Beware of Machiavellian interests seeping into the news

Sadly, gun violence being what it is in America, it would only be a matter of time before this column would be written

- Mary Sanchez

We’re a ticking calendar, always headed toward yet another horrific mass shooting, one that would illustrate an insipidly vile undercurrent playing off the bloodshed.

There are voices, some with multi-million dollar cable news broadcast contracts, who like to pit people of color against one another.

It’s thoroughly Machiavellian, a stealth maneuver to taunt and dredge up hatreds that shouldn’t exist. These are animosities that provide cover for those who stir them, dividing the very communities of color, who together, could and often do accomplish so much good.

Asians vs. Black people is a prime example.

And now, we have the death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton to illustrate.

Cyrus went into a South Carolina quick-stop store at about 8 p.m. on May 28 during the long Memorial Day weekend and was accused by the store owner of trying to steal four water bottles. It’s an accusation that later was said to be inaccurate, completely without merit. But the owner, Rick Chow, chased the young man out.

Cyrus fell at one point. And the shop’s son, who also took part in the pursuit, alerted that he thought Cyrus had a gun. His father, Chow, then shot Cyrus in the back. Cyrus died.

A gun was found near his body. But law enforcement, in charging Chow with the murder, said that there was no indication that the teenager ever pointed it. Underscore that Cyrus was shot in the back. That’s a sign of retreat, of no interest in causing harm. And again, no shoplifting had occurred.