The book I’m writing deals with the contrast between my life as a campus radical and current life as the mother of police officer. In my revision process, for the last two or three weeks, I’ve been reliving those weary nights six years ago when the streets of Seattle were exploding in the protests over the death of George Floyd. The first chapter in the section is called “Weary Nights,” an encapsulated view of those weeks and months for me. I’ve been rewatching many videos of angry crowds trying to battle the police, burning patrol cars, trashing the city. Not pleasant.
So, on that recent Sunday night, when Seattle made national news again as three people were killed in a gang shooting at the Seattle Center, I felt a related fear. It turns out my son was on the scene, pursuing one of the shooters, calming the crowd. It turns out one of his co-workers was valiantly right there trying to save the life of 56-year-old Ashley Whitehead, who died on the operating table from her gun shot wounds.
Of course, I empathized with the terror of the crowd of civilians caught in the middle of this gunplay. I didn’t fear that much for my son’s safety; you learn to live with that, and I didn’t know he was there.
No, the lesson I’ve learned from being a cop mom in 2020 was always to worry that the police are going to be blamed for whatever happens. In this case, the police and the fire department handled the situation so competently that they had to be praised.
But two days later, Mayor Katie Wilson asked for the resignation of Police Chief Shon Barnes, a man hired only a year ago, the tenth police chief in the city since 2014. Most of the City Council, leaders of the Black Community, business leaders were shocked at the Mayor’s decision. The head of the Police Officer’s Guild made the following statement:
Chief Barnes was at a sanctioned Law Enforcement Conference in Dallas where two of his officers were being honored. He flew back to Seattle immediately. There had been questions about why a press conference held by the Mayor and the Police was delayed for five hours. There are conflicting reports; some say the mayor used Barnes’ firing to deflect responsibility from herself. In any case, he’s out-- in the middle of the investigation of a major crime. In 2020, most of the City Government, liberal establishment, media, jumped in to blame the police, maybe would have supported Mayor Wilson, so I guess we’re making a little progress.
Meanwhile, three people are dead. A two-year-old, among others, was wounded. There is probably still a shooter at large.
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New Music (for me!)
Confession. Boy George. Of course, I’d heard of him, but I’m old and never listened to his music. During his biggest glory years, I was raising two babies and was definitely not keeping up with the pop music scene.
But my Jewish social media was filled with this rock icon this week. If you haven’t heard his new song, “We Will Dance Again,” here’s the link:
“You say genocide; I say war.” War is ugly and brutal, but there is a distinction between the two, he explains. He is sickened by the rape and murder of young girls at a rock festival, acknowledges that the events of October 7 have been modified by selective memory. But, the heart of the song, the part ringing in my head, “I don’t feel brave, I just need to behave like a human.” Grateful in an era where so many public figures refuse to accept the fact that Israel exists; though not perfect, they are fighting a brutal enemy.
Goddammit. Since this song came out a couple of weeks ago, Boy George has parted ways with his label manager, the song has been removed from Bandcamp; he has lost his role as Herod a production of Jesus Christ Super Star. Because speaking up for Israel, for the “women raped against trees” is considered the highest crime these days.
“In Buddhism we understand that every action comes with a consequence,” George posted on X. “Due to my decision to stand up for my Jewish friends I am losing a few people from my life.” Yeah, a lot of us have.
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But there is sunshine. Look how the little one is growing! She’s learned that ketchup is yummy. Too bad Reagan was wrong about it being a vegetable. (I guess you have to be old to get that one.
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