Cincinnati tragedy could be resolved with biblical solution

by William Wild

The Easter season may be an especially appropriate time to examine tragedies such as the riots in Cincinnati that followed the death of a young man at the hands of a young policeman.

Why Easter? Because it is that time of year when we are forcefully reminded of why Jesus died for us and of the lessons that He tried to teach his followers by His life and His death.

Here's bare facts of the Cincinnati situation: Timothy Thomas, 19, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of April 7 by a young Cincinnati police officer, Steve Roach, who sought to arrest Thomas on some 14 warrants. There was a foot chase. A shot was fired. Young Thomas died. That's about all that is known pending a detailed investigation by city officials, a grand jury and the U.S. Justice Department.

The next day tension began to build. Demonstrations started because it was perceived that young Thomas was black and young Roach white. The perception also was that black citizens were shot more often than others en-countering the police. It was alleged that this was the ultimate result of racism. That begot another "r" word, revenge, and the riots began.

The media were understandably transfixed by the violence of the rioters who smashed and looted in senseless mayhem, ostensibly in the cause of justice and because of injustice. But is the lesson for all of us, black and white, that injustice permits us or anyone to wreak revenge or, as some voices in Cincinnati put it, "to show the city power structure that action is needed"?

Crowds of young black men gathered on street corners in Cincinnati and attracted unwanted attention from state and city riot police called upon to prevent more rioting. The videos were not pretty.

Yet, the lesson in this remains perversely misunderstood by many "experts." For just one example, look at the words of Paul Griffin, director of African and African-American studies at Wright State University: "The same kind of racism that inspired people like Nat Turner and Malcolm X to act," he said, "is the same kind of racism inspiring these young people in Cincinnati."

Inspiring? What a perversion of the language! He is telling us that injustice Ð or even the perception of injustice Ð excuses violence. Are we to be taught that we must "understand" the violence and the damage done to many innocents because a bunch of people (a mob) lost their tempers and could not help what they did, though in a "noble cause"?

The history of violence in the cause of racial justice is not encouraging. Good intentions don't excuse John Brown, Nat Turner or those who see modern violence as a way to stimulate "action."

Jesus was the victim of a mob that believed its violence was justified because He was talking and acting in ways judged heretical. He disappointed those who hoped He was a revolutionary in the violent sense, someone who would lead a captive and oppressed people to freedom from Rome and revenge against Roman racism.

Indeed, He died to free us from this sin and many others. He asked us to think clearly and act responsibly. In Cincinnati, like other urban riots, the end to racism lies in understanding that riots make it worse. Great patience and great teaching are required so that the "young black men" said to be gathering in muttering groups on the city's street corners can march peacefully down the street, welcomed by shopkeepers and escorted by police, and take their place as responsible citizens who know how to ask their city leaders for the justice that is theirs by right.

The Apostle Paul was Jesus Christ's great marketing manager and, while taking snippets from the Bible is a dangerous practice, I believe the purpose of this essay can be served by slightly re-writing some of his words to the Galatians this way (the Good News version): "You foolish Cincinnatians! Who put a spell on you? Right before your eyes you had a plain description of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross! Tell me just this one thing: Did you receive God's spirit by doing what you believed injustice demanded, or by hearing and believing the Gospel? How can you be so foolish! You began by God's spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?"

William Wild is a retired newspaper editor and commentator and lives in Oakwood.