  Period.  There are so many spots here where, if some responsible adult had stepped up and said "hold on a second" things would have ended differently.  

 We'll start with Chauvin's fellow officers.  I've seen behavior such as we were shown during his trial.  A person with a group of supporters treating another individual poorly.  Committing minor cruelties on the body of someone who is in no way a threat to them, and cannot even struggle.  I've seen people ignore the advice of others simply because they didn't like it.  I've seen people use force above and beyond what was required.

And in my world, we had a simple title for people who did things like that.  We called them bullies.  

And the very last thing we wanted to do was give them a reason to focus their interior inferior rage on us.  Most of those bullies were small people who felt they had to strike first, before they got it.  Many of them simply wanted to be feared because they were afraid of being laughed at or becoming the butt of any joke.  For you see most bullies haven't got the self-confidence that many of us do have.  Bullies like to be feared because they do not understand the difference between fear and respect.  They seek to acquire a position of power because that exterior power protects them as they lack any influence or power of their own.

Yes, if you're thinking there's a fairly fine line between coward and bully, there is.  A coward runs because they do not know how to act or what to do.  A bully will lash out with excessive force before it is called for because they fear not being able to win a fair fight.  

And Derek Chauvin managed to surround himself with several cowards who lacked the moral courage to do the right thing, and they stood, knelt, or squatted by when a man was killed.

And what makes all of this more heinous and disgusting is because some elected official who should have known better could not keep her mouth shut until after the verdict.  I do sincerely hope that the Hennepin County District Attorney, Mike Freeborn, is looking to send a bill to Ms. Waters for the expenses we of the citizens of the state of Minnesota have had to incur for the trail of this bully, especially since it appears likely we'll have to do it again because she could not keep her mouth shut.

And before you jump up and down and scream at me that she's a Black woman elected to Congress who has every right to express her opinion, my issue is not with her opinion.  It's with two things.  As a member of congress, she is a member of one branch of the federal government.  As a member of one branch, she should damned well know that the judicial system is a separate BUT EQUAL branch.  And it requires due respect.  Unless she wants to join the Trump Brigade and hurl senseless opinions/charges/accusations just to call attention to herself, I'd suggest she wait until the jury returns with a verdict - next time.  She's already fucked this one right up.  And I'm sure while we both want the same outcome, none of it will bring back Mr. Floyd - it will only continue to hurt the people here, of all colors, who have to suffer through the tension and agony of seeing it all over again and again and again.  I find myself having nightmares of Chauvin's smiling face, and it disgusts me.  And frightens me.  

But we need to do it right if we're going to put him away and get a few bad officers out of the barrel.  We need to do it right.  Because if we do not do it right, we are as much of a problem as they are.  And if you don't get that, don't even bother.