The incident in Utica where police shot and killed a 13-year-old male has stirred up a range of emotions and raised many questions. The terminology used in headlines and reports, such as referring to the victim as a “13-year-old male,” seems deliberately clinical and detached. Why not simply say, “Utica police killed a 13-year-old boy”? The choice of language matters because it strips the humanity away from the victim and reduces him to a statistic.
The details of the incident paint a complex picture. The juvenile allegedly fled from the police and displayed what appeared to be a real handgun, which later turned out to be a pellet gun.… Continue reading
As I sit here reflecting on the tragic story of Mr. Yong, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of sorrow and frustration. The fact that his parents reached out for mental health help for their son, only to have the situation escalate to the point where he was fatally shot by the police, is a devastating example of the failures in our current system. It pains me to think about the immense guilt and grief that his parents must be experiencing, knowing that their well-intentioned actions resulted in such a tragic outcome.
The video footage and detailed accounts of the incident paint a heartbreaking picture of a man in crisis, clearly struggling with his mental health.… Continue reading
Israel’s military chief has made it clear that they will not sit idly by in the face of Iran’s weekend missile attack. The cycle of retaliation in the Middle East seems endless, with each attack leading to a counterattack, which then sparks another round of violence. But where does this constant back and forth lead us? Are we doomed to repeat this pattern forever, or is there a way out of this cycle of destruction?
It’s evident that both Israel and Iran are set on responding to each other’s actions. The recent missile attack from Iran may have been intercepted by the Iron Dome, but it still serves as a provocation that Israel cannot ignore.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker