#SupportFerguson

I took a detour home from the airport this morning to grab some breakfast in Ferguson. I wanted to see the area firsthand before really commenting on it. Granted, I was there during the breakfast hour, but what I found in Ferguson is not what you're reading about in the news in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch & STLtoday.com or seeing on Fox2Now, KMOV, KSDK NewsChannel 5, CNN, Fox News or msnbc. Here's what I saw firsthand this morning (Aug. 19):

* A group of what appeared to be religious and business leaders meeting for coffee at McDonald's at 9131 W Florissant.

* People from all races and walks of life eating breakfast -- kids were playing and eating (mostly playing).

* Reporters and photographers recalling last night's events, reviewing pictures and discussing strategies for staying safe while reporting the news.

* Hardly anyone was walking the streets at 8:30 to 9 a.m., but around 9:30 a.m. the sidewalks were flooded with hundreds of folks -- white folks, black folks, old folks and young folks -- the only common denominator was each of them had plastic gloves on and trash bags to help clean up their neighborhood.

* City cops, county cops and Highway Patrolmen of many different races -- most of them talking and interacting with citizens, media or other law enforcement officials. I walked right next to Capt. Ron Johnson who was talking with some citizens despite looking downright exhausted.

* As I had breakfast and then walked up and down West Florissant -- past all the businesses that have been looted and the QT that was burnt to the ground -- nearly every single person who I encountered smiled at me and said "Good morning" or another friendly greeting.

* During my walk, I got more than one shout out for having my SEMO Redhawks polo on! #SEMORedhawks.

* Overall, I saw businesses with boards on the windows but signs saying "WE'RE OPEN!" I saw people coming together, not being torn apart. It was refreshing.

I encourage all of my St. Louis area friends to make some time to visit Ferguson and spend some money in that community. See what's happening when the out-of-town looters and rioters are not there. Don't just sit on the sidelines behind a computer. Join me for breakfast. Buy some groceries there. Have a beer and a conversation at Ferguson Brewing Company. Then be sure to share your own real story of the people of Ferguson.

It's time to stop typing. Share this and...

#SupportFerguson.

Paul Larson Dobbins is one of 25,000 Southeast Missouri State University alumni living in the St. Louis area.