The Thin Blue Line

(Inspired by UU Minister Rev. Sinkford's blog about the police and the dividing lines of racism and what the thin blue line really means.)

Dick lit another candle, this time placing it in the center among the others. He stood back observing his arrangement. There were actually three colors now, two of the m distinguishing the sides of one verses the other with a third dividing them. There was only one candle lit on one side while the others watched, like sentries. The middle candle was also lit, but not for what others might think. His thoughts were interrupted when a voice broke the silence.

"A blew candle? Is it someone's birthday?"

"No Babs," Dick said, in all seriousness.

"Then what's it for and why is that candle a different color than the others?"

"Because another black man was shot by police. His car was stalled In the middle of the road. He just wanted help to move it."

"And they shot him for that?"

"He wasn't a threat and yet he got shot, for nothing."

"What's the blue candle for?"

"That's the thin blue line."

"What are all these candles for?"

"They represent all those times police have crossed that think blue line."

"I don't understand," Babs questioned Dick's logic.

"I know what the thin blue line means, Dick. I just want to know what you're thinking."

"Police are supposed to serve and protect. They are supposed to protect the public from a crime. They aren't supposed to commit a crime. The thin blue line represents that."

"Isn't that a little simplistic?" Babs questioned. "You're making it out like it's a dare, like when we were kids someone dared us to cross an imaginary line in the sand if we've been bullied."

"In a way, it's something like that," Dick replied. "Only the man wasn't a criminal, his car was stalled. He wasn't daring anyone to cross that line, and yet the police shot him just the same. They were the ones that crossed the line."

"How do you know?"

"They searched his vehicle. They didn't find a weapon or drugs of any kind."

"Then why did they shoot him? He had to have done something."

"They shot him because the vehicle fit the profile of the suspect they were after. Only . . . "

"Only what?"

Dick turned toward Babs. He had a single tear in his eye. "The actual suspect who drove a vehicle identical to the man that was shot was white. The police didn't bother to check. They targeted the man just because he drove the same car. And now an innocent man is dead."

"I'm sure my father, the Commissioner is looking into . . . "

"It didn't happen in Gotham. It wouldn't happen here."

"I don't quite follow you."

"Babs, don't you see. I was a police officer in Bludhaven. I never crossed that line! That thin blue line is supposed to mean something to every police officer. It doesn't matter if you're in Gotham, Metropolis, or any other city. That blue line has to mean something. It means you don't cross that line! And too many officers have. They are not checking their facts! They are targeting black people and assuming the worst."

"Dick, we know there's corruption . . ."

"This is not about corruption, Babs," Dick said. "This is about treating people as innocent citizens, all people. None of us should cross that line

Babs didn't argue the point. Technically, they were all crossing the line. It was the degree in which they crossed. Being a vigilante wasn't exactly legal, but they didn't take the law into their own hands and kill the criminals committing those crimes. That's why her father gave them leeway. Babs looked at the blue candle one more time. Her father was a cop first, commissioner second. Had he ever crossed that thin blue line? Perhaps not, but having that candle there was a reminder. Maybe that thin blue line was more like a knife's edge instead of that dare line drawn in the sand. You step one way and you get yourself cut. You step another and you cut someone else. Barbara Gordon nodded at the analogy, a thin blue-edged blade that can draw blood if used the wrong way, innocent blood.

Babs turned to see Dick staring into that blue candle.

"Come on, Dick," Babs pulled on Dick's arm until she pulled him away from the rack. "The candles need a break, and so do you. Let's go out to eat. We can check out the blue plate special at that new diner."

"Blue plate special?" Dick gave Babs a smirk.

'Oh sorry."

Babs took Dick's hand and led him from the Wayne family chapel. She looked back one more time at the blue candle. It continued to burn even after the other single candle was extinguished. A thin blue line in the dark lighting the way to peace and hope.

End