Friday night – come to think of it, Saturday morning – it was a little past 1:00 in the morning. I’m tap, tap, tapping the word: ‘powerful,’ using one finger, laboriously typing that word, and more words, as those early-morning hours are rolling on.
It’s that Notes app, is that what they call it? You can talk into it, to make notes, but I don’t want to disturb our household at that early hour. So, I’m tapping on that dratted, yet amazing, tech device, the smart phone.
I’m making notes about some powerful, hopeful news, even as there’s almost unrelenting unrest in American cities, in the aftermath of those sad, tragic scenes of George Floyd’s final moments.
What possibly could be hopeful?
Perhaps Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms reminding violent protesters, “This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. This is chaos. A protest has purpose.” Her words were hopeful and powerful, as she advised folks in her city, in no uncertain terms, to “Go home!”
There was more, the Navy nurse honored as a Health Care Hero during the Jimmy Kimmel show. A Lieutenant, I believe, probably serving in the Naval Reserve, who, several weeks ago, got a call from his military unit to help out at one of the coronavirus hotspots. He told everyone, his boss and family, that he had to go. Usually you’d have several days to get ready, but, in this emergency, he had to head out very quickly, he said to Kimmel.
Weeks later, when he returned home, I recall the nurse saying he had to spend time in quarantine before he could be back with his wife and young kids. His mood was positive. He reminded me of a guy who, years ago, was my in-law’s next door neighbor. He was always optimistic, always amazed about everyday things in life.
There was the video, also on the Kimmel show, of a black man, that started with the words: “Don’t call the cops!” The man in the video explains what he’s all about. That he’s a person of color, but he’s like so many…so many people. That was hopeful and powerful.
I thought about the soldier whose quick thinking saved folks driving across a bridge in Kansas. An active shooter was about to fire on drivers crossing the bridge. The soldier used his vehicle to stop the shooter. His military police training kicked in.
Yes… this was another violent situation, but with a positive outcome, and an uplifting story behind the story. “I knew people’s lives were in danger. I needed to do something,” the soldier said. After the incident, the 15-year, active duty soldier, just wanting “to get everything back to normal,” returned home to his wife and two young children, mowed his lawn, and had dinner with his family, according to a Business Insider story.
What a contrast to what happened in Minneapolis, involving police officers and an individual, over what? A suspected counterfeit $20 bill?
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.