Thou shalt not kill.
In one of the most widely-read books on the planet, that ultimate rule, or Commandment, is spelled out in no uncertain terms in the Bible, and it is also represented in the Torah and the Qur’an.
It’s one of the major underpinnings of law in just about every known society, forbidding our fellow humans from taking the life of another. Murder is final, irreversible. There is no “UNDO” button for it.
Why, then, are we beginning to see an unnerving trend of people “cheering” some for committing murders, and others for being acquitted for the act?
I am referring, specifically, to two recent polarizing events that have caused some to cheer when they probably shouldn’t.
And no, the irony is not lost on me that I’ve said “probably.” Because while I do wholeheartedly believe that murder is wrong, what I am uncertain of is how wrong it is for my fellow humans to react with jubilation to it.
Let’s get into it.
A year ago, a disturbed 30-year-old Black man named Jordan Neely, known for his subway performances impersonating Michael Jackson, boarded a subway train for the very last time. Neely had difficulty with mental health issues, and was unhoused.
He was having an episode in which he was severely disturbed, and he made others in the subway car nervous. Most native New Yorkers are accustomed to seeing some wild shit on the subway, so Neely’s agitation had to be pretty severe
Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran, approached Neely and put him in a chokehold for six minutes. Years after the tragic George Floyd death, several passengers told Neely to ease off, “You’re gonna kill him now.” He continued the hold until a minute or two after Neely’s body went limp.
Neely was pronounced dead at the hospital. Ten days later, Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter and was released on bond.
When I first heard about the incident, it sounded to me like an unfortunate accident, but I also thought “dude has GOT to have more self-awareness, with those skills, especially AFTER George Floyd was also suffocated to death.” And sadly, after seeing pictures of him, I also predicted his acquittal.
