Michael Drejka’s New Life Offers A Cautionary Tale
I have been thinking a lot in recent days about Michael Drejka and Markeis McGlockton. This has been big news nationwide. On the one hand, it sounds a lot like random acts of violence that are of limited relevance to the larger world. On the other hand, it’s a perfect cautionary tale for anyone dealing with strangers and conflict resolution.
For starters, let me clearly state what this posting is NOT about. I am not bashing Michael Drejka nor Markeis McGlockton. Nor am I defending them. Others are doing a fine job of that. I am just looking for the lessons to be learned.
By way of background, I have looked at both men’s troubling criminal histories and dysfunctional lives. They thrived on conflict with a need to be assertive. Both seemed like the kind of people who did not mind shaking things up a lot.
Conflict can be a good thing, since it generates debate and discourse. And after all, the role of discourse is to advance knowledge, not just reach consensus and play nice. Yet the Drejka tale provides lessons on ways to avoid trouble in your interactions with strangers.
First, did Drejka ruffle feathers of the strangers he approached in the parking space? I do not know, but clearly one related family member was opposed to him. Whether Drejka justly deserved to be violently pushed to the ground or not is wholly irrelevant for my purposes. Rather, the lesson for any stranger seeking dialogue is to tread softly if possible and not antagonize people.
The old saying is that “friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.” If someone has a parking space, they have a parking space, and that is that. Whether that person is opposed to you for valid or invalid reasons is quite beside the point: you either win her over (either through the merit of your request, your interpersonal skills, or preferably both), neutralize her opposition by having other people in your corner, or find another battle.
Drejka will have to watch his wretched back the rest of his conflicted days left in this world as he most certainly will be marked for requital. For Markeis McGlockton it is too late. He crossed a fatal line by initiating the violence with a complete stranger.
The lesson in human relations and conflict resolution is that if something smells fishy it probably is, and just to be safe you shouldn’t do it anymore. Any potential payoff does not match the fallout if killed or exposed, especially in the digital age.
Treat others the way you would like to be treated, according to the Golden Rule. You do NOT want to be the one that others warn about.
Nobody is obliged to speak to strangers. The woman in the parking space could have rolled up her windows, called 911 and started recording the asinine Michael Drejka with her smart phone. Michael Drejka might have even been arrested for disorderly conduct and assault had she chosen to call the police, who after all, have the theoretical monopoly on the use of violence in our county.
This story could have been between strangers of any race, creed, color or religion. It will no doubt play out again and again with new actors as some people do NOT learn nor want to learn. So be it.
