Conflict resolution with the 'f' word?

The over-ear headphones didn't reveal what track I was listening to last night, but the device itself is certainly noticeable. My evening stroll met with a detour: several police officers adjacent to barricaded segments of sidewalk on either side of where they stood in the middle of the street. I approached one officer – an exceptionally tall man – and asked for directions indicating that my destination was on the other side of this unusual configuration. The officer told me I could walk down the middle of the street, close to the parked cars. Automotive traffic, scooters, bicyclists were also making their way at a slow pace, yet I wanted to be sure. I thanked him, replaced the headphones and continued homeward.

Perhaps a minute later, another officer wearing graying hear, a tense face and big hat stood before be. He pointed his gloved finger at me. It seemed his face became more tense with this gesture. His mouth was moving but Robin Thicke was singing about Blurred Lines and I couldn't hear what Officer Big Hat was saying. I removed the obvious headphones to hear Dutch in its aggressive less poetic form.

Him: &@#$%^&*???

Me: Your colleague told me I could walk through….

Him: No!

He pushed me backwards.

Me: Don't touch me! Don't push me!

He stepped forward to push me backwards twice more

Me: Don't push me!

Him: !@#$%^&!???

Me: (Well, I used the 'f' word) followed by 'you'.

Him: Watch your mouth!

Me: Watch your hands!

Then he stopped. He froze actually. Some shred of sensibility awoken. I walked back to the first officer who seemed interested in what happened. His first comment was to say his boss pushing me was very strange. Then (sadly) his own humanity – that he did show earlier – was discarded. He backed up his boss by acting in the same way: he pushed me too, not nearly as hard, more theatrical some how, then he walked away.

Traffic including a cars, a bus and woman walking her bicycle continued for a few more minutes down that very street, before a real diversion of pedestrians was implemented.

Two witnesses, young acting students, stopped to speak with me and the conversation lead to a nice meeting about a consciousness, behavior and fear.

Fear is what I saw with the older police man (and the younger one too would he not do as his boss did – without question.)

I have compassion for him, forgive all parties involved in the transgression and move on.

Take aways:

#1: If your boss is behaving in a way that is really beyond the boundaries of the 'job description', irrationally/violently or degrading to others please acknowledge it (in a safe way) rather than succumb to your own fears or their threats. Consider (your own) humanity.

#2 Having compassion and forgiveness doesn't mean to choose to suffer, that would indicate the aforementioned haven't found their alchemical potential.

#3: I value words and their meaning. I'm not quick to say the 'f' word to someone, let alone a guy with a gun and a pointing finger and a tense face surrounded by many other guys with guns... Indeed it was/is a case appropriate tool and in this instance it came naturally and consequently completely discharged the situation. Suffice it to say: use all medicine with care. ^i^

PS: Dear Police Officers of the world: you are first men and women. There are potential life threatening dangers and psychological traumas in your job. Please embrace your humanity or you will loose the ability to recognize what those dangers are. Some of you chose to 'protect and serve'. That, at least to me, means to be present, to listen and to communicate. You have so much incredible training, yet don't let it beat the heart from your chest or your personality from your birth name. Would you rather be fearless or intimidating? Shift your energy and intention and help make your community a community. Thank you.

‪#‎BlurredLines‬ ‪#‎Humanity‬ ‪#‎ConflictResolution‬ ‪#‎TheFWord‬‪#‎ResponsibleAuthority‬