Letter: We cannot develop as a country with a vigilante mindset

I have defended America in wartime. I am an American. I am a patriot. I am a black American — and yes, my life counts. It is as valuable as any American. Phrases such as “liberty and justice for all” and “created equal” not only sound good, but are good. They are the ideals that create a bond that makes us one.

It is a reality that no group or profession is immune from wrongdoing, but it is also a reality that we cannot continue to develop as a country with a vigilante mindset. Evil is evil, regardless to how it is dressed or presented. Evil is foreign to freedom and justice for all, for those who seek peace and a life where we can walk hand-in-hand with our fellow Americans. To randomly target police officers is just as barbaric as to target an individual because of his skin color.

There is no possible winner in this burst of outrage. We do not have to recreate the wheel, but use that which has been proven to work: Freedom and justice for all in the arms of brotherly love.

This story was originally published August 7, 2016 at 3:20 AM with the headline "Letter: We cannot develop as a country with a vigilante mindset."