The youngest rascal often asks: “Papa, what are you doing?/What are you thinking?/What do you plan for tomorrow?” Invariably, I respond with “Nothing.” Now we repeat each other when asked what is wanted for lunch, dinner or on TV. Nothing has become a fun word game. However, nothing can also be very serious. You three older boys should take special notice. You are new drivers and starting to experience forays into newer sections of town and county. Within the state and then interstate will naturally follow.

I begin by discussing a possible traffic stop by law enforcement. It’s a dreaded experience. Visions of parents finding out may well exceed the negative of monetary fines or points on one’s driving record. Consquences are often not fun. Unjust consequences can feel even worse. And, who is without the sin of thinking life is not fair? At times, of course it is not fair. But, remember if stopped by the law, the is the absolute worse time to let emotions rise up within yourself. It is also the ideal time to do “NOTHING”. The time to address consequences, unfairness or emotions is later. Polite needs to be your first thought when approached under any circumstance. Cooperate is a good second concept. Trust Papa, you may also be unlucky and meet one of the few law officers who may well be the worst your mind can imagine. Doesn’t matter. Swallow harder and be polite/cooperative. No sass. No whining. You and your parents can sort things out later. (Of course if one has actually commited a criminal offense there is the right to remain silent which translates to….nothing.)

Interaction with the police may not involve driving and a traffic stop. Papa had three such events while in and just after my high school years. During two I think there was a legitimate inquiry into some kind of foolishness near a park and at a ball field. The third I always suspected was a cop just out looking for something or rousting teens. I taught law courses at a local college for police science early in my career and interacted with many police officers while doing criminal cases. It’s clear that by training they will come across as in control but I’d say nearly all I’ve met were very decent men and women. That does not exclude the possibility of a bad apple. It is the bad apple that makes the “nothing” policy critical. Yet, that could also be true of a nevous Nellie or a person having a bad day or under dangerous circumstances/surroundings.

The tragic death in Minnesota this week plays the major part of having this topic in mind. Fifty-eight years ago a much more physically limber Papa graduated law school and was admitted to the bar. Trust that there will be a long passage of time before all the facts of the Minneapolis incident are known. Just as is true now there will continue to be allegations and counter allegations based on or in despite of facts. What the news media, politicians, activists or blow hards say does not matter for the purpose of this entry; except that it is a sad example of my do nothing rule. It is difficult to understand why anyone physically gets close to an active police action/arrest/potential fray/intervention in an intentional manner. For your good/survival resist the “do something” temptation on issues that are not as clear cut/rightous as vast numbers of folks on both sides claim.