Looting Does not Honor George Floyd's Memory

The death of George Floyd is, to say the least, senseless. Whatever Floyd did, it did not call for him to spend his last moments on Earth in agony trying to breathe.

Derek Chauvin, who is allegedly responsible for Floyd's death, is facing charges for the incident. Reports say this is not the first time Chauvin has had to answer for his actions. the scene in Minneapolis has been intense as protestors have called for justice after Floyd's death. Similar protests have occurred throughout the country, including protests that have damaged CNN bureaus.

I will reiterate what I have already said. Floyd's death is senseless. All parties responsible and liable should be stripped of their badges. Those who have sworn to uphold the law should be held accountable to that same law. They should also be tried according to that law. They should have a lawyer and a trial by jury. Witnesses should be called to testify for the prosecution and the defense.

What should not happen is the looting and destruction that has occurred in cities throughout the nation as people continue to call for Officer Chauvin's conviction. Officer Chauvin will have his day in court and he will answer for whatever charges may have been committed.

People of Minneapolis and other cities encaging in sympathy protests are not doing anything to help their cause or demands by destroying public and private property. It is one thing to publicly call for people to be help accountable for their actions. It is another thing to smash windows and set cars and buildings on fire. CNN headquarters in Atlanta was set on fire as a result of the protests.

People are angry. People want answers. People want justice. You won't get any of that if you are destroying property and setting things on fire. The way to get justice is to supervise the police department, the courts, the system. Destroying property and risking injury to others and yourself is not the way. It only risks arrest and injury. That is not what George Floyd or his family would want.

What is really behind the push to re-open Businesses During COVID?

There is a push from protestors across the country to re-open businesses and allow people to return to work. Businesses everywhere, especially small businesses are calling on the federal and individual state governments to allow businesses to re-open and let people go back to work, get off unemployment, and get the economy back on track.

Golf courses in Massachusetts have been allowed to re-open. Hair salons are pushing to go back in operation. I wonder how many of these decisions are politically motivated. After all, this is an election year and there are plenty of incumbent officeholders who are looking to keep their jobs. The last thing an elected official wants to do is upset their electorate.

Countless numbers of people are marching, organizing, and protesting for the government to allow businesses to re-open. I understand the clamor and the frustration, but the truth is, businesses closing and people staying at home are what has contributed to stemming the tide of the Corona Virus. There are people and businesses hurting, but what good is businesses opening if it contributes to spreading the virus. Can you put a monetary value on people falling ill or dying as a result of re-opening the economy? And what of the people who will be going to work? What about the people who will be forced to go back to work because the Government deemed it "safe"? These people will have no choice but to go back to work or face termination. Good luck trying to find a job nowadays. If you're an elected official, good luck facing an angry mob of people who have lost their jobs as a result of the Corona Pandemic.

The best thing to do is to keep things as they are for a longer period of time. No one likes seeing someone lose their job or a local business closing for good, but it is a better alternative to a spike in cases of a disease for which there is no cure.

Greater Good Outweighs Individual Rights With COVID

I think we are two months into Coronapalooza. I've grown accustomed to waiting in line outside a grocery store until waved in by someone, usually a police officer. Instead of walking up to neighbors, I'm talking to them from across the street.

I'm paying some attention to the news. I see the numbers going up and down. New cases. Deaths. I'm social-distancing and doing what I can to help flatten the curve. It's rough for you and for me. It's rougher, I'm sure, for some than it is for others. Everyone is dealing in the best way they can. I'm still waiting for my child's baseball season (I was supposed to coach) to start.

There are a lot of people in the news who are pushing for businesses to reopen, especially golf courses and hair salons. I understand their need and frustration. This is their business. Their livelihood. There are people who are marching and protesting. They want to return to their normal lives. We all do.

Governor Charlie Baker has allowed golf courses to reopen with certain conditions and restrictions. Proponents of hair salons reopening are seeing this as a reason their hope should be fulfilled. My opinion is that both should remain closed. Golf courses are large and it is easy to social distance outside but what about inside the pro shop? What about the chance you are taking in the off chance you come into contact with someone. You take the same chance when you are at the grocery store, I know, but you need to go to the grocery store. That is a chance you actually have to take.

There have been protests throughout the country. People want to go back to their daily lives. We all do. Unfortunately, Covid-19 and how it can be passed does not allow that. People who attend the protest and do so without a mask are exercising their right to assemble. They are also risking exposure to a potentially deadly illness and also putting their families at risk. This is not the right thing to do as we try to let Covid-19 run its course. It only prolongs the situation we are in and pushes an unknown end further back.