This insightful and impassioned public commentary was written and posted to Facebook by William James Manifold. It is a powerful commentary that we felt needed to be repeated. Here it is in its entirety with a minor edit: So last night I noticed on my newsfeed, one of my Facebook friends made a statement that really pissed me off. Something along the lines of "Why do people have to hashtag when in mourning that certain lives matter
all lives matter". This comment was obviously in response to the community outpouring of support for Ofc. Kerrie Orozco who ended her watch yesterday afternoon. I wanted to take a moment to respond.
First I beg to differ with you. All lives dont matter. Now theres a shocking statement, but it deserves repeating. All lives dont matter
all lives have the potential to matter
but most certainly all lives dont matter. Allow me to explain:
Ofc Kerrie Orozco, now her life mattered. Why, well let me tell you a little about her. First she chose to serve her community, state and country by being a protector, a defender, a part of a thin blue line, a line of individuals past and present that stand between lawlessness and order, between the monsters and the weak, between good and evil. Every morning she pinned her badge on her uniform, or belt and walked out the door not really knowing if she would walk back in.Not only was she a dedicated law enforcement officer. She was a wife and mother. She was a coach to disadvantaged kids in the community which she served. She was a leader; and to quote her Chief was a Top Notch person. She made a difference in the lives of those she touched. She worked in a gang infested part of the city, and reached out to the children of that community each and every day to show them that there was a better way of life. In short, she made a difference
her life mattered. The Omaha metropolitan area will sorely miss her presence. A good cop died today.
Contrast that to the individual that took her life yesterday. Well refer to him as Mr. POS as he doesnt deserve to have his name mentioned. He was a gang member, drug dealer, convicted felon. His rap sheet included multiple shootings, accessory to murder, and the list goes on and on. He made a choice to be a menace to his community. His only contribution was pain and suffering. In my opinion
he did nothing to make his life matter, he made no difference
his life didnt matter. His most outstanding contribution to the Omaha Metro area was that he also died yesterday.
The original hashtag of lives matter came from a group of misguided individuals in Ferguson, MO who believed that law enforcement officers get up every day with the goal of shooting, or harassing, or arresting someone of a particular race. I can tell you that is absolutely false. Every officer I know or knew, worked with, served with all became an officer for one reason
to make a difference, because God knows it wasnt for the money. Believe me when I say that almost all officers go out of their way to help those in the communities they serve, and when we find one that doesnt fit this mold, we take care of that problem. They are educated, relieved of duty or arrested. There are so many examples just this year of law enforcement policing their own ranks. The hashtag #BlueLivesMatter was in response to the misguided notion that only people of certain race are being targeted, when in fact today law enforcement officers in every city are being actively targeted.
In case you havent noticed
there is a war going on in our own streets today
its a war on law enforcement and unless YOU want to walk the line between good and evil, maybe YOU should do something to stop that war. Only YOU can make a difference and WE as a community everywhere must take a stand against those who would like to see our law enforcement officers neutered and defenseless. Our officers need to know that they are supported by their community and their leadership. Far too many today are more worried about being sued when they have to make a split second life or death decision that will experience days, weeks, months or years of armchair quarterbacking by the ill-informed.
Ive walked that thin line. I have many members of my family that walk that thin line still today. I have many friends who I call brother or sister that walk that thin line, and many more that have recently left the line. For those I say their lives matter, they made a difference, they did something that mattered, and when one of them dies
guess what, Ill hashtag the hell out of my mourning because by whatever God you worship or dont, by all things holy, #BlueLivesMatter.
And maybe remind the few if ill of us they speak, that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak.
So far this year we have lost 45 lives that mattered, 45 people that served their communities, 45 people that made a difference, 45 brave souls that walked and stood on that thin line, 45 men and women that few will remember. Take a look at this picture; these are 4 of the last 7 officers that died in the line of duty in May protecting you and your family. Take a close look, these 7 are lives that mattered:
Pictured in this posting:
- Kerrie Orozco, Omaha Police Department, EOW 20 May 2015
- Richard Martin, Houston Police Department, EOW 18 May 2015
- Sony Smith, Johnson County Sheriffs Department, EOW 15 May 2015
- Liquori Tate, Hattiesburg Police Department, EOW 9 May 2015
Not Pictured:
- Benjamin Deen, Hattiesburg Police Department, EOW 9 May 2015
- Gregg Moore, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, EOW 5 May, 2015
- Brian Moore, New York Police dDpartment, EOW 2 May, 2015
Instead of you getting on some high horse thinking that you are being so damned enlightened with your All Lives Matter bullshit, you should be getting on your knees thanking each and every one of those people who gave their live so you can sleep at night, so you can walk the street, so you can enjoy the safety that they provide. Will any of them ever ask for your thanks, no. Do they deserve it, you bet they do.
If Ive offended you, I honestly dont give a shit. Youre an adult, get over it or move on. And honestly, if you get offended that easily and dont or wont support our law enforcement officers then I really dont have the time for you so good riddance. You are part of the problem.
So circling back to my original thought, do all lives matter? No, all lives have the potential to matter. Its up to the individual whether they want to matter or not. Everyone can make a difference; everyone has that opportunity to matter. What have YOU done with your life that matters?
To my brothers and sisters still walking the line Omni Cedo Domus
Everyone goes home. You matter. To those that enjoy the blanket of protection they provide, show your support; turn on a blue light at night, thank an officer, attend a Citizens Police Academy, join a neighborhood watch, or just give a kind wave and a smile. You matter. To those that choose to walk on the other side of the line, well just keep walking, theyll get to you eventually
you dont matter. Ni Baolach Don Olcas Mise
only evil need fear me.
May St. Michael keep watch over those still walking the line, and may God keep those who have ended their watch. #BlueLivesMatter #SupportBlue
Author: William James Manifold