Praying for Ferguson: Some Facts about the Situation to Inform Your Prayers
New Item 12/06/14:
‘I Do It to Please God': Missouri Christian Cleans Up Ferguson Following Riots
An excerpt: Terrence asked God, "What can I do?" and this is the response he believed he got from the Lord.
“It’s not just about white or black,” Williams stated. “It’s about all walks of life. I met people who wanted to shake my hand just to say thank you for cleaning up. I’ve met business owners that expressed to me how they felt… It’s just been an awesome experience and it’s just been amazing.”
He outlined, however, that although he has received much applause for his service to the community, he only seeks to please an audience of one.
“Everything that I do, I try to do it to please God,” Williams said. “Everything I do, I try to do it to make Him happy.”
“Since I was a little kid, I always knew that my life had a calling,” he stated. “I want to be able to go out there and spread positive information and help those that may be in danger. So, from the age of seven, I set my mind on that I want to be a police officer, and I’ve never given up that hope.”
Williams is in the final phase of his studies to become a police officer, as has been approved to proceed to the physical fitness test.
“It’s not just about white or black,” Williams stated. “It’s about all walks of life. I met people who wanted to shake my hand just to say thank you for cleaning up. I’ve met business owners that expressed to me how they felt… It’s just been an awesome experience and it’s just been amazing.”
He outlined, however, that although he has received much applause for his service to the community, he only seeks to please an audience of one.
“Everything that I do, I try to do it to please God,” Williams said. “Everything I do, I try to do it to make Him happy.”
“Since I was a little kid, I always knew that my life had a calling,” he stated. “I want to be able to go out there and spread positive information and help those that may be in danger. So, from the age of seven, I set my mind on that I want to be a police officer, and I’ve never given up that hope.”
Williams is in the final phase of his studies to become a police officer, as has been approved to proceed to the physical fitness test.
Most of the businesses destroyed (on Monday night) were minority owned
Before and after pictures of the damage
Legal scholars praise the grand jury for fairness beyond the norm
Convicting Darren Wilson would have been difficult
(my thought: not everyone feels that the process fairly addressed Michael Brown's death. Our law enforcement may have to re-evaluate the freedom to use lethal force in such situations and the expectation of some kind of public trial when someone dies in these circumstances. Perhaps there needs to be more of a hesitancy to use lethal force on the part of police rather than the current threshold of a perceived threat to themselves or to the public (not to say that the Michael Brown case didn't meet and even exceed that threshold). I know not everyone would agree with this but the following cases should give us pause: 13 year old killed with replica assault rifle, 12 yr old boy with toy gun killed by police, and the recent case of a 12 year old with BB gun being killed by Cleveland police are a few cases in point).
(my thought: not everyone feels that the process fairly addressed Michael Brown's death. Our law enforcement may have to re-evaluate the freedom to use lethal force in such situations and the expectation of some kind of public trial when someone dies in these circumstances. Perhaps there needs to be more of a hesitancy to use lethal force on the part of police rather than the current threshold of a perceived threat to themselves or to the public (not to say that the Michael Brown case didn't meet and even exceed that threshold). I know not everyone would agree with this but the following cases should give us pause: 13 year old killed with replica assault rifle, 12 yr old boy with toy gun killed by police, and the recent case of a 12 year old with BB gun being killed by Cleveland police are a few cases in point).
Scores of documents, including testimony from the proceedings as well as reports and interview transcripts considered as evidence, were released by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch. The documents are also searchable, using the search bar at the top right of each document.
Michael Brown's parents call for non-violent protest
"I find it very disappointing that you're not discussing the fact that 93 percent of blacks in America are killed by other blacks," Giuliani said in his Nov. 23, 2014, appearance on the show [NBC's Meet the Press].
His point was that the death of a black teenager at the hands of a white cop was "the exception," and if the country is concerned about black homicides, then it would do better to focus on African Americans.
I'll add this thought here:
Think about the logic of mob riots in one's own community: Some officer you don't know killed some guy you don't know so you loot and burn businesses of people that you do know who had nothing to do with it.
Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown's parents (not to mention other family members and friends)
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles
"I find it very disappointing that you're not discussing the fact that 93 percent of blacks in America are killed by other blacks," Giuliani said in his Nov. 23, 2014, appearance on the show [NBC's Meet the Press].
His point was that the death of a black teenager at the hands of a white cop was "the exception," and if the country is concerned about black homicides, then it would do better to focus on African Americans.
I'll add this thought here:
Even though the destruction is extensive and the mob is rather large, think of how many of the citizens of Ferguson AREN'T rioting though they disagree with the verdict. Let's not judge the whole of Ferguson's minority community on the actions of what probably amounts to a small percentage of the whole.
The rioters are opportunists, thugs, who have no respect, no honor and apparently no future because they have no respect and no honor. If I saw police in riot gear, I would stay away. These confront officers, commit violence against them and willfully destroy and loot in front of them, including police vehicles. What is even more sad are the politicians, media (TIME magazine author excuses the riots and then makes the crazy, self-loathing claim so many white liberals do: "If anything, I am racist because I am white.") and civil rights leaders who make excuses for their behavior.
Pray for Ferguson:
Darren Wilson, the officer involved, and his wife that he just married last month
Gov. Jay Nixon
National Guard members and commanders
The Ferguson police and other state and local police
Minority members who feel that the decision by the grand jury was unjust but who seek redress peacefully
The troublemakers who riot, loot and commit acts of violence
Those who lost businesses/personal property to the riots
Pray for the spiritual well being of this community. May much good come out of much evil. God is able.
Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama
Comments
Post a Comment