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On the courage of a man of peace: A different view
by Ed Whitfield
Aug. 12, 2008
Jorge Cornell of the Almighty Latin King Queen Nation was shot 3 times Sunday night. Fortunately he is recovering from his injuries and he has been able to communicate with the few relatives and friends who have seen him since the attack. The word he sends out is there must be no retaliation and that he forgives those who have done this deed.
At a press conference the day after the shooting many questions were asked of his brother King Peaceful of the ALKQN, Brother TC Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and Rev. Nelson Johnson representing the Greensboro Pulpit Forum in the absence of Rev. Gregory Headen who could not attend but sent a message. The reporters present were looking for details about the event and about whether there would be cooperation in seeking justice. It seemed as though they had completely missed the real question of the afternoon: How is it that this man who is little known and even less understood in this community can be shot and immediately continue his calls for peace while forgiving his attackers?
In a community where people distance themselves from "gang activity" by conceiving of gangs as violent groups that endanger the neighborhoods while the rest of us seek protection from them, it is hard to grasp that a person thought to be a gang leader is seeking peace while the concern of many others is for retribution in the name of justice.
Think of how different this is from the dominant culture which punishes an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Think of the punitive and even preemptive attacks on known and suspected enemies that receive the unblinking approval from the masses of people. Think of the punishment to people who have been tortured and held for years with no charges leveled against them on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations that they may be enemy combatants.
The details of the shooting will likely emerge from the investigations that are sure to take place in the upcoming weeks. It is likely that at some point some individuals will be named as the likely assailants. Some people will no doubt feel safer when that happens even though we should know by now that the arrest of individual perpetrators has not made our community safe and free from crime. What we will be seeing if someone is caught is some folks who have absorbed all too well the prevalent violent norms of this society while the rest of us remain in denial. If we truly seek to end violence, we need to repudiate the congress, the president, the military, the states, police and the history books and try to learn from Jorge Cornell.
Real justice which is recognizing the full humanity, respecting the dignity and assuring access to the means of a full and meaningful life for all of our brothers and sisters regardless their color, language, religion, gender, gender preference, place of origin and station in life will bring real peace. Calls for retribution, whether they are issued in the downtown halls of power or in the narrow streets of low income neighborhood, will not bring peace. This is something Jorge Cornell and those who stand with him seem to understand.