By Britt Nelson

Editor’s note: The views expressed by guest columnists are not necessarily those of The Costa Rica Star, its advertisers, or its staff

“Shots Fired,” “Active Shooters,” “Coordinated Attack,” “Ambush in Dallas,” “5 Police Officers Shot Dead, 7 Wounded” screamed the headlines across national television Thursday night in the United States of America and around the world.

The death toll on law enforcement officers is the worst single incident since the September 11, 2001 attack upon the World Trade Center in New York City, said CNN.

Three African American suspects are in custody, another one is dead. All five deceased officers are white as well as those wounded. Several bystanders were also hit by gunfire, police said. According to news reports, an assault rifle was used during the sniper attack.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the suspect in custody wanted to kill white officers in retaliation of recent police shootings of blacks in Louisiana and Minnesota.

A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest by about 800 residents was underway in downtown Dallas when the sniper began shooting from above, sending the panicked protesters running in all directions.

“There has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on police,” said President Obama from Warsaw, Poland, where he is attending a joint meeting of the European Union and NATO. “Police officers were doing their job keeping people safe during the protest … there is no possible justification for these kind of attacks.”
President Obama went on to say the issues of racial divide and gun control must be further addressed by lawmakers in Washington.

Early Friday morning presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump also commented on social media: “Prayers and condolences to all of the families who are so thoroughly devastated by the horrors we are all watching take place in our country … The senseless, tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota reminds us how much more needs to be done.”

Due to the Dallas shootings, both Trump and presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton cancelled Friday campaign appearances in Miami, FL, for Trump and Scranton, PA, for Clinton.

Clinton on Twitter said she mourns “for the officers shot while doing their sacred duty to protect peaceful protesters, for their families and all who serve with them.”

Carol Levy, of Houston, Texas, posted on Facebook an amazing comment for all Americans to consider.

“Something’s brewing in the air. Something is making America hate again. The indifference and violence has got to stop. Now. Otherwise, we are boiling in our own demise,” Levy said. “Of course, I have my own thoughts and theories about what (or WHO) is fueling all the outrage in our country right now, and it needs to simply stop. We should all take a good, long look at ourselves, and having a serious heart-to-heart talk with Jesus isn’t a bad idea either. Each and every one of us. Seriously. I don’t think this is what He meant when He told us to love thy neighbor as thyself. Everybody is crying for God to come back to our country, our schools, our whatever. Why not try bringing Him back into our own hearts. If you’re not into God, just try to tap into your higher self. We are better than this … so much better and grander than this!”

No truer words can be spoken. America is weeping. It’s going to be a long, hot summer.

About the Author

Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.