Newspapers across the US, including the Washington Post, feature the aftermath of the Ferguson decision on the front page
Over the past few days, it has been hard to avoid hearing about Michael Brown and the tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri. Whenever you watch television, look online, or read the newspaper, this story has been dominating the news. America has been outraged by the fact that an unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a white police officer over the summer. And today, millions of Americans stand disappointed in our own society and government after the officer that killed Michael Brown was not indicted on murder charges. Peaceful protests are occurring all over the nation, including at the University of Michigan, and even violence has erupted in the area that Michael Brown was killed. But what I’ve read in the news recently has reminded me of the ideals outlined in something else I’ve also read not too long ago: Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France. Has our society really turned into one that Burke would support? And if so, is that something we should be proud of?
First, some background information: On August 9th of this year, 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by police officer Darren Wilson in a suburb of St. Louis. Over the past four months, the American public has been captivated by this horrible story and by protesting both in person and through social media, millions of Americans have expressed their outrage with this situation. But yesterday, on November 24, a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson on any charges relating to the death of Michael Brown. Since this announcement was made, cries of injustice and inequality have flooded the airwaves and internet alike as so many Americans demand that our society no longer stand for such racism and discrimination. On Twitter alone, nearly 4 million tweets were tweeted in the time immediately surrounding the grand jury decision (click here for a cool graphic of where the tweets were coming from).
It is clear that a call to action has been made and that change must occur. But it seems as though the forces of change are working against what is wanted by numerous Americans. In his late-18th century writing, Burke is critical of the revolutionary activity of the French Revolution. Primarily, Burke supports the idea of maintaining the status quo and frowns upon social change. He writes “I do not like to see anything destroyed; any void produced in society; any ruin on the face of the land”. Burke is opposed to any type of protestation or revolutionary activity. But this isn’t too different than how our government is treating the situation in Ferguson. In the immediate aftermath of Michael Brown’s death, police officers became militarized as they attempted to shut down as many protests as possible. And, in preparation of the grand jury’s announcement, Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri declared a state of emergency and thus deployed National Guard troops to ensure that protests were kept minimal. It seems to me like the Ferguson Police Chief and Missouri Governor have taken a few tips from Burke on suppressing movements for change.
Burke also discusses his support of prejudices in society. He writes “we are generally men of untaught feelings; that instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree”. It seems too that not only did Officer Wilson read Burke’s writing and subscribe to his views on prejudice, but also the 12 members of the grand jury may have read some of Reflections on the Revolution in France before deciding Officer Wilson’s fate. Prejudice is a terrible thing in society and is harmful to so many individuals on so many levels. But it seems like Burke himself explains Officer Wilson’s thinking clearly. He writes “Prejudice is of ready application in the emergency; it previously engages the mind in a steady course of wisdom and virtue, and does not leave the man hesitating in the moment of decision, skeptical, puzzled, and unresolved”. After all, isn’t this what the case is about? Making a rash decision without much time or information – leading to a deadly outcome, based purely on racial prejudices. It seems clear that Officer Wilson’s decision relied upon his prejudice, which was activated out of necessity in an emergency. But still, his actions were not right.
I think that in cases like what happened in Ferguson, our society has indeed turned into one that would be prescribed by Burke. Burke comments about supporting social immobility, hereditary wealth, and inequality. For example, he writes “all men have equal rights; but not to equal things”. Aren’t these principals still existent in our country today? Michael Brown’s tragic situation is just one of many examples that affirm my belief that our country has more of Burke’s ideals than anyone wants to admit, and that these traces of Burke in America are not a good thing to have around.
I think it is time for our country to take a step back and a step away from the ways that remind me too much of Burke’s thoughts. Our country should never take pride in subscribing to the prejudices and inequalities that inherently exist today. In the wake of this tragedy, change must occur.
Rest In Peace, Michael Brown
Touchdown Theory 
I think this post is well written, but I disagree with the rationale of your argument. You base your claim for change off of the fact that Officer Wilson killed Michael Brown solely because of racial prejudice. The fact that Michael Brown was black and Wilson is white does not mean that he is prejudiced against black people. Darren Wilson told ABC in an interview that it would not have mattered if Michael Brown was white or black, his actions would not have changed. What your post fails to address is the struggle that ensued between Brown and Wilson and that Brown told Wilson that he was “too much of a pussy” to shoot him. Brown robbed a convenience store and pushed a store clerk and then failed to follow Wilson’s orders, and in turn charged a police car. Those actions alone do not warrant being shot, but they are valid reason for suspicion on the part of Wilson. Brown was a lot bigger than Wilson, and when he charged him there is no way of knowing what might have happened in that scuffle. Should Wilson have had backup with him? Absolutely. If Wilson would have been killed by Brown I am not sure that there would have been riots like those that took place in Ferguson. I think that the change you are calling for is the wrong kind. Police officers need training that goes beyond the normal situations. That was the first time Wilson had used his weapon on the job. He should be much more experienced. Nonetheless, our law enforcement officials need to be trained well enough that they can be trusted. There should not be riots every time somebody is killed by a police officer because if that happens it should be for a good reason. Lastly, police officers should be given respect, not called pussies and attacked like Michael Brown did to Darren Wilson that night.
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