GEORGE FLOYD
HERO, MARTYR, SAINT,
ANGEL OR SINNER?
By Dr. Paul Fedena
George Floyd was murdered by police, make no mistake about that. But the question is, why did this happen? First let me clearly state that that the police were wrong in the way they handled this situation, but it didn’t happen in a vacuum. And it wasn’t just over a counterfeit $20 bill. He was high on fentanyl and meth, plus he was holding a bag of heroin. George is described by his family members as a “gentle giant”. His police record states otherwise.
He spent years inside prison walls for his crimes, including several drug possession charges, sales and addiction and possessing an illegal weapon. But his most egregious crime was a robbery of a pregnant woman in her home where he threatened to kill her and her unborn baby by twice holding a gun to her belly! Not quite “gentle” – I think you might agree.
That does not justify his violent death by police, however, would he have pulled the trigger on that woman and her unborn baby if she refused to submit while George and his cohorts robbed her home? Oh well, I guess violence is in the eye of the beholder?!
No one I have heard has tried to defend what the police did in this situation, but it really does need a little context. What if you were that pregnant woman? Would you feel sorry about what happened to Mr. Floyd? It is fine to protest and demand justice, but the context of the event and the lives of all involved should be a part of the equation.
Speaking of the protests. They are a part of our rights to address grievances against any unjust laws or government intrusion beyond Constitutional limits. But they are to be PEACEFUL protests only. Smashing windows, firebombs, burn-ing buildings and businesses and looting are not peaceful! Neither is outright attempted and vicious murders! How many policemen and their families have suffered due to gun shots of loved ones. Where are the protests against these outrageous crimes? What husbands and wives and little girls and boys will go to bed tonight without their spouse, mother or father? What about their funerals?
Speaking of funerals (3) for Mr. George Floyd…in the N.C. ceremony there was a huge picture of him next to the podium. He had suddenly grown wings! He has suddenly been given sainthood or has become an angel. Mr. Floyd’s death was tragic and many people, including the police involved, will suffer grave penalties, as will their families. But so will the family of Mr. Horn, a retired policemen killed by the rioters when he tried to protect a Pawn Shop that was being vandalized and robbed. Here was a 77 year old, black policemen hero of many years who was not only shot and killed but was refused help as he lay on the street bleeding out. Will there be protests to address this heinous crime? Who will pay for the businesses lost in the protests? Who will rescue the business owners of businesses destroyed? Will you? Will the protesters? What about those who ended up with serious and life changing injuries? Who will pay their hospital and rehabilitation expenses?
Please do not judge me to hastily. I am NOT a racist and neither are most of those who demonstrated peacefully in the streets of our nation and the world over this grievous injustice. However, let us all be sure we have the proper perspective on public events we witness and look at the whole picture before we think or act.
My heart goes out to the family and friends or Mr. Floyd (not his criminal friends). And justice, as far as it can be served will be served. But murder, mayhem, destruction of property and disgusting acts of violence have no place in our country.
Sincerely in the Savior,
Pastor (Emeritus) Paul Fedena
He spent years inside prison walls for his crimes, including several drug possession charges, sales and addiction and possessing an illegal weapon. But his most egregious crime was a robbery of a pregnant woman in her home where he threatened to kill her and her unborn baby by twice holding a gun to her belly! Not quite “gentle” – I think you might agree.
That does not justify his violent death by police, however, would he have pulled the trigger on that woman and her unborn baby if she refused to submit while George and his cohorts robbed her home? Oh well, I guess violence is in the eye of the beholder?!
No one I have heard has tried to defend what the police did in this situation, but it really does need a little context. What if you were that pregnant woman? Would you feel sorry about what happened to Mr. Floyd? It is fine to protest and demand justice, but the context of the event and the lives of all involved should be a part of the equation.
Speaking of the protests. They are a part of our rights to address grievances against any unjust laws or government intrusion beyond Constitutional limits. But they are to be PEACEFUL protests only. Smashing windows, firebombs, burn-ing buildings and businesses and looting are not peaceful! Neither is outright attempted and vicious murders! How many policemen and their families have suffered due to gun shots of loved ones. Where are the protests against these outrageous crimes? What husbands and wives and little girls and boys will go to bed tonight without their spouse, mother or father? What about their funerals?
Speaking of funerals (3) for Mr. George Floyd…in the N.C. ceremony there was a huge picture of him next to the podium. He had suddenly grown wings! He has suddenly been given sainthood or has become an angel. Mr. Floyd’s death was tragic and many people, including the police involved, will suffer grave penalties, as will their families. But so will the family of Mr. Horn, a retired policemen killed by the rioters when he tried to protect a Pawn Shop that was being vandalized and robbed. Here was a 77 year old, black policemen hero of many years who was not only shot and killed but was refused help as he lay on the street bleeding out. Will there be protests to address this heinous crime? Who will pay for the businesses lost in the protests? Who will rescue the business owners of businesses destroyed? Will you? Will the protesters? What about those who ended up with serious and life changing injuries? Who will pay their hospital and rehabilitation expenses?
Please do not judge me to hastily. I am NOT a racist and neither are most of those who demonstrated peacefully in the streets of our nation and the world over this grievous injustice. However, let us all be sure we have the proper perspective on public events we witness and look at the whole picture before we think or act.
My heart goes out to the family and friends or Mr. Floyd (not his criminal friends). And justice, as far as it can be served will be served. But murder, mayhem, destruction of property and disgusting acts of violence have no place in our country.
Sincerely in the Savior,
Pastor (Emeritus) Paul Fedena
