Keller @ Large: Real Enemy Is Ignorance
BOSTON (CBS) - I don't know why, but a few years ago I was invited to a dinner party at the home of a wealthy liberal couple.
There was a story in the news at that time about a police brutality case, and we were talking about it. But the conversation came to a halt when the hostess twisted her face in an expression of disgust and announced that she "would like to kill a cop."
I can't repeat what went through my mind because of the language involved, but I thought of that fool and her comment over the weekend when I heard the terrible news about the slaughter of two New York City police officers at the hands of a career criminal who apparently cited revenge for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner as motivation for the murders.
That privileged lady – who I'm sure would be screaming for help from police should she ever come into unwanted contact with the likes of the New York killer – was flat-out ignorant.
So are the handful of recent protesters who've called for cops to be killed while the vast majority of their fellow demonstrators are demanding peaceful change.
And so are the handful of bad cops who appall most of their brothers and sisters in blue by abusing their power.
In the wake of this weekend's horror, there is all sorts of finger-pointing going on, and while I doubt further information about the cop-killer will show a clear link between any political rhetoric and his insane behavior, it wouldn't hurt if everyone involved in this discussion would tone down their rhetoric and be more careful about inciting their followers.
But our real enemy here is ignorance.
No one with an ounce of intelligence and integrity wants police, law-abiding citizens, or even petty criminals to be harmed. And until that principle is universally accepted, the fools among us will continue to thrive.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
