Bob Franken

This is the time when we are supposed to discern meaning in the year we’ve survived and somehow find hope for the new one. Sorry, folks. The meaning of 2014 was that it largely was mean, another 12 months of national decline, and 2015 will get off to a horrible start.

Even as the statistics show that the recovery from economic near-death is tentatively and finally extending beyond the obscenely wealthy, the country continues its downward trajectory, often a deadly and always dangerous spiral.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the bitter division between millions of citizens and their police forces. It went full circle right before Christmas when two patrolmen from the New York City Police Department were gunned down as they simply sat in their squad car in Brooklyn. They were assassinated by a crazily violent criminal who apparently decided he would slaughter some cops — to put “wings on pigs,” as he said in a series of social-media messages. Then he raced to a nearby subway and turned the gun on himself.

This tragedy was the work of a twisted man who found motivation in the angry national uproar over the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y. Their deaths caused a bitter uproar over strong evidence of police tactics that appeared to be grossly and, in the minds of millions, criminally excessive. Once grand juries decided the officers would not face charges, as we know, many of our cities have been besieged by demonstrations — most peaceful, some not.

As always, the controversy has frequently degenerated into mindless excess on both sides. The violence and destruction from a small number of the anti-police protesters has been nearly matched by incendiary posturing from some police union leaders, and the opportunistic goading by public figures on both sides. Almost overlooked are displays of dignity like the statement released from the parents of Michael Brown:

“We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot be tolerated. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers’ families during this incredibly difficult time.”

It is a difficult time. And it could get worse. Instead of a constructive examination of law-enforcement tactics and treatment of minorities, the murder of the two officers in New York could inflame the already-simmering resentment of policemen and -women everywhere and further distance them from those they are sworn to protect.

We are being ripped apart. Look at social media, where there is so much racial hostility, so much evidence of the ugliness that permeates our country. We are bombarded with ignorance and hatred, everyone taking sides and angrily shutting out anyone who even slightly disagrees. The sense of community that is supposed to define us is being shattered. All too quickly we are becoming a nation of enemies. We see it in official Washington, where it has become nearly impossible to solve problems; we see it on our TV sets, where most any media light is overwhelmed by heat. It’s a cliche but true that we’re all in this together. Sadly, together we’re falling into the abyss.

(Bob Franken is a syndicated columnist.)

(c) 2015 Bob Franken

Distributed by King Features Synd.