Do not Murder!
All the Sacred Scriptures tell us:
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad
Buddha
Mahavira
The gurus and saints and enlightened ones
With one voice chant
Do not Murder!
But this can get surprisingly complex
When tasked with defending the innocent
When oppressors use lethal force
And violence must be stopped with violence
So to draw a line
Between killing to defend the vulnerable
And unjust murder that far exceeds
Even the most vicious misapplication of
“Eye for eye and tooth for tooth”
Let me draw a picture:
Without a lethal threat
The use of lethal force
Is murder.
And those who kill others
Who are not a lethal threat
Are guilty of murder.
And those who make excuses
For these killings
Are defending murder.
But what about running away?
Not a capital crime.
What about walking away?
Not a capital crime.
What about being impolite?
Not a capital crime.
What about insulting and demeaning?
Not a capital crime.
What about screaming and yelling?
Not a capital crime.
What about not acting submissive?
Not a capital crime.
What about spitting in your face?
Not a capital crime.
What about lurking around?
Not a capital crime.
What about looking "suspicious"?
Not a capital crime.
What about begging for change?
Not a capital crime.
What about lying and stealing?
Not a capital crime.
What about selling drugs on the corner?
Not a capital crime.
What about having prior arrests?
Not a capital crime.
What about wearing a hoodie?
Not a capital crime.
What about running down the road?
Not a capital crime.
What about walking on the street?
Not a capital crime.
What about sitting on the stoop?
Not a capital crime.
What about residing in their house?
Not a capital crime.
What about laying in their bed?
Not a capital crime.
WAIT!
What about if they are wielding a weapon, or out of control, or on a rampage?
If you can talk them down
Do that instead.
If you can knock them down
Do that instead.
If you can scare them away
Do that instead.
If you can spare their life
Do that instead.
But if the ONLY way to protect the vulnerable
And serve the the innocent
Requires that fateful choice
Then may the Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
And may you have a camera to prove it.
I hope we are clear now
No lethal threat
Then no lethal response.
Without a lethal threat
The use of lethal force
Is murder.
And those who kill others
Who are not a lethal threat
Are guilty of murder.
And those who make excuses
For the murderers
Are defending murder.
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