This is America.
In New York City, police officers line up to honor one of their own.
The above photograph ran on the New York Times’ website last night. It was taken by Vincent Alban, and shows members of the NYPD participating in what’s referred to as a “dignified transfer” of the body of Officer Didarul Islam, who was shot in killed in yesterday’s midtown massacre. This took place outside Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan.
Look at the image.
Look closely.
Look really closely.
The officers are white, brown, yellow. They are, surely, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, agnostic, atheist. Officer Islam was 36, had been with the force for 3 1/2 years, immigrated here from Bangladesh, was a married father of two and expecting his third.
This, from the Times …
The above photo …
The dignified transfer …
The slain officer embraced by the masses …
These are the United States of America.
It’s not right v. left. It’s not a president accusing an opposing party of being evil. It’s not cruel social media posts, it’s not ICE roundups, it’s not the demonization of immigrants, it’s not raw-level hatred.
No.
The United States of America is a police officer who came to here seeking a better life, and the rainbow coalition of colleagues who showed up to honor what he symbolized.
And what he symbolized, to me, is America at its best.
An America we can find once again.
Thank you for sharing these details about the fallen officer. A good person who contributed to others.
Well said.