Indisputable Truths

As a former police officer, I recall that each day I went to work my family expected me to return home after my duty shift. I have a lot of friends and colleagues who are police officers and are serving their communities with the highest distinction and honor. Their families expect for them to return home after their duty shift, too.

The family members of the Dallas police officers and the Dallas transit police officers had the same expectations. Tragically, seven officers were injured and five officers lost their lives at the hand of a single assailant. I mourn for their loss and their families, too.

At the same time, we must acknowledge video evidence of unarmed African-American men and women being killed by police without accountability. Ask yourself whether a broken tail light, or selling CDs or loose cigarettes outside of a convenience mart, or playing in a park with a toy gun, or being a teenager playing loud music, or trying to walk home or change lanes while driving, would result in you losing your life.

Sadly, all of these events had three indisputable commonalities: All were unarmed, all were black and all were killed within minutes or seconds of police contact. Video evidence doesn’t lie. I grieve for these families, too.

Some are too quick to dispel the truth by blaming the victim or a social movement by stoking the flames of hatred and fear.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy said: “When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront other not as fellow citizens but as enemies. We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of all. We must admit in ourselves that our own children’s future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled nor enriched by hatred or revenge.”

Years after Sen. Kennedy’s remarks, America still has a serious problem. We must hold each other accountable for our own actions regardless of our station in society. We can no longer live in the darkness of denial that color does not matter. We owe our children better — teach them tolerance and acceptance. We owe our friends and neighbors better — regardless of their ethnicity or religion. We owe ourselves better — truth and self-accountability.

I remember the three golden rules: 1. Always do what is right. 2. Do the best you can. 3. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

America is already great, but “We the People” can make her better. — James Manning

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!