What a Strange World - #01

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These are the facts...

 ​1.    The local police have been called to a hotel where a man was seen with a gun.

2.    The race of the suspected gunman is unknown to Officer Ronald Kerzaya, who happens to be the first police officer on the scene,

3.    Upon arrival at the hotel, Officer Kerzaya pleasantly greets an unknown (White) man who is wearing a plain red shirt by saying “Hey, sir. How we doing?” (at :40 into the below video provided by the police) - [Remember - Officer Kerzaya does not know if this person could be the suspected gunman]

4.    The (White) man in the plain red shirt is not wearing any identifying hotel or employer clothing.

5.    The (White) man in the plain red shirt is apparently a hotel employee who literally tells Officer Kerzaya that THE SUSPECT IS A WHITE MAN.

6.    Exactly two minutes later (@ 2:40 into the police video), Officer Kerzaya holds an unknown Black man at gunpoint. The Black man, Mr. Trevonyae Cumpian, is wearing a hotel uniform and completely complies with the directives of Officer Kerzaya, while trying to respectfully engage the officer in a conversation... all while a loaded handgun is pointed directly at Mr. Cumpian's head. The Black employee, Mr. Cumpian, clearly states, "I work here," and he is clearly wearing clothing that validates that fact.

7.    Officer Kerzaya tells Mr. Cumpian, “I am responding to someone with a firearm WHO MATCHES YOUR DESCRIPTION.” (@ 2:54 into the video)

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Let's review:

• Without knowing the race or color of the suspect gunman, Officer Kerzaya pleasantly greets an unknown (White) man wearing a plain red shirt with “Hey, sir. How we doing?”

• The unknown (White) man in the plain red shirt is a hotel employee who tells the police officer THE SUSPECT IS A WHITE MAN.

 

• Officer Kerzaya subsequently tells a Black man at gunpoint, “I am responding to someone with a firearm WHO MATCHES YOUR DESCRIPTION.” (@ 2:55 into the video) 

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As a person of color who has had far too many police handguns aimed at my head for absolutely no reason at all, I find this incident shockingly, disturbingly… ordinary.
 
Please review the above facts and the associated video with an open mind and an open heart.
 
At least attempt to imagine what it’s like to stare at the dark, potentially life-ending barrel of a gun wielded by a uniformed police officer.

And then ask yourself why Officer Kerzaya would say what he said.
 
Notwithstanding the vast number of law-abiding Black men, ALL police officers have absolute license, impunity, and latitude to shoot first and ask questions later.

Notwithstanding the vast number of law-abiding police officers, most police officers have absolute license, impunity, and latitude to illegally shoot first and ask questions later… with likely no accountability for the shooting **OR** the answers to the questions asked later.

Interestingly, the man in the plain red shirt could have easily been the gunman.
​Imagine if he were, indeed, the gunman...
"Hey, sir. How we doing?"
~ BANG! ~
He's dead.
Racism affects all of us.

What a strange world it is in which we live.

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​​John H. Clark III is an optimistic realist.

Principal consultant at The PIE Group, and Executive Director of TeenBuilding USA, [a non-profit 501c(3)], John believes better development of leaders is what we (all) need.  And to be better organizations, we need more good leaders, not followers. To build better leaders, we must start with the individual (you, she, he, and me).
 
Described as “an innovative leader,” John teaches leaders, organizations, and individuals how to inspire each other. With a bold goal to inspire a worldwide community of optimistic realists who continuously accept, adapt to, and achieve the bold and beautiful concept of The Ideal Life, John is leading a movement to inspire people to apply his trademarked mantra {Accept. Adapt. Achieve! ®}.
 
An innovative business manager and retired naval officer, John is fascinated by leaders and organizations that make the greatest impact within their organizational culture and within the “real” world — people who “get it.” Over the course of his life as a military leader, corporate mentor, and innovative content creator, John has discovered a wealth of insight about how we think, act and communicate within our respective work/life environments. As a career naval officer, mentor, educator, and optimistic realist, he has devoted his life to sharing insights to assist in our quests to become better at what we all do – live @ work!
 
An optimist with a penchant for writing about realistic solutions to the challenges of everyday life, John is the author of 3 books: a leadership-development insider, The Ideal: Your guide to An Ideal Life, a teen-focused guide, Getting Out: Expert Advice for Today’s Teens, and the Christian-based book, God’s Heartbeat: A Powerful Premise for Leading a Christian Life.
 
He delivers a unique and refreshing point of view to life's seemingly overwhelming situations. 
 
Through books, blogs, and everyday conversation, John's message resonates with an empowering blend of ideals that enrich, uplift, and authorize people to set and achieve goals far beyond current mindsets.  An engaged community advocate and authentic leader, his trademarked phrase is a winner: