Viewing Minneapolis Thru a Do Good, Do No Harm Lens

Recent events in Minneapolis show lack of attention to do no harm and do good rules. The theft of billions from US taxpayers did harm. Some promises were made to do good, and decisions were made to fulfill greed motives. The state officials shrugged their shoulders. The federal officials sent in armed officials to remove those who were doing harm. Then they did harm by hurting innocents. 

Trained firearms users know you can’t use guns to defend yourself against threats by unarmed people. The man shot had every legal right to carry his firearm. And he had enough training to know not to brandish it, threaten, or shoot it in an environment where you don’t know what is in the path of the bullet. 

The armed officials who shot unarmed citizens should face charges. Conversely, so should demonstrators that did harm by kicking taillights out of a government vehicle. 

All peaceful protest is good. Martin Luther King taught us how this should be done. Martin Luther King did good and did no harm. If actions you take are harming individuals, businesses or churches, you should be charged with a crime. If you are a state official and not holding people accountable for use of public funds, or ignoring federal laws, you should be charged. 

The whole series of events in Minneapolis could have been avoided by applying a do no harm, do good rule. The federal government over reacted. The state government underreacted. A small number of protesters over reacted. Each of these instances did harm. The vast majority of protesters and government officials did good. We can’t encourage bad actors to reflect poorly on the efforts of good people. Most people seek to do good. 

The media uses a different rule. If it bleeds, it leads. If the media sought to do no harm and do good, they could be a positive influence. Today the media seeks to divide people in every way possible.