Given the continuing shoot-first propensities of those American police officers who can’t seem to refrain from killing citizens with darker skins than theirs, in the interest of public safety, might we initiate a “National Buddy System”?
Please, let me explicate…
Whenever, say, Hector Ramirez or, say, Alonzo Washington or, say, Mahesh Singh, or say, Thomas Running Bear heads out in his car to run an errand or whatever, his very first stop, always, is to swing by and pick up his National Buddy System pal, Gerry MacBland, not just for Gerry’s scintillating conversational skills and good-ol’-boy company, but — statistically speaking — because of the increased protection that Gerry’s genetic paleness affords them. Both of them.
Plus, for a wider margin of safety, Gerry drives. Gerry always drives.
Granted, participating in the National Buddy System is a bit of a hassle for Hector (or Alonzo or Mahesh or Thomas) as well as Gerry, but surely ‘twould be an effective deterrent to the on-going quotidian deaths of innocent citizens at the hands of trigger-happy police.
Gren Whitman
Rock Hall
Carol Schroeder says
I would like to suggest that we solve the frequent shootings resulting in death by turning to technology. Someone needs to invent a weapon that can be used from a distance but does not kill. Or perhaps a taser can be invented that goes long distances. This will not cure racism of course but, with training, police could use a weapon that acts as instantly but does not kill. It would drop the person to the ground but he would live. Obviously, we cannot seem to change the police’s conception of danger so let us change the weapon. Would it be that hard?
Diane Shields says
I like this idea! How can we make it work?
Diane Shields says
ps – I have the requisite pale skin to act as a Buddy
Marge Fallaw says
Shades of Harry Golden (The Carolina Israelite, Only in America, etc., an essayist/humorist based in Charlotte, NC) and his “White Baby Plan,” whereby Negroes (the polite term of the third quarter of the 20th century) could borrow a white baby or child (or even a white baby doll) to enable attendance at a movie theater from which they would otherwise be banned.
Gren Whitman says
Ah, yes, the sainted Harry Golden! Thanks for reminding all of us of this funny and brave journalist, and his “Carolina Israelite.” 1902-1981, and born in Ukraine, too! (Just looked him up.)