The tragic death of George Floyd has been followed by another tragedy. There is no other way to describe the events that began the week of May 25, 2020.

Suspect to Victim to Symbol

From initial accounts, on the afternoon of May 25th 2020, Minneapolis Police were called to a possible forgery in progress at the 3800 block of Chicago Ave. When police arrived, they confronted George Floyd. The details of what happened from that point, to where George Floyd ended up on the ground with officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck, is under investigation.

A bystander recorded the event. The video has gone viral. In it, Mr. Floyd is heard saying he can’t breathe and is asking to be let up. For 8 minutes, he repeats his plea. Nothing.

Eventually, he loses consciousness. Millions believe, this is when he died – tragically at the hands of police officers, officers who were sworn to protect and serve.

Immediate anger came from witnesses who were now gathered around the commotion. Three other officers were with Derek Chauvin when Mr. Floyd was apprehended. Not one of the three interceded in making sure that Mr. Floyd’s immediate well-being was secure.

By that evening, there was a consensus around the nation that what happened to Mr. Floyd wasn’t just wrong. It was outrageous! Criminal! People were angry and wanted justice to be served and served quickly. This is where people parted ways.

The Offspring Emerges

As of the writing of this post, three straight days of rioting and looting occurred. Overshadowed in all this, is the rightful, lawful and genuine protest to an injustice that was clear to millions. What followed was just as angering and enraging to many who had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Floyd’s death. Why were they enraged? For some, their property and livelihoods were looted and destroyed. For others they saw the rioting and lawlessness equally appalling as the death of Mr. Floyd.

What Next

Historically, after a riot, communities are extremely slow in getting back to normal. Businesses and other institutions leave, some never to come back. Even when a “come to the table” call is made and done, flight from the community is inevitable, because distrust is fresh. Grievances are fresh. Law enforcement, even when there are bad apples, is still needed to keep cohesiveness in the community. But when they fail, they not only fail in that immediate sense, they fail in providing what a community needs to endure – security. Security breeds hope.

The irony lost on the rioters is that they destroyed the very community they said they were fighting for. Sometimes it takes a new generation. A generation unaware and unaffected of the Tragedy that begat a Tragedy.

I don’t follow this rapper/artist but what he said about the George Floyd Tragedy and subsequently the riots that followed is straightforward and clear. Here’s the article from Dailywire.com.

John Dos Passos

“The Use of The Past”

The Ground We Stand On, 1941

“In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking. That is why, in times like ours, when old institutions are caving in and being replaced by new institutions not necessarily in accord with most men’s preconceived hopes, political thought has to look backwards as well as forwards.”

A great majority of immigrants including myself, migrated to the United States for a better life. Better overall compared to what we left. We voted with our feet. Having said that, a study done in 2018 by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that a growing number of immigrants access welfare at a higher rate compared to non-immigrants. Figure 1 shows that ultimate citizenship doesn’t change that fact.

Knowing this, I simply ask, is that reason to be thankful? According to a Pew Research study done in June of 2019, the US takes in around 1 million immigrants per year. What do non-immigrants think about that? Is this sustainable? Is this something that should just be accepted or must it be changed? Do we change the number of accepted immigrants or do we change the rules for accessing welfare?

This Memorial Day, I suggest you read a great book written by one of the best classicists and military historians. “Ripples of Battle” by Victor Davis Hanson will open your mind to ideas that explain why we do things the way we do and how those battles shaped them.