Pants Up! Don't Loot!

Black Lives Matter. That's the new mantra following the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of police officers in Ferguson, MO and New York, respectively. Yes, black lives do matter. As do all lives well lived. Yet I can't help feeling that the only people who don't think black lives matter at all are the African American victims themselves. In both cases, the victims died because they were in the process of committing an illegal act.

In Mr. Brown's case, it is well established that he committed strong armed robbery stealing cigars at a convenience store minutes before being confronted by Officer Darren Wilson. He then further inflamed the situation by reaching into the police car and assaulting a peace officer while trying to reach for his gun. So no sympathy from many of us who feels he deserved what he got. As for the whole Hands Up Don't Shoot? We now know after the grand jury testimony that that was a lie perpetrated by many unreliable "witnesses." Michael Brown never even tried to give himself up to Officer Wilson but instead attempted to charge and attack him before he was fatally shot.

Mr. Garner was likewise committing a crime when he was brought down by the police. In this case he was trying to sell illegal cigarettes on the streets when he was questioned by officers. He then ran away instead of facing questioning and arrest. His resistance eventually led to him being forcefully subdued. If he had given up peacefully, knowing that he was committing a crime, his own death would have been prevented. Again no tears here.

When the grand juries in both cases heard all the evidence, they rightfully declared the officers innocent. This led to weeks of rioting in Ferguson and marches in New York. Eventually some crazy person felt the need to assassinate two innocent NYPD officers, ironically neither of whom were white, as some sort of political statement.

Again, if black people really believed their lives are important and worth living, then they should be the ones to commit to lead better lives and not follow a life of crime. Blindly taking the advice of racist flamethrowers like Al Sharpton is not going to help them. Blaming the government, white people, schools, police, or any other easy scapegoats is not going to help them. Looting their neighborhood businesses just because they feel wronged is not going to help them.

We already know what can aid the poor and downtrodden become better citizens. This is where the model minority established by Asian Americans can help. I reject the many so called Asian American organizations that claim being labeled a model minority is a form of divisiveness used by a white majority to further suppress black people. Organizations for years have complained that there are no good role models for black people, particularly young black males. That's why President Obama established a group like My Brother's Keeper.

But based on centuries of experience with the integration of immigrants into American society, we already know what needs to be done to help people establish themselves as good citizens. And it does not involve any more government intervention. Stay in school. Study hard. Get good grades. Go to college. Get a good job. Get married and stay married. Don't have kids too early or too often. Don't have children outside of marriage. Follow the law. Obey the police. Asian Americans ARE the model minorities and can be the role models that these lost black males need. But instead of stating the obvious, AA groups confoundedly reject our success as citizens as a wedge between minorities. Echoing the words of Al Sharpton tells you all you need to know about the political bent of these organizations.

In conclusion, I too believe that black lives matter. But marching in the streets, rioting, and looting are not going to make any long term impact. African Americans need to do a little soul searching before they can start making a difference in their own lives. Blasting rap music out of their cars and playing midnight basketball isn't going to help. If they need to find good role models to emulate, just examine the quiet Asian student studying his ass off every night. Instead of derision, he should be the one held up as an example.