Hi, Cassandra - interesting post.

Since we in the St. Louis area have experienced similar upheaval, your observations struck a particular chord with me.  I was particularly moved by your description of the intervention of faith leaders.  My own pastor was arrested at one point during the ongoing protests and demonstrations around Ferguson.   I have a deep belief that we do not hear enough from people of faith during these uncertain times.

Wise leadership is indeed what is most needed, but I can tell you that it is not what excites the media.   Much of what we see on television and the Internet is not the whole picture of what is actually happening, but a small and exciting sliver.  Given the bent of different media sources to broadcast from a particular POV, we can even get wildly different views of the same event, dependant on who is doing the talking and taking the pictures.

Wise leadership would seem to be exhibited by those who understand the power of communication and know how to positively use it to convey the realities that shape events, rather than just that which "bleeds and leads".

Thanks for a thought-provoking post.

John