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In a World Less Jaded…Stephen Johns Remembered

12 June 2009 12 Comments

There are days when I read the newspapers and watch cable news channels only to find myself sickened by depravity and despair. At times I find my mind seeking the fantasy of a world less jaded. In this world there are many issues that would become the ex-factors, deleted from my reality like a spelling error when I am typing.

In my world less jaded, there would be no white supremacists, let alone an eighty-eight year old white man who shoots a Black security officer at the Holocaust Museum in our nation’s capital. Think about that, would you? In one swoop this guy pummeled the fortress of our ideals in an act of hellish depravity. Just as we think there may be a chance of hope for change in our country, this guy made us see a stark reality. Depravity lurks around the most innocent-looking corners.

Officer Stephen Johns had kindly opened the door for this ‘elderly gentleman’ because he himself was a gentleman, respectful and diligent in his duties at the museum. Shot. The old man shot him dead. He had planned execution that day, no doubt. This racist, bigot, anti-Semitic, Holocaust denier had the audacity to attempt to destroy hope. And he did it in our nation’s capital. No coincidence there. It was quite a statement he made, all right. Every stereotype of hatred is what he embodied in this act. Hit the delete key. He does not represent me or my family or our ideals. But if I were a Black or a Jew or a Security Officer upholding the law, would I believe that all whites are covertly like this? Probably.

My world, however, is less jaded. I have made it so that people like him do not enter my domain, my thought-process or my life in any way. Oh, but in the back of my mind I know they exist. What this eighty-eight year old white man did is enough to make a person bulimic. I will never utter his name.

The Black man he gunned down was Stephen Johns. That is the name to remember. Stephen Johns. He spared hundreds of lives as he died in the line of duty at the hands of a domestic terrorist. The enemy within. We must beware the enemy within. Keep him in our peripheral vision but do not utter his name. I am sick of being sickened.

In my world less jaded I will remember Stephen Johns, a man of valor. He was a Black man who worked at the Holocaust Museum as a Security Officer in our nation’s capital. Stephen Johns.

12 Comments »

Patricia said:

I absolutely agree. Let’s remember Stephen Johns–a true hero. Whatever the killer’s name was–I’ve already forgotten it.

# 12 June 2009 at 11:05 am

admin (author) said:

Kudos to you, Patricia.

# 12 June 2009 at 11:18 am

Harrison said:

Not to sound jaded, but I bet if you do a follow-up in 6 months you’ll probably find Jones’ employer forgot about him.

# 12 June 2009 at 2:14 pm

admin (author) said:

Harrison,
I somehow doubt that. The Holocaust Museum stands as monument of “Never Forget” issues, the very ones that the shooter promulgated in his essays of hatred and racism. Many who work there are Holocaust survivors themselves and will remember Stephen Johns as a martyr.

# 12 June 2009 at 2:21 pm

Dwacon said:

Amen

# 12 June 2009 at 5:05 pm

Harrison said:

I meant more in terms of his family. I only say this because there was a black lady in bad health and debt whom Obama highlighted in his campaign as needing help and I remember reading a month or so ago that she had been forgotten as was still sick and poor.

# 12 June 2009 at 6:25 pm

RE Ausetkmt said:

Stephen Johns’ son said he was his Hero..
and so he is Mine too.

RIP Soldier – You’ve Done Well

# 12 June 2009 at 8:14 pm

admin (author) said:

Harrison,
She may be poor financially and physically ill, but my guess is that she is in better stead in her heart than the likes of the shooter. Obama’s job is not to “save” everyone. That is up to a higher power and to us, as the citizens of this country. He can only bring her sorrows to light in order to exemplify where we have gone wrong or have neglected our very own. We as a nation are spiritually ill when these subversive groups still stand. Awareness. Sometimes all we can do is to be aware…and vigilant. Tonight I pray for the family of Stephen Johns. I also pray for our President.

# 12 June 2009 at 10:26 pm

Harrison said:

Obama isn’t Jesus! My point was that when something bad happens everybody takes notice but 3 months later nobody remembers. I’m just wondering if Mr. Jones’ employer will have such a memory or not. What happened was tragic and terrible and I only hope his employer, for whom he gave his life, doesn’t forget that.

# 12 June 2009 at 11:06 pm

admin (author) said:

Harrison,
Again, those who work at this museum have a special calling and a mission to help us all to remember that evil in the form of hatred and racism has and does exist. If you had been on the scene of a shooting and a co-worker was gunned down, do you think you could forget that? My thoughts are that he and his family will indeed be remembered. What happened to Stephen Johns symbolized the very issues that the Holocaust Museum stands for. The shooter targeted Jews and wrote a note denegrating Obama. Blacks and Jews; racism and anti-semitism. They will not forget.

As to your “Jesus” comment, well it was the Right who deemed him the “messiah.” We Liberals did not ascribe that term to him.

# 13 June 2009 at 9:16 am

Tina T said:

Stephen Johns is definitely a name not to be forgotten. After hearing the history of the shooter, I feel that this murder could and should have been prevented. The man had already been in jail, and it was clear that he was in no way repentant. He should have remained in jail and he did not have to be released even with the time that he served or because of his advanced age. Even if they felt they could not find grounds to keep him imprisoned, he should at the very least have been on a watch list. Anyone who was aware of his history should not have been surprised by his actions.

# 14 June 2009 at 11:19 am

admin (author) said:

Tina,
I agree with you that he should have been watched. Doesn’t the government monitor web sites and emails under Homeland Security? They call the shooter a “lone” shooter, but quite honestly, I believe these people in hate groups are working themselves up into a frenzy, and it scares me. We have Megan’s Law. Why can’t there be a law to watch those who have been jailed and released but who have committed subversive crimes?

# 14 June 2009 at 12:51 pm