TexasMommaWithAHat
TexasMommaWithAHat's JournalWhy What Happened In The Store Matters
I'm not very good at expressing myself, so I hope you will bear with me. I've tried to express this in other posts, but thought I'd make the topic its own thread.
FIRST, I am not in a position to judge what crime Wilson should have been charged with, if anything. I didn't hear the testimony. It does appear that an injustice has occurred.
To many of us it matters - NOT BECAUSE ANYONE DESERVES TO BE KILLED FOR STEALING SOME CIGARILLOS - but because it goes to Michael Brown's state of mind.
You see, I just don't understand it. Understand lots of folks smoke pot? Yes. (Much discussion about this in the grand jury testimony,). Understand some kids (black, white, rich, poor) and adults will engage in minor shoplifting? Yes.
What I don't understand is Michael Brown's state of mind that morning. What I see on that video and what I have read in the grand jury testimony is an 18 year old young man who brazenly walks into that shop, steals some cigarillos, attempts to hand stolen goods over to his friend (who wisely put the items back on the counter), walks towards the door, and then bullies the man at the door. (I use the word "bully" because "assault" and a few other words may carry legal significance, and I don't want to go there. His posture over the man was purposely intimidating the way he leans over him.
Then, he walks outside, carrying cigarillos in each hand for everyone to see, and walks down the middle of the lane. When Wilson tells him to move to the side of the road, did he tell himself, "Shit, I better move to the sidewalk?" No, he continues to walk down the middle of the road knowing he is carrying stolen goods
What was going on in his mind? Yes, we should rightly ask what was going on in Wilson's mind, but Brown's state of mind also has bearing on how he "may" have acted.
No, I don't understand. Hell, one of my kids could get caught shoplifting someday. I hope I've raised them not to do such a thing, but I'll never say never. I just don't think one of my kids would EVER act like Brown acted - like he didn't give a shit that anyone saw him take the cigarillos. THAT is what I can't get out of my head.
If you want to know why we consider the theft of the cigarillos, this is why. A young man is dead. His family is mourning and will mourn for decades to come. But I want to know more. Beyond the fact that a cop shot a man whom he probably shouldn't have shot. Why did this cop discharge his weapon for the first time? Why Michael Brown?
If folks really want to know why I and others question this episode, this is why. It's not because we think he deserved to be killed. It's because we don't understand his behavior.
Brown's behavior before Wilson ever backed up his car. I want to understand that mindset. Why wasn't he scared of getting caught for stealing while Johnson was terrified. Why?
Elizabeth Warren Speaking Out On Student Tuition And Interest Rates Now On CNN
She's hitting out of the ballpark.
The daughter of a janitor and mom who worked at Sears for minimum wage and paid $50 a semester for tuition is now in the U.S. Senate.
What are the chances of someone growing up like that today being elected senator in the future? 
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