Christmas Eve, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota. Two groups of young men argue in Nordstrom’s, shots are fired, 19–year-old lies dead, suspects being sought. The site of 500 retail stores and 19 full-service restaurants is closed for the evening.
“We had 16 cops in the mall, and they still decide to do this. I’m at a loss.”
(Police Chief Booker Hodges)
Chief Hodges continues:
“This is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, I can’t even think of another word. This is just flat-out stupid… I mean, this is before Christmas, and now [the victim’s family is] having to bury one of their loved ones… If someone’s going to have blatant disrespect for humanity, I don’t know what we can do to stop some of these people… Make no mistake, you are going to get arrested, and we are going to lock you up. It’s just a matter of when that’s going to happen.”
(Eduardo Medina, “Gunfire at Mall of America Leaves One Dead and Shoppers Fleeing,” New York Times, 12-24-22)
Chief Hodges and his 16 cops aren’t alone in feeling stymied. Hundreds of Texas law officers were unable to stop a lone teenager from killing 21 people in Uvalde. Let Christmas 2022 bring joy, justice, solace and less “stupid” death for all.
(c) 2022 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
EthicalDative 
A Dawning in December
While washing up dishes on Christmas morning I happened to hear the King’s Christmas Message on British radio. It was Charles the Third’s first go at what his mother had done 69 times before him, a ritual address to the nation he “serves” by a hereditary, wealthy, “working” monarch. Stuck into my soapy chore, I let Windsor’s hallmark, posh drawl rinse my mind. As he spoke I echoed various phrases in booming, plummy voice, trying to ape his received pronunciation.
When the address ended, a choir boomed “God Save the King,” and I reflexively launched into “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” which is what we sing to the tune filched, I presume, from our colonial lordships. I had just heard a man cosseted in privilege express himself warmly, with tenderness and acknowledgment, even a certain humility, in celebration of his country and its citizens. Call it what you will, it was unifying, dignified, articulate, and convincing enough for its moment and purpose.
I realized I’d never ONCE heard anything approaching such an affirmation, convincing or otherwise, from a certain former elected U.S. head of state whose baneful legacy persistently distorts our past and encumbers our future. I saw at my kitchen sink, more clearly than I had before, why I hold in such low regard a man so failed at all but grift.
(c) 2022 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved