Walking the "Plank"

He was just lying there, but his dazed look invited others to inquire – in my neighborhood that was a concern. He wasn’t dead, but he was out of it and needed help. I suspected he’d been drinking and in a rambling slur he acknowledged such. I didn’t want to leave someone who couldn’t take care of themselves - he could be dying from some drug cocktail coursing through him for all I knew. And if I had left him, he could be mugged, beat up, or worse. So I called 911.

Perhaps my experience at the inaugural RGI Conflict Resolution Course the prior September weekend instilled in me a sense of ownership for this moment. I couldn’t help being inspired, the lineup of instructors was impressive: James Shanahan, 30-year veteran of the NYPD – a legend; Joe “Marine” Shusko, 30-year veteran of the Marine Corps and director of the Corps’ Martial Arts Center for Excellence in Quantico, Virginia – another legend; Officer Artie Mark, NYPD, the epitome of the ‘street-smart cop;’ Gary Klugiewicz, 25-year veteran of the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department and president of “Verbal Judo.” The list goes on with agents from the FBI, US Marshals Service, and other professionals from the civilian sector. And leading this mighty pack of sheepdogs was none other than Jack Hoban.

In attendance were Law Enforcement, Marines, servicemen, teachers, and civilians, all of us looking for answers to resolve conflict, reduce tensions, and make the world just a little bit safer. The impact of the training was to do just that. From learning how to communicate effectively, to street smarts, to physical skills, to teambuilding, to philosophy, to a morning PT session right on the Jersey shore, all of the training, lectures, stories, and anecdotes were geared toward activating the inner ‘Ethical Warrior.’

The root of all conflict is disrespect and often leads to the dehumanization of one’s enemy, further obscuring the moral high ground. Cicero said, “Whom they fear, they hate,” and it is as true today as it was in Roman times. By dehumanizing the enemy and reducing their lives to subhuman stature, it makes it easier to do the rough stuff, the violence, the killing. So, activating respect for the lives of others and ourselves is the surest means to resolve conflict, while at the same time creates a powerfully strong, tactical advantage.

Joe Shusko recounted the story of his own son, a Marine stationed in Iraq, when he took charge of a unit responsible for finding caches of illegal weapons. SOP was to kick in the doors of villagers, swarm in guns up, and interrogate the homeowners. Not only were they not finding any weapons, they were still being attacked, and weren’t receiving any information from villagers. Upon taking over, Shusko’s son made a command decision – stop kicking in doors and interrogating, start knocking on doors and asking politely. Within one week of the change, they were inundated with information and were led to various caches and insurgents that could have harmed or killed innocent civilians and fellow Marines.

So, after watching over my inebriated friend, imagine my relief when a Chicago Police cruiser rolled up to help him. I approached the officers – a young blond female, and an older male – and gave them the story, even telling them his name was Dean (I had gotten that much out of him).

They were silent, walked right past, without even looking at or acknowledging me. They ambled over to Dean who was lying on the sidewalk and the blond yelled, “Get up! You’re drunk! This is ridiculous!” The male poured a bottle of water on him. Dean jackknifed up. I turned and walked home.

Shanahan had said over his long career he had known cops who could talk a rabid dog off a meat truck and others who could show up at the scene of the Nativity and crack skulls. A few days later, I recalled my encounter to Jack. He asked rhetorically, “Think they’re happy acting that way?”