Deborah Morse-Kahn
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

The day the story ran here in Minnesota, the morning after the night before, I had the response my training as a Sociologist and scholar in American Religious history combined for: a young man, very recent to his profession, was suddenly face in a dark alley (who turns their vehicle lights off???) by a woman in pajamas. No head-covering, moving freely, feeling at ease in approaching to uniformed officers in a squad car, conversing with the officer behind the wheel. Within 15 seconds she is shot by the officer in the passenger seat, a very young Somali raised with very strong understandings of the proper role of women in society. Who reverted without thinking to rage at this woman’s impropriety, an acculturated response without rational thought. And then the officer refused — and still refuses — to speak. I have little doubt that, if he has accepted such visits, members of the Twin Cities Somali community have begged him to speak, promised him support. I would hope that has happened with all my heart.

It seemed to knee-jerk to find myself defaulting to this answer but I went over it and over it in my mind and could not find any other reasonable structure for what had played out in that alley. No other reasonable framework. Before anyone rages at me, I have faculty experience in teaching college-level American Religious studies, Sociology of War, and Anthropology: I care about human life, all human life, have friends from across the religious and social spectrum, am a Democrat, used to live in that neighborhood as home for most of my life. I am grieved beyond words for this woman’s family, for this young man and his family, for my home city.

    Deborah Morse-Kahn

    Written by

    Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
    Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
    Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade