Today's sociological and political insight, in so far as it relates to the combined efforts of law enforcement and the judicial process to keep our streets safer comes from a source not often utilized to acquire such insight.
Sly and the Family Stone.
Stand by for that.
Peyton C. Grinnell is the Sheriff of Lake County, Florida. Lake County, like many areas of the nation these days, is confronted with an increase in the flow of heroin in its population. A video released by Grinnell as a warning to heroin dealers has gone viral, with some critics saying it looks like an ISIS video because Grinnell is flanked by masked deputies.
Here's the video.
Some have praised the video, while others made the ISIS comparison or said it sends the wrong message about a militarized police force. But Grinnell said he isn't worried about the reaction. He told the Orlando Sentinel, "I've seen some of the comments where some wanted to say this looks like an ISIS video, and I will tell you that those drug agents working up there with me, they're the ones working in the dark world . . . that's what they do on a daily basis."
Okay. First, no one can reasonably fault the sheriff for being committed and determined when it comes to pushing back against the ever growing drug problem in his community. All that is necessary for evil to flourish and all that.
And the use of social media to help spread the word that the "cops are comin/ the cops are comin" is a savvy partial solution to what is almost surely a lack of resources and/or funding, similar to that lack faced by so many, too many, of our local law enforcement organizations today.
Meanwhile, the criticisms of the style of Grinnell's presentation were fairly predictable, given the hot button nature of, and the emotional hair triggers involved in, the topic of terrorism.
Add in a dollop of concern about comparisons to military type police and you pretty much have to expect that a lot of people are going to feel their cages being rattled.
Which, is, of course, what Grinnell is obviously trying to accomplish in the first place.
Here's a thing, though.
Assuming we can all agree that heroin dealers are, while certainly afflicted with a number of character flaws and/or personality disorders, not necessarily stupid and are already pretty much in full awareness that what they are doing is a very high risk occupation, it's not unreasonable to wonder a little about the effectiveness of a video campaign like this.
Put simply, isn't it safe and reasonable to assume that these drug merchants already know that Grinnell and his hard working deputies are "comin for" them?
All the very good intentions of the Sheriff notwithstanding, doesn't it seem unlikely that some, or any, heroin dealer is going to come across this video, watch and listen intently and suddenly say to themselves, "uh oh....I hadn't realized that these dedicated law enforcement officers were zeroed in on putting me out of business....and were so serious about their efforts that they were prepared to risk both criticism and satirical ridicule by appearing on camera looking like either some Florida sleeper cell or the opening credits of the new reality show, "Lake County Ninja Narcs"....I really need to stop selling these terrible drugs and find myself a worthwhile occupation." ?
The purpose here is not the aforementioned ridicule. And, again, what Grinnell is doing, if nothing else, more than qualifies for inclusion in the category of doing something about a problem is always better than doing nothing about a problem.
At the same time, it occurs that there is, no matter how unintended and/or inadvertent , another dynamic on display here.
Some laudable preaching to the choir, creatively combined with a little playing to the crowd.
People in Lake County, Florida are, no doubt, talking with pride, even a little excitement, about their no nonsense, "comin to get ya" Sheriff. And now that the video has gone viral, water coolers, talk radio shows and podcasts and blogs all over the nation are pickin' up what Grinnell is layin' down.
Blogs like this one.
And that's good. Nothing wrong with that at all.
With one possible, admittedly minor nitpick.
Credibility might take a little hit.
Because while some appreciative citizens might feel a little more secure knowing that Sheriff Grinnell and his Steven Seagal-esque support team are pulling out all the stops to samurai the shit of of the poison peddlers, it's likely that those peddlers are going to be neither particularly impressed, let alone intimidated, by the presentation.
And there's always the very good chance that good and honest men who are to be admired and appreciated for putting lives on the line to keep their communities safe will find themselves poked and parodied.
Live...from New York....it's Saturday Night.....coming to you from Lake County, Florida.
That would be unfortunate. And unfair to these folks who are to be admired and apprcieated for putting lives on the line to keep their communities safe.
Second guessing is an all too easy go-to these days. And, again, Grinnell is to be high fived bigly for his obvious dedication to the challenge in front of him.
If there's any stumble in his step here, it might be that he's given in to the temptation we all seem to face, and fall victim to, these days, these days of social media and selfies and reality shows and The Voice and American Idol and video goop, glitz and all that glitters type glamor.
Grinnell's message is crystal. And underneath the well meaning show biz surface, it's plain that he ain't playin'.
But, presented this way, the play's the thing.
And the message gets a little mangled.
It happens to the best of us as we try to communicate with each other.
Because somewhere along the way, the means became more important than the moral.
And the production became more important than the point to be made.
Sly and The Family Stone presciently explained it a long time ago.
Everybody is a star.
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