Why People Do Nothing When Magic Happens

Two cases illustrate what happens when Good Samaritans try to uphold basic standards

We’re told we should always do the right thing, no matter the cost. If we see a violent person threatening those around them, we’re supposed to intervene. It’s considered poor form to do nothing. Our society routinely chastises those who look the other way. Yet, this standard changes dramatically when the offenders are black. When that’s the case, we’re supposed to look away and mind our own business.

A former Marine may soon learn the cost of being a Good Samaritan while being white. The unnamed Marine faces possible charges for taking down a deranged black vagrant. That vagrant, Jordan Neely, had a long criminal record, including charges for assault. Earlier this week, Neely threatened passengers on a New York subway. He allegedly attacked the 24-year-old Marine before the white man took him down in a chokehold. The chokehold ended Neely’s life. 

Police released the white Marine without charges, causing much outrage on the Left. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has taken time away from his very important prosecution of Donald Trump to investigate the case. A loud segment within the media wants the unidentified Good Samaritan charged with murder. On social media, Neely has become a lovable Michael Jackson impersonator who was only begging for food. The odds are stacked against the white man in the case, even if he may be exonerated.

The consensus among activists and liberal reporters is that the Marine should’ve done nothing. Aggressive black vagrants are just part of life in New York City. The real crime is to get in their way. Even some Twitter users who reported being assaulted by such vagrants agreed with this view. This viewpoint is animated by America’s Afrolatry. People are conditioned to view blacks as innocent victims and whites as arrogant villains. Millions of citizens see fallen black criminals as Emmett Tills. Jordan Neely joins Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd in this pantheon of martyrs in America’s state religion.

The Marine may be lucky here. NYC Mayor Eric Adams pushed back against the calls to immediately condemn the Good Samaritan. The black mayor insists the public should wait until all the facts come out. That’s a major departure from how officials responded to George Floyd’s death. Leaders rushed to demand Derek Chauvin’s arrest then. Eyewitnesses also defend the Marine’s actions. Even if the Marine is indicted, he may face a sympathetic jury that’s fed up with vagrants harassing and assaulting staphangers with impunity. It may be tough to find him guilty of any crime.

However, the backlash and the threat of prosecution illuminate why so few intervene in these cases. Ordinary people don’t want to be demonized as an evil racist and face jailtime for doing the right thing. Army Sgt. Jonathan Pentland learned that hard lesson in 2021 when he confronted a black teen harassing girls in his neighborhood. Pentland only yelled at and lightly shoved the black harasser. But for that act, he was convicted of a crime and his home was stormed by an angry BLM mob. He was made an example of to show Americans they shouldn’t interrupt magical affairs.

It’s common for viral magic videos from New York’s subway system to elicit “Why did no one do anything??” responses. Outside observers can’t understand why no one would do anything. Many, particularly women, will point to these videos as an example of how pathetic modern men are. 

The cases of the Army sergeant and the Subway Marine demonstrate why people don’t intervene. Some of the women who demand knights in shining armor to rescue subway damsels were quick to demonize the Marine. Why help people who would denounce you as a monster for saving them?

The Marine presents one possible outcome of intervention. There’s also a good chance that a Good Samaritan could get greatly hurt or even murdered by wrongdoers. Last weekend, a  white man in Oakland confronted blacks driving dangerously on the road. He was promptly beaten by a mob. 

Officials said the case shows why citizens shouldn’t get involved in these situations and leave the matters to police. However, a local news story showed police won’t intervene either.

Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo, who has been trying to crack down on sideshows for years, agreed.

"Please do not, you know, interfere. Let the police officers respond to that," Gallo said.

Another video shows an Oakland officer driving slowly through a sideshow of dirt bikes and ATVs at 42nd Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland. The officer takes off while being escorted by bikers seemingly taunting the officer.

Maybe no one, not even police, are supposed to interrupt Magic. 

It’s likely these Oakland assailants will face minor charges if they’re ever arrested. The system only cares about imaginary white mobs.

This is why it’s important to defend the Subway Marine. We don’t want to live in a country where it’s the norm for people to do nothing while you get beaten or stabbed.. If Alvin Bragg makes an example out of the young man, it tells Americans they should look the other way. That’s a terrible message to send. 

Of course, if Jordan Neely were white, everyone would be on the side of the Marine. It’s doubtful there would even be a criminal investigation. This is only an outrage because the vagrant was black and the Good Samaritan was white. Race is crucial to this story. 

The Subway Marine doesn’t deserve an indictment–he deserves a medal. American society should not condemn ordinary people protecting their fellow citizens. Cops can’t be everywhere, and sometimes it’s up to random people to maintain basic standards. The Subway Marine did just that. Punishing him would be the real travesty.