Whose Lives Matter?

Black Lives Matter. Blue Lives Matter. These movements are dominating American news and everyone has an opinion. But who is right? Which side should a person take? It seems that one must choose between social justice, and law and order. Is there an answer? I think there is.

To start, let’s review what Blue gets right. It is valid (within the scope of this article) for police to provide protection services such as deter theft, prevent murders, and apprehend rapists. Regarding protests, police have a duty to protect the lives and property of others from harm should protestors become violent. In the case of the July 2016 Dallas shooting, for another example, the police were arguably correct in taking the life of the shooter, who had already killed several people and had every intention of killing more. (There is much more to be considered here, but I will leave that for another article.)

Next, let’s consider what Black gets right. A review of outlets like CopBlock will give you a shocking sense of how much violence toward civilians happens at the hands of the police. Further statistics show that Americans are fifty-five times more likely to be killed by cops than by terrorists, and that black male teens are twenty-one times more likely to be killed than their white counterparts. Whatever happened to equality under the law? The outrage from the black community is understandable, and justified.

...Americans are fifty-five times more likely to be killed by cops than by terrorists, and ... black male teens are twenty-one times more likely to be killed than their white counterparts...

At this point, however, both sides surrender the moral high ground.

Blue is implicitly guilty in one of the most dangerous contributors to this societal nightmare — the War on Drugs. This misguided legislation has redefined many voluntary, victimless transactions as federal crimes, has manufactured criminals out of entire classes of people, and has given rise to further perversions of power like Policing For Profit and No-Knock Raids. Additionally, police forces have been increasingly militarized, further distancing themselves from the peace officer of yesteryear — all this despite trends indicating that it is safer than ever to be a police officer.

Further, this escalation has levied a particularly heavy burden on black citizens as a result of pre-existing racism. Black isn’t entirely blameless, though. While it is true that they are on the receiving end of extreme injustice, and that something needs to be done, there is no justification for the murder of police or the destruction of property.

Conclusion

Both Black and Blue have merit. I will not downplay the factor of racism — it is indisputable and horrendous. I also cannot justify the murder of police officers. It is worth considering that, even if we could magically dissolve racism overnight, we would still not be rid of this injustice. The root of the problem is the militaristic and paternalistic nature of the State. It has a monopoly on violence, as we have seen. So, when it decides to run the lives of millions of “free” people, it is bound to create chaos. How arrogant. How dangerous. There is — or should be — a moral code on which civil society operates, and I think that the best representation of it is found in the Non-Agression Principle. Simply, don’t hurt people and don’t take their stuff. The State is no exception. As Morgan from The Walking Dead so eloquently put it, “All life is precious.”

The State has turned us Black and Blue. Let’s end that false choice. End the War On Drugs. End the Police State.