Comments on: Right, Wrong or Good News?

By: Madeleine Kolb

Madeleine Kolb — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:46:27 +0000

Belinda, I had not heard of this case before, but it sounds as if the non-violent protest is cause for celebration. Incidents involving the police and a person who may be doing nothing wrong–especially a young black man–get be really difficult and contentious.

There was a recent case in Maryland, reported in the Washington Post, where a young black man with severe autism was arrested while just sitting near a school. Perhaps more police training would have helped. Often people with autism cannot bear to be touched, so this young man put up a fight. I think the police were wrong, but the whole thing is very sad. His mother is terrified that he’ll be sent to prison which would be unbearable for him.

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:37:05 +0000

Very aware of the case here in the American Midwest, but then we watch MSNBC. Thought the verdict was abysmal. Glad on one hand there were no riots, but can understand that it would take riots to make public dissention heard. Cops make “mistakes” like this all the time in Chicago and Gary and Detroit, and there are rarely riots in protest. Reminds me of the quandary of the 60’s–it took violence in the streets to get the attention of the public, the media, and the governing bodies, but it also permanently stamped the rioters and their race as Unreasonably Dangerous, which brought on a whole ‘nother set of problems. But hopefully the time of needing violence to effect change has passed and enough nonwhites in positions of legal power (police through judges) will enable change through the judicial system. I don’t hold my breath, though.

I actually enjoy being proven wrong on things which I hope I am wrong about, but that is probably true of most people. Doesn’t happen enough, though. Being right or wrong is not enough–life has too many gray areas, and shifting contexts. Those who would hold strict interpretation of the constitution or of religious texts are the most likely to be wrong. The ultimate wrong is being inhumane. But the definition of humane changes as humanity itself changes. (My amorphous liberal roots are showing. Sigh.)

By: Sandra Hendricks

Sandra Hendricks — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:23:06 +0000

Hi Belinda,

The shades of gray in this area are obvious. I mean what is right for me may be wrong for someone else. It is important for me to keep an open mind and allow other people to affect their own destinies. Perhaps this is taking issues too lightly, but it is what works for me to maintain my tranquility, and enthusiasm for humanity.

By: Tweets that mention Right, Wrong or Good News? — the halfway point -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Right, Wrong or Good News? — the halfway point -- Topsy.com — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:15:29 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Belinda Muñoz, kurio's resource. kurio's resource said: Right, Wrong or Good News? http://dlvr.it/2SFKV [...]

By: rob white

rob white — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:01:15 +0000

Hi Belinda,
Nobody ever wins the “rightness game.” Our most tormenting days are when we insist there are no alternatives to our opinions. Being right gives a false sense of power. The truth is that insisting on being right destroys our sense of inner peace, and without inner peace there is no power.

By: Joshua Noerr

Joshua Noerr — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Belinda, this was the first I had heard of the case, and in a sense, I guess that is a good thing. Had more violent demonstrations taken place, I am sure we all would have known.

For me, considerations of right and wrong depend largely on what we are talking about. 2+2=4. That is right, no question (unless I missed something).

But ethics, morals, cultural truth…now those areas are much different. I don’t feel I need to be right, as long as I have based my opinion on something that agrees with the values I hold.

Cheers on a great post!

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:45:58 +0000

Not aware of the case, but I’ve been taking a bit of a news break lately. I think you said it well, it’s not always important to be right or express an opinion just to insight a reaction. Sometimes neutral works and is about not knowing, being compassionate and being able to admit you don’t have all the answers all of the time. Your post is a very thoughtful expression of something impacting your immediate world. I am glad you are safe.

By: Donna Brogan

Donna Brogan — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:47:59 +0000

I was not aware of the case. These kinds of things are the reason I don’t watch the news as much as I should. I get to watch plenty when my husband (truck driver) is home. I believe the media always leaves important details out of a story in order to make it more appealing or puts in details to do the same. We never really know the complete truth and like Colleen said only the man who pulled the trigger knows the whole truth. I believe our country and the great people in it have come a very long way in understanding the races and are more determined than ever to try to get along. I am so glad that there was not a repeat of the Rodney King case. California, too, has come a long way since 1992.

By: Roman Soluk

Roman Soluk — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:47:04 +0000

I also wasn’t aware of this case. And I can’t judge whether it was wrong or right. And you asked how important is being right to me. It’s extremely important, I don’t like injustice, I hate it and try to eliminate it from my life.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:25:18 +0000

I was not aware of the case as I am all the way down under in Australia but the result of no rioting sounds like good news to me. I did however google the case and have a quick read before leaving this comment. One thing I know for sure, the media are never going to give you all the details. There is definitely a right or wrong here but who will ever know that except the man who pulled the trigger.
Sometimes there is no right or wrong just shades of grey. The only problem is when your mind is closed to the possibilities. People are often confused between fact and opinion. I hope I am improving at this as I get wiser with age.