Letter to the Editor: What kind of citizen are you?

To the Editor:
What ever happened to respect and trust for our justice system and the people we employ to uphold it? Have we become so skeptical that we feel compelled to challenge these people at every turn?
Don’t get me wrong, there are a small amount of bad apples amongst them and it seems there are debatable laws but we do have an orderly, non-destructive method to deal with such instances.
Here’s a simple test we each might ponder. If/when you’re initially stopped or confronted by a peace officer: Are you apologetic and courteous to him or her? Are you a bit embarrassed? Does your heart race? Do you berate yourself for carelessly speeding or breaking some other law? Do you make lame, thoughtless, excuses to yourself for your behavior? Or: Do you belligerently back talk or loudly defend your fault? Do you consider fleeing? Do you physically resist arrest? Do you aggressively attack the official?
I’d like to think we’d all be part of the first group. That we’d own up to our transgression and be better for it. If we thought we were unduly charged, we’d trust and accept that our court system could and would sort it all out, in an orderly fashion. And there’s no law that says a person can’t step away from the group he/she’s in and join the other.
We’re pretty darn lucky to live in this corner of this great state where, I know, the former group is the norm. That our officials are trustworthy and fair. I’m certain that the balance of the number of people in each of these two groups will change, slightly, in other parts of the country and other population centers but I know that the good people will always be the majority.
We can’t let the minority who fall into the second group dominate our thoughts and actions... or re-actions. If the rift between law and order officials and the majority of us citizens grows too wide or “normal,” martial law is an option, a real option.
We should enjoy the safety we live in. Respect and support the people we elect and hire to keep order. Theirs is a tough job. The world isn’t a perfect place but it’s what we have to work with. We can all help to make it better in some way... or worse.
The choice is ours to consider.

Gene Averhoff
Dorchester