How would you answer this?

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Here's a situation that was presented by a youth (about 17, on the edge with gangs, etc.) during a Bible study of the 10 Commandments. How would you answer him?

What do you do if the police come knocking on the door and ask for your brother's whereabouts? You know he's upstairs, but he'll beat you up for telling. How can you not lie and protect your brother?

God bless, Scott

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2003

Answers

Perhaps remaining silent would be the course to take....?

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2003

By silence do you mean in answering the question or responding to the police?

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2003

I meant in answering the police.... I didn't mean to imply that noboby should answer the question! :-)

In the circumstance you outlined, I think saying nothing or saying, "I would rather not say" would be a viable option. HOWEVER, After further thought... "IF" not answering the police in this circumstance (they are asking at your door), is committing a crime (aiding and abetting???)... then you would need to answer truthfully... and take a beating.

In your post, did you mean to use the word "protect" in "protect your brother"? The word "protect" implies (to me) that the police were intending harm... perhaps a better choice would have been "harbor" or "hide"....

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2003


You don't live in my neighborhood. Protect is often a better word than harbor here. I've seen too much police harrassment because of racial profiling to change my words.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2003

Besides, I was using his words to try to convey a bit of the mindset I'm working with.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2003


Scott,

You are right, I don't live in your neighborhood (apparently)... not much "racial profiling" in mine....

So, in the case we are talking about here, what would the police do IF they were told the one they were looking for was upstairs? I don't believe they would barge in, would they?

I don't mean to veer off from your original question... but the "protect" mind-set seems like it would have an affect on ones answer.

What do you think of the "remain silient" answer that I proposed?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2003


Robin,

To answer your questions and give you a better idea for the mindset I'm working with: the silence would probably be the best option, but they would be risking arrest themselves. If he did answer, I truly believe the police would barge in to get the brother. Why? I've been to community meetings where the police have described their instructions for certain situations. For instance, if they see three young black males in a car, they will pull them over to check that the car's not stolen and there's no drugs present. Four of the black teens who participate in our ministry were walking to the store when they got stopped by the police to be searched. The officers dug into their pockets and everything. The only thing that provoked the search was the color of their skin. Here in St. Louis, there have been a few cases where an officer mistakenly shot a suspect because they thought a cell phone or similar device was a gun (a 12-year-old was killed when he pulled his water gun out of his waistband when instructed to put his hands up). Don't get me wrong, I can see where the officer thought he was acting in self-defense, yet it has put a fear of police into our neighbors that isn't healthy. They are viewed almost as the enemy, partly because we have people who are breaking the law and partly because there have been too many episodes where the police have gone over the top.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2003


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