Readers Write (Dec. 23): Racial tension, holiday spirit

On Saturday, thousands flooded the atriums and corridors of the Mall of America to protest police brutality. At roughly the same time in New York, two police officers were ambushed and brutally murdered. Should we expect a protest in the near future against civilian brutality toward police officers? Unfortunately, we cannot; police have become the scapegoat of a racial-discrimination problem that stems much further than law enforcement. Discrimination is a societal problem that has been placed on police following horrible events in Missouri and New York. In light of those events, it is no longer politically correct, nor are people willing, to fight for the rights of those who work so hard to protect ours. This all comes at a cost. Simply put, we cannot expect our law enforcement officers to protect us if we cannot protect them.

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I don't need to witness a shout-in at the Mall of America to understand that black lives matter. My life matters, too, and these disruptive demonstrations are not only ineffective, they tend to alienate those of us who are otherwise supportive of their cause.

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Setting aside the issue of whether a foreign-owned company receiving $250 million in assorted tax subsidies and breaks from the Minnesota Legislature still constitutes absolute private property, during Saturday's demonstration at the Mall of America I saw a multi­racial, multigeneration citizenry peacefully demonstrating about one of the most important issues of our times. I appreciate that it inconvenienced some shoppers who might have had to wait an hour to get into Old Navy, but I try to take a long view of American life. We are a big country undergoing a generational shift in demographics and technology. Public protest, even on private property, has been a feature of our democracy for 240 years — indeed, it gave birth to this great country. Sometimes democracy is messy and inconvenient, but it is our history and, on balance, has served us well. Tolerance of peaceful demonstration makes America stronger.

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David Rubinstein's nauseating opinion on why "not profiling people is foolish and dangerous" (Dec. 22) reads as a weak justification of racist practices that have contributed to the killings of innocent black people at the hands of police. His attempt to match racial profiling with the wariness that women have on the street around men is grievously uninformed. The key difference between racial profiling and women's wariness is who holds the power in the situation: Cops hold undeniable legal power over the people they kill (as we have seen in the recent lack of indictments), and often racial power, as well, if the cops are white. When women "profile" men on the street, it is because they are the historically and currently oppressed group in the situation. Rubinstein's ignorant remark that "it is not clear that race plays any role in police killings" makes me appalled that this professor of sociology doesn't see the racism that happens every single day in America.

Matthew Serbus and Dawn Pfister, gunned down on Hwy. 212 in February despite posing no immediate threat to law enforcement officers who had an advantage of four guns against one knife, were white. News that a Hennepin County grand jury declined to indict the officers was announced Friday.

Were there protests locally or nationally? Did anyone burn buildings in Chaska, where two of the officers work? Did national media report the story? No to all of the above. Minnesotans, including the black community, went about their business as if nothing were amiss.

As we have heard so frequently as of late, black lives matter. White ones should, too.

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I was profoundly disappointed in the Star Tribune's decision to place "New York cops die in ambush shooting" deep on Page A10 on Sunday. Yet the protest in the Mall of America received front-page coverage. How in the world could there be such a disconnect in editorial judgment when two stories, minimally of equally importance, are treated so differently? The Wayzata Police Department posted a similar question on its Facebook page this morning, while mourning the senseless killings in New York.

While the tragic killing of two policemen in New York is a terrible, sad event that should cause us all to reflect, the direction of the discussion seems to be focusing on all of the inappropriate issues. The New York police union, in the middle of bargaining over contracts, has taken this opportunity to speak very inappropriately about the city's mayor and administration. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani seems to be seeking attention for himself and his political views and perhaps his consulting business. Should not the question be: What went wrong in the criminal-justice system that allowed a man who has a history of 19 arrests and is mentally ill to be on the street and owning a gun? Should we not focus on that investigation so this does not happen to another police officer or other citizen? For now, may we give our thoughts and concerns to the families who have lost loved ones.

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Who's to blame for the killing of two policemen in New York City and another in Florida? Is it New York Mayor Bill de Blasio? Is it the protesters? Is it President Obama? Is it the police force itself? Or Fox News, or Democrats, or Republicans or the NRA? How about all of the above? How about every person in this country who puts his or her rights ahead of the right to life of shooting victims? How about every person who looks at someone who is different from himself or herself and sees that person as frightening, evil, dangerous? How about every person who uses racial epithets or demeans people for their sexual identity? Every person who demeans a religion or a lack of religion? How about the thousand or so gun-toting dudes who booed Gabby Gifford? How about all of the members of grand juries and prosecutors who refuse to put a cop on trial for killing an unarmed individual? How about you and me? Are we part of the mob that creates this kind of environment of hate? Or are we voices of calm, reason and love? It starts and ends with us.

Many thanks to all of the residents and businesses who take the time and expense to display outdoor holiday decorations. Seeing the beautiful lights — from modest one-strand efforts to wonderful, over-the-top light shows — makes the world seem a little brighter. Thanks for generously sharing holiday joy with neighbors and strangers alike.