We're being lectured all over the place about "the lesson of Ferguson." Generally the "lesson" is some variant on the theme that the cops are Nazis (libertarian version) or racists (liberal version).
I have my own "lesson of Ferguson" to offer. It is literally a lesson, one that Michael Brown's parents might have found useful to drive home about ten years ago:
Michael, we love you enough to want, and demand, that you grow up straight. We know you stole your classmate's apple. It's wrong to steal. You need to learn this, immediately and permanently. You're grounded for a week, and you will have extra chores, which you will do without hesitation or complaint. We also know that when your teacher asked you about it, you smartmouthed and walked away. That is not acceptable. You are at all times to respect and obey proper authority. You are grounded for an additional two weeks. Any further episodes of stealing or disrespecting authority will result in more punishment until you wise up.
And then they needed to make it stick.
If they had, Michael Brown would be alive today, many stores in Ferguson would not have been looted, and Darren Wilson would still have a career.
Another lesson is that media is completely predicable in it's knee-jerk reactions and worldviews.
But Matt Walsh gets it right:
http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/hey-ferguson-protestors-justice-has-been-done-but-you-never-wanted-justice/
Steve,
Great link to Matt Walsh. Thanks.
I would not go so far as to assume that this case was necessarily a parenting failure. Young people are subject to many influences as they grow. Parents are very important, to be sure, but there are also peers, schools, neighborhoods, and popular culture.
If we can broaden the point a bit, I think it is quite valid. The primary problem is the influences that cause far too many young people to choose the path of crime instead of hard work and self-advancement. That should be the primary focus of attention.