Wake Up America! Its not the "Cops" or the "Criminals".......its us.

With latest grand jury ruling that a New York Police Officer will not be prosecuted for the death of a man he placed in a choke hold, we can expect a new wave of protests and social media wars between the pro-cop vs anti-cop crowds.

We can expect officers across the country to face the backlash of something they played no part in but will certainly deal with the hostility that arises from the public outrage.  That's the word right?  "Outrage."  Isn't that what we are good at in America?  We are good at "outrage."  People are "outraged" at the cops, they are "outraged" at "thugs" we are "outraged" at politicians...pick your topic and we are outraged.

The problem with all this is in the midst of our blame game, we always blame the wrong people.  The American public was "outraged" when George Zimmerman was found innocent by a jury, they were "outraged" when a grand jury ruled in favor of Officer Darren Wilson of Ferguson PD, and they are again "outraged" that a grand jury has now ruled not to charge NYP Officer Daniel Pantaleo with homicide.  Anyone notice a common word in there?  How about "jury."  Well what does a jury consist of America?  That's right, they consist of us.  Regular people.  Unfortunately, the people who are going to make the most noise about these issues, the ones who are going to block traffic, lay in the streets and change their profile pictures are also the ones who work the hardest at getting out of jury duty.  We want to blame the "system" but then we forget the "system" is composed of us!  The system isn't the problem....sadly America....WE are the problem because WE are the "system."  

We are good at "outrage" but do something that actually makes a difference?  Not so much.  Jury duty is normally viewed as an inconvenience to most of us but juries are responsible for some of the most important decisions in America.  But that's the real issue isn't it? Convenience?  It's easy to change my profile picture, its easy to yell at a cop or dismiss a kid as a thug, its easy to take an hour and lay in the street for awhile, and most of all, its easy to complain!

Don't like what the cops do?  Then fill out the application of one of the most important jobs in America, a job that doesn't just deal with bad guys, but a job responsible for knowing where the line is when it comes to protecting our civil liberties in this nation.  But that's scary, I don't want to be a cop...that's inconvenient.

Don't like those "punk street thugs?"  How about you get involved in your community and mentor a kid?  Well wait a minute, that's a long term commitment, I don't have time for that.

Don't like the way juries have been ruling?  How bout not trying to get out of jury duty next time around?

Don't like the way our government is run?  How about actually showing up to vote in November?

Don't like women having abortions?  How bout you adopt a kid or figure out a way to help a pregnant mom who's considering the idea?

But all that's too hard....its easier just to do nothing and then blame someone and complain.  Cops, criminals, and juries all have one thing in common...they are composed of us.

So, next time you feel compelled to complain instead of act, go stand in front of a mirror and complain all you want......and then go lay in your driveway and block all the traffic you want.