We Are Individuals, Not Herds of Animals [OPINION]

I've never thought of myself as a member of a group and I don't think anybody else is either. Groups or herds are for animals, not human beings.

The men and women who have jobs as police officers aren't robots. They are individuals who have a mind and conscience and free will. They have the training and a hierarchy of command consistent with their mission. But when push comes to shove, they make decisions as individuals.

There is no shared mind.

The crimes of the individual belong to the individual. Just because a person is employed as a police officer doesn't mean they own the honors or crimes of another person employed in the same job. Just because a person shares the same skin color of another person doesn't mean they own the honors or crimes of those they look like.

I have always found group identity to be fascinating. I don't mean shared values or cultures. I mean the false sense of accomplishment that many people have because they look like the person who actually achieved something. This isn't to be confused with a family member who is proud of another family member who did something great.

Just because I look like a famous inventor or leader doesn't mean I have anything to do with their accomplishments.

This also works the other way. Just because I look like someone who has done something terrible doesn't mean I own that experience.

The idea of treating people as groups is a failure. It avoids true accountability. It pretends that people are not responsible for their own actions.

George Floyd and the Minneapolis police officers involved in his death were all individuals not members of a herd.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.