PORTLAND SIGN SHOWING RED LIGHTS NEEDS TO CHANGE

This Portland sign has never been more accurate. It’s a red light, but the message is even brighter:

“Turn around. Go home, it’s trouble town in Portland,” is one way to read it.

From news reports, Portland looks like the place to go get wailed on, shot in the face with non-lethal rounds, and top the evening off with a huge hit of CS gas.

Does that sound like Portland’s new reputation, a breeding ground for violent protest paired with a violent response?

Where is the disconnect between protesting police brutality based on Black Lives Matter, then getting on the receiving end of police brutality? It’s been going on for more than sixty days downtown, the same downtown called a charming and walkable city core with its short blocks.

A most inspirational lady, one I look to for doing the right thing and doesn’t disappoint, took her broken foot to the Portland protest in a wheelchair. While she was there doing good work for the people, people like me who see messages in traffic lights, a federal building protector in riot gear saw her.

Based on experience and training, which anyone decked out in this gear needs lots of, the federal officer took aim and shot her in her good foot.

Portland Sign Of The Times

via Willamette Week

With sidearms, rifles, and the load of gear that comes with suiting up and representing the federal response, this is one lethal American. Foreign nations that turn into regional pariahs know this image all too well.

Now Portland knows, too.

Based on my personal U.S. Army training that included leadership school, medic training, and a try-out for the All-Army Wrestling Team, even the lowest ranking grunt has the right to question the legality of a direct order.

The instructors used the My Lai Massacre as an example.

“If your Lt says, ‘take these people over to the ditch and waste ’em,’ you need to ask for clarification. Ask, ‘Do you mean throw them in a trench and shoot until they’re all dead?’ If the officer in charge says, ‘Yes,’ then you say, ‘That’s an illegal order sir, and I cannot follow illegal orders.'”

That’s part of the training the foot shooter missed. If he had been properly trained he would have had a response when he heard, “See the small woman in the wheelchair with a walking boot on her foot? Go over and shoot her in the other foot.”

An officially sanctioned response would have been, “You want me to approach the woman in a wheelchair with a broken foot peacefully protesting, bearing witness for her town and people, and shoot her in her good foot? Sir, is this your order?”

If the commander said yes, the strapped-for-combat young federal team member needed to say, “Sir, that is an illegal order that I cannot follow.”

This is what a helicopter pilot did when he saw the shooting in My Lai:

Once Thompson, Colburn and their crew chief Glenn Andreotta realized what was happening, they landed their chopper in between the troops of Charlie Company and the civilians.

Thompson ordered his gunner to shoot any Americans who continued to murder civilians. Thompson flew several Vietnamese civilians out to safety, including a nine-year-old boy sitting in his crew chief’s lap.

A New Portland Sign

What will it take to give Portland a green light?

First of all, it’s not just Portland. Black Lives Matter is a national movement. A voice of peace will rise above the violence and help all sides understand the importance of addressing systemic racism.

Second of all, listen for voices that rise above blaming and acrimony. Listen for a plan that defines problems and offers workable solutions. Those are green lights.

Tune out the tone deaf diatribes echoing from the great halls of governance and justice. I don’t claim to understand how or why, but my trusty Bullshit Detector went off after reading this tweet:

“I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. “Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH Rule. Enjoy!”

Mr Trump is a real estate guy. The one rule to follow in building a real estate empire? Work hard, play by the rules, and help others if you want to make it to the top.

The rule not to follow: Trash everyone and everything. Level the playing field until you’re the last one standing, then no matter how big you are, you’re bigger than all the rest.

Mr Trump signaled the rule he would follow when he moved into the White House and called it a dump. The most important house in the country was denigrated by a man who wants to be loved and liked by the masses.

He called the White House a dump, then it was Portland’s turn for his attention.

Is this a man of wealth and taste, whose opinion matters so much that you adopt his views? This is the guy you’d want speaking for you? Chances are good he’d call you a dump sooner than later.

If that’s the sort of magic that will guide us all to a better place, a better Portland, a better Chicago, a better NYC, a better Philadelphia, then you’re got your man. However, if Mr Trump and his supporters reflect your values and traditions, you may need help.

Is It Too Early To Start The VOTE Chant?

Too early to practice inking the box next to Joe Biden with blue or black ink?

Is it too early to look past liars and snake oil professionals and vote responsibly for politicians who know how to do the job they’re running for?

Naaaaww, come on. Saddle up and start riding. That’s a Portland sign for better days.