Another comparison I can’t help but draw between the Ukraine crisis and the current state of law enforcement, is the level of misinformation & propaganda being distributed.
It’s disconcerting to see so many Americans -especially those who should know better- stating that the Ukraine crisis is not real. This statement is eerily similar to Holocaust denial.
One of the claims circulating is that because several news outlets are using dated photos (and yes, doing this cheapens and distracts from the situation) that what’s happening in the Ukraine is fake - that it’s some sort of state-sponsored conspiracy.
How different is this from the lies that are regularly disseminated about law enforcement? That cops are armed killers and bullies who target segments of our population just because. False! Or that they don’t do anything to prevent crime. False! Yet people willingly believe these tales and they make decisions based on those beliefs.
The antidote to misinformation is quite simple, really.
Which Scenario is More Likely?
Questioning everything from every possible angle, then drawing an informed opinion after careful consideration is healthy. Drawing a conclusion based on what some pundit or political party believes (then holding on to that belief even if it’s proven to be incorrect) is not.
Think about something for a moment: If the Ukraine crisis is a conspiracy (it’s not), it would have to be one hell of an elaborate setup orchestrated by all the various media outlets and heads of state across the globe, wouldn’t you think? All these people would have to be in the “conspiracy” together. Does this seem plausible? And what could the end goal of a conspiracy possibly be?
And are all those reports from eyewitnesses on the ground, images of cities being destroyed, mothers with children pleading for help, Ukrainians huddled in subways, Poland accepting thousands of Ukrainian refugees, citizens armed and ready to fight for their country, fake?
Same with policing.
Which makes more sense? That police officers are largely people of honor who want to make a difference in their communities, or that they’re “thugs with badges”?
Be Judicious About Where You Get Your Intel
Just because someone has a million followers on Twitter doesn’t necessarily mean that person is right. Maybe your parents told you something like this when you were a child: If a group of people are walking to their death, are you going to follow just because everyone else is doing it?
Everyone seems to be chiming in on the Ukraine crisis, including people who probably couldn’t even find it on a map a week ago. The same exact thing happens when there’s an officer-involved incident. People who should be thankful that they’ll never be in a position where they have to make a split-second, life-or-death decision, chime in with amateur analysis.
It only adds to the confusion, and if enough people repeat a falsehood, others will believe it, until it becomes accepted as universal “truth.”
Even if someone is usually spot-on in their analyses on other topics, doesn’t mean they’re experts in the Ukraine or policing or anything else.
Well-intentioned people make mistakes sometimes, too. The world is a big place. There are thousands of subjects and subniches; it’s impossible for any one person to be the expert on every single thing. None of us are God.
Even the most competent leaders make decisions based on the best current information. Situations can change rapidly.
The Importance of Academic Rigor
One of the most important antidotes to misinformation, I believe, is academic rigor. As someone who attended parochial schools through high school back in the day, I can attest that the nuns and even lay teachers were like drill sergeants when it came to academia.
Strengthening minds is an antidote to misinformation - and it’s vital to the future of our nation. How can we thrive (or heck, even survive) as a country if portions of our young people aren’t trained to think logically? Or if they can’t even read at grade level?
When we take the time to consider all the facts from every angle, even if we may disagree with them, we’re less likely to fall prey to manipulation and psychological warfare. This applies to the Ukraine crisis, law enforcement issues, or anything in life.
We are all individuals capable of free thought; it’s what our nation is founded on. I say, let’s pay tribute to it. Often.