Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.25.15

After Kerrick, don’t create more division

Shortly after the judge declared a mistrial in the Kerrick case, some blamed the hung jury on racism. Yet a poll of the jurors said quite the opposite – that race wasn’t a factor.

People need to stop blaming race, and look at a DA’s charge that was hard to prove (voluntary manslaughter vs. excessive deadly force), and to mistakes that both the victim and police officer made that night.

When tragedy occurs, community leaders need to set an example by pulling everyone together to learn and grow from it. Causing more division that leads to fear and mistrust is not the answer.

Justice served, even with a hung jury

The protestors who chanted “No Justice, No Peace” in Officer Kerrick’s mistrial have missed the point about what justice really is. In their minds, only a guilty verdict would be justice, while in actuality justice is the use of authority to uphold what is just.

Justice is taking Officer Kerrick to trial to answer for his shooting of Jonathan Ferrell. Evidence was presented by both the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney. In the end, a jury of 12 citizens decided, in an apparent 8-4 decision supporting Officer Kerrick, that the matter wasn’t as simple or as clear cut as the protestors believe. Both sides had their day in court.

Whether another trial is held or not, make no mistake about the fact that justice has been served.

Don’t let threats determine retrial

Prosecutors in the voluntary manslaughter case against Officer Randall Kerrick say they will review trial testimony and evidence before deciding whether they will move for a new trial. The public is aware that it took a second grand jury to indict Kerrick.

It is also well known that the “dash-cam” video provided little or no evidentiary value. Now we have a mistrial with two-thirds of the jurors voting to acquit.

The Attorney General’s office must now follow the rule of law in its decision and not succumb to threats of violence and unrest. To do so would likely polarize black and white citizens and give legitimacy to mob rule. Society’s goal is to attain justice not revenge.

We all pay, indirectly, for low wages

Don Collins declares we can’t afford to give people a raise. A lot of the current market only hires part time people and pays them minimum wage. You think you could live off of 32 hours at $7.25 an hour? Probably not. My sister can’t.

So she either gets a second job or applies for government benefits. Now where do those benefits come from? You, that’s who.

Not everyone can do a high-paying job, but there is no reason not to pay a living wage and still have your employees at home taking care of their family after 40 hours a week. So either the corporation needs to step up and pay them or you do.

CMS lucky to have teachers like Deal

Do you realize how lucky we are to have Carly Deal teaching our kids? She wants to teach in our broken school system. We have done everything short of daring teachers to work in CMS. And this young woman has stepped up.

What an uplifting story. We could certainly use one about now. We will all benefit. We need more Carly Deals.

What is Trump’s move in hard times?

Whenever one of Donald Trump’s businesses was having too many problems, he merely declared bankruptcy and moved on. If he were running the country, this would not work.

A reward that’s better than a trophy

I agree with James Harrison – participation trophies are a waste of money. I disagree with the implication that kids under 12 years old really appreciate a trophy whether or not they gave an effort.

I recommend a reward that I can still remember many decades later. If we tried hard and played as a team the coaches and parents would take the entire team out for ice cream after the game. Yum, celebrating as a team – win or lose – and nothing to throw away.

And they’ll appreciate even more the trophies they get for winning.

This story was originally published August 24, 2015 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.25.15."