U.C.

This morning on the news I heard about a theory that low political participation is related to commute time. And a theory that this affects those with lower incomes even more.
This led me to a theory of my own.
More mass transit, besides being better for the environment, might help our democracy by getting more people involved.
That's an unintended consequence I could learn to love.

Look deeper

While on vacation with my aunt last week, discussing racial issues, she opined, "They want to stay with their own kind too."
I believe it's true that all people want to stay with 'their own kind'. We are basically timid creatures who don't want to face disagreements.
But it will be a great leap forward in human evolution when we learn that 'our own kind' CANNOT be determined by ANY physical or outward element.
Not skin, clothing, gender, hair - NO outward element.
It would be nice, certainly, if there were some quick, easily visible sign by which we could determine who would make a good companion.
BUT THERE ISN'T!!!
Discovering who you are compatible with - truly your own kind - takes time and a close aquaintance. And when you do find them, they may have NOTHING in common with you physically.
It's possible, just possible that the internet has accelerated this realization. People are beginning to find friends all over the world, with many differences, but similar hearts and minds.
Maybe they can carry this lesson into their neighborhoods.

perspective on police

So one week we are learning of a 12 year old and a 14 year old who kill their teachers, and the next week, when a policeman shoots a 13 year old carrying a toy weapon that looked very much like the real thing, suddenly 13 is too young to be a suspect?
If you believe the policeman was lying about what happened, fine, this is unjustified and tragic. But if he is telling the truth, he really had no other option.
No, you cannot point a gun, toy or otherwise at the police.
And no, you cannot run from the police after they have told you to stop.
Maybe this seems unfair to you, but the police have an unfair job. They can pull over a speeder and get killed.
Can you not imagine how stressful that would be, day after day?
We NEED police, and while the nature of the job may lure people who definitely do not belong in the profession, for the most part, the screening and training process keep them out. If there is misconduct, it needs to be dealt with swiftly and strictly, because they do carry such a heavy load in society.
But that load means society also owes them some consideration. There certainly are bad cops, but that doesn't mean all cops are bad or that it is bad to be a cop. We cannot make them feel that way, because that will push more of them into misbehavior.
And, as bad as we may feel for the family, we cannot let their emotion drive the reaction.