“Over a simple traffic stop … I don’t get it  … I really don’t …”

Regardless of your reaction to the recent arrest and death of Sandra Bland, I think everyone can agree with that observation made by the arresting officer, DPS Trooper Brian Encinia, while he was still at the scene of the arrest. 

But there is a more chilling statement that he makes before this observation. 

While Trooper Encinia is subduing Ms. Bland, you can hear her crying and telling him that he has caused her to hit her head and that she has epilepsy.  His only response is “good … good.”  Now even if that response can be explained away as referring to something else going on, and that he didn’t hear her statement, that just means he wasn’t listening to her beyond hearing the increasing profanity she was using.  His audible response to Ms. Bland was callous enough; but if he didn’t hear her crying statement, it shows an added degree of callousness that cannot be explained away.  Sadly, it may provide a glimpse into the reason why Trooper Encinia doesn’t “get it.”

“Over a simple traffic stop … I don’t get it  … I really don’t …”

Here is what I get, finally, after several years of the Trayvon Martins and the Eric Garners, and of the community reactions to the events in Ferguson, Baltimore, and Charleston (and after watching both videos of the Bland arrest at http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Sandra-Bland-dash-cam-video-appears-to-have-been-6399017.php; and http://www.ebony.com/news-views/what-happened-to-sandra-bland-505#axzz3g3dmFTXF):  I finally understand why the activists behind the #BlackLivesMatter movement bristle when someone responds by saying that “all lives matter.”  Most of us believe that “all lives matter;” but many black men and women don’t think that the rest of us believe that their lives matter, and incidents like these recent events perpetuate that belief.  I challenge you to watch these videos and then answer a simple question honestly and objectively:  would Trooper Encinia have reacted the same way, and taken the same actions, when he returned to her car with the written warning had she been white (or even Hispanic or Asian)?

Now some of you won’t want to answer that question, and, instead will start typing comments accusing me of reverse racism or buying into the progressive, anti-white narrative so popular among progressive intellectuals.  Before you do that, or you stop reading out of disgust for what you think I am saying, let me make one thing clear:  I am not accusing Trooper Encinia of being a racist.  I would never presume the worst of people I do not know.

But over the years, as I’ve talked with friends in law enforcement across the country, I’ve learned that the exposure some officers have had to the worst elements of the seemingly perpetual crime and violence in African-American neighborhoods has hardened them to prepare themselves differently when encountering young black men and women, than when they encounter anyone else.  Over time, those individual experiences and reactions can accumulate so as to permeate and impact the culture of entire precincts and police departments.  I don’t pretend to understand why and how this happens (or how often it actually happens)—I’ll leave that explanation to those with a better understanding of psychology and sociology.  However, watching those videos of Trooper Encinia, who apparently has only been on the job for only about a year, I am reminded of the explanations I have heard over the years of how this hardened culture can manifest itself.

“Over a simple traffic stop … I don’t get it  … I really don’t …”

I challenge each of you reading this post to view both videos embedded in these linked articles:  http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Sandra-Bland-dash-cam-video-appears-to-have-been-6399017.php; and http://www.ebony.com/news-views/what-happened-to-sandra-bland-505#axzz3g3dmFTXF.  You need to look at the video embedded in the Houston Chronicle article first, because it is the dash-cam video that recorded the most activity and all of the audio.  Then take a look at the cell-phone video taken by a nearby citizen that fills in much of the video gap while the activity moves away from the line of site of the dash-cam video.  Although there is still a small gap of video, there is enough audio of that gap to allow you to form a pretty good understanding of what is happening.  Finally, listen to the explanation that Trooper Encinia gives to another person (presumably another officer) about how the incident unfolded, and ask yourself another simple question: does what you see and hear during the arrest match his later explanation?  Sadly, my answer based on just this evidence is “no”.

Although I am not ready to jump to a conviction of Trooper Encinia based solely on these videos, what I saw and heard leads me to two immediate conclusions:

1.      A thorough and transparent investigation of the arrest, detention and death of Sandra Bland must be conducted by the Texas Rangers (not just an investigation of her death), and I applaud those leaders, including Lt. Governor Patrick who have quickly called for such an investigation.  To be transparent, such an investigation should conclude with a written report shared with the public, which not only provides answers about the propriety of the arrest and detention of Ms. Bland, and the cause of her death, but also outlines new policies and procedures to implement to reduce the risk of such incidents in the future.

2.      Black Lives Matter!  Let me say it again, Black Lives Matter!  And conservatives must embrace this call to action.  Consistent with the recent speech given by former Governor Perry at the National Press Club in Washington, the party of Lincoln must take a leading role to advocate for real, permanent solutions to the problems faced by too many of our African-American neighbors.  It is a national tragedy that so many of our neighbors wake each morning believing that their countrymen don’t think they matter, and wondering whether they will live through that day.  In fact, it is not just a tragedy—I agree with some of the leaders of #BlackLivesMatter movement when they call the current situation a “state of emergency.”  We don’t have to embrace the progressive ideas promoted by the leaders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement to seize this moment to engage in a debate over real public actions and private actions that will address the problems of under-education, underemployment, and over-incarceration in African-American communities, which form the core of so many other problems that end in violent confrontations with law enforcement. 

“Over a simple traffic stop … I don’t get it  … I really don’t …”

The secret we conservatives continually whisper to each other is that progressive policies have perpetuated the problems experienced by black men and women in this country.  If we truly believe that, then the time is now to address and change that by creating and implementing policies that assure that every one of our fellow Americans is treated with equal dignity: at “a simple traffic stop,” on a sidewalk in your own community, in school, and at the workplace.

Remember, if we truly believe in a limited federal government and in the power of families, the private sector and local governments to address most issues, our neighbors must trust each other and their local governments.  That trust starts with each of us recognizing and protecting the humanity of all our neighbors, every day, in every situation.  Rebuilding that trust isn’t just any issue, it is THE moral and political cause for the future of the Republican Party and its conservative philosophy of limited government.  Without that trust, the constitutional model of federalism is dead … period.

A few years ago, a young Marine was speaking to a group of us and he posed this challenge:  “if we could go halfway around the world to fight for the freedom of people we didn’t know, can’t we finally walk across the streets of our communities and help our own neighbors experience the gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that we were all promised?” 

The answer is “yes;” and the time for action is now.

“Over a simple traffic stop … I don’t get it  … I really don’t …”

To the family of Sandra Bland, I extend my profound condolences as a neighbor and fellow countrymen; and I pledge to you that this conservative understands and believes Black Lives Matter!