Enemy? Accountable?

Today's prompt and query from Witness Wednesday.

Prompt for Reflection

"Here is the true meaning and value of compassion and nonviolence, when it helps us to see the enemy's point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves. For from his view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of [those] who are called the opposition...The world now demands a maturity of America that we may not be able to achieve."

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Query: When you hear the phrase, "it helps us to see the enemy's point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves," what or who comes to mind?

There is no way anything coherent was going to make it out of RantWoman's mouth in worship.

RantWoman is still muddling "enemy," "opposition," and the question of how to pray around say former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

RantWoman has been meditating on the trial of Derek Chauvin. One thread comes secondhand from a young Friend. Talking to the young Friend directly right now is not happening so RantWoman asks that her words be held carefully.

Young Friend is such an ardent prison abolitionist that he reportedly would not even imprison Mr. Chauvin.

RntWoman wants to say "Come on. Derek Chauvin murdered a man in front of the whole word. He was a training officer who RantWoman imagines taught others to brutalize and break the rules. Come ON!"

On the other hand, RantWoman also wants to say "Friend, there are stories closer to home that need mending. Maybe start local."

As far as the actual #ChauvinTrial, 

RantWoman has changed her mind about the trial of Derek Chauvin the former Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd live and on many cellphone cameras. RantWoman spent some of the first days of the trial thinking "do we have to go through all this awfulness? Can't we just stipulate a bunch of facts and do a plea deal?"

RantWoman now realizes that the country needs to go through all of it.

It matters that Chauvin was fired by a Black police chief. It matters that a bunch of white officers are testifying against him, saying that what he did has no basis in their understanding of Minneapolis police department. And it matters that Derek Chauvin will never be involved in training any more police officers.

That does not mean white supremacy has been cured. It does not change the fact that police are being asked to do too many things that should be done by others in a caring society. But it matters that this reality is out there for all to see.

And for another take on all the anguish caused by Derek Chauvin's actions.