I'm never going to be for busing people in to cities to protest, hauling bricks to locations that make it easier to throw in to businesses, destroying property, breaking windows and stealing.
I am for the peaceful protest of George Floyd's murder by a police officer that had more than 10 complaints during his tenure as an officer. I am for investigating the Minn police departments code of ethics and how someone like that remained an officer. I am for setting strong limits to how people are contained. I much prefer stun guns quite frankly. It at least neutralizes the situation until it can be hashed out. I will march any street, kneel at any corner, have conversation with anyone about how we can stop this needless storyline from continuing another decade. I also want to talk about how we can end generational poverty in highly populated African American communities. Where I live, a college education is free. There is absolutely no reason why these kids aren't leaving high school and entering a college program. What keeps them from getting there? Generational poverty, addiction, isolation, broken homes, raised in violent homes, and the plethora of other sad issues that these kids are dealt. It's devastating and unfair and its time to break that cycle for them. We can create a better life for all of our children if we are willing to listen to their needs. Why aren't these cities/states with high criminal activity also offering free college tuition and opening colleges inside the very areas these kids are in trouble? Aside from parenting, why aren't we doing more in schools to help them get to these places to earn an education?
I just want to point out that there must be a meeting in the middle as well. Every side must be willing to do the work. My heart is heavy for this country. I identify as a conservative republican fiscally, but socially I am just an American that would like to find the opportunity that could come from this senseless death and make it the stepping stone to great things. I pray daily that some good will come from this. Much love to all....
People genuinely working hard to make changes, while others who have more are willingly giving a hand/ assistance to make their life better- I'm all for that kind of giving/assistance. But these last couple of generations (I'm not saying all people) many suffer from entitlement thinking, suffer from me-ness, and lack a strong sense of community. I blame much of it on technology and the isolation and th
Im so tired right now so I won't go back and quote everyone, but there have been so many good comments here.
Someone said that this was the "perfect storm" and I do think that is exactly right. Pandemic, political division, financial, high unemployment. This straw broke the camels back.
There are definitely groups with their own agenda to make protesters look bad and further divide our people. We really need to pull together now more than ever because our president wants division.
Someone said "Floyds death"-It was murder and we need to remember to call it what it was. Floyd was murdered.
I didn't read the articles on protesting but have in the past, and unfortunately destruction does bring change often times. (sad as that is). Martin Luther King tried to make change peacefully, but he was assassinated, and here we are.
I have friends with black sons and they have to teach their sons, beginning at an early age to not run, if in a car and stopped to keeps hands visible, to not put hands in pockets, etc. This is heartbreaking.
So much good discussion-I will have to re-read posts tomorrow and links suggested.
Just so deeply saddened by all of this, not because of the protests or even destruction, but more because it has to be done for people to be heard and demand this behavior is not acceptable and that things have not changed through peace.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered and his beliefs for nonviolence in trying to achieve equality. Lincoln died for his beliefs regarding the Black race being considered 100% humans-not property............. Their death....a violence.....and these people are remembered through history.... .as change makers. I don't think Trump wants a divided country......I think he just wants to be Commander in Chief......and make the rules and dish
It took a lot of deaths to end World War II and bring about equality for Jewish throughout Europe. Violence can create change. Has done, many times over, throughout history. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Always at an immense cost.
But violence is not necessary to create change - that's the point. It can be done peacefully. And if we can create change peacefully, that is always the path that we should go. The cost to all of us, of choosing the violent route, is incredibly high, and leaves wounds that can take centuries to heal.
Not at all. In fact, the idea that all lives matter? Is the only reason that the statement "Black Lives Matter" has any relevance at all.
Your value, that all lives matter equally? Is at the very core of the current movement. And, when the lived reality of citizens is that all lives matter, then we can change the parade cry to "All lives matter".
But until All Lives Matter is the lived reality of all parts of socitety, the BLM statement is a reminder that we still have work to do yet.
"All Lives Matter" is the goal of this movement - BLM is a statement that it is not yet the reality. The statement that All Lives Matter is the goal, but we can only create change when we recognise change is required, by addressing it directly, and allowing ourselves to have the conversation not just about what we want to achieve (All Lives Matter), but what needs to change (which is the value of the BLM statement - it points to the problem, and brings it into an open space for us to acknowledge we're not getting this right, and we need change in certain specific areas).
So, when you see someone holding a placard that says "Black Lives Matter", they aren't saying that BLM because if you're born with black skin you matter. They're saying BLM because all lives matter. The BLM placard is agreeing with your sentiment that all lives matter, and is doing nothing more than pointing to a space where we need to work harder to make that reality.
I don't think the real issue is Black Lives Matter-
the issue is Police Brutality is Unacceptable for ALL and this broader viewpoint is all inclusive....When the policeman goes to court for his crime.....the race won't matter to the judge. While the lawyers and interested parties will focus on racism, in the end, it will be the brutality of his acts and that there is a dead man....murdered, that will send him to jail.
Violence leaves an imprint, a memory for all who endure violence, participate in violence, believe in violence, or have loved ones who were harmed by violence over a cause (in this case... race-based violence). Violence breeds hatred and malcontent and nothing more...it pumps people up and doesn't have anything to do with solving the problem...........this kind of violence is remembered..... for generations.....and violence breeds fear-and safety issues-and breeds expectatioins of more violence......violence is also used as an excuse for a cause............people use violence to justify their behavior or cause-while their behavior is breaking the law, and breaking down our society.....
Then, these stories like we are seeing now, will be passed down to their children, and their children's children, and of course....the facts for all sides....will be skewed...... and it doesn't matter which side of the fence you are on, all violence breeds hatred. Our children are born without hate, but many-not all, learn hatred in their own home................and those stories of violence are passed down for generations, dinner table conversations, remember when....... front porch talk.........supporting people's biases and fueling more bigotry for generations to come......and more hatred.....Blacks and Whites...alike.
You can't have change in the form of equality where hatred exists.......but you can strive to have equality where the solutions don't create such vivid memories of violence and hurt.....
Police brutality is the issue......but many have made the issue a racial thing-.....Consider if all come together over the issue of police brutality (and set aside the concept of racism), rather than making it a race-based issue..everyone held a sign that said,
"Our Lives Do Matter." Unification of many may likely have better chance of change when all kinds of folks are behind the movement-and not just one segment of the population ......police brutality is unacceptable for anyone....no matter the color of their skin or how different they may be. It is coming together for mutual benefit....nonviolently uniting all opposed to police brutality...... gets more people in the cause, and a unified approach has a greater likelihood of making permanent change with the fewest casualities, and as a byproduct, working together for a mutual cause might be more likely to effect in narrowing the racial divide. However, as long as hatred exists...and hatred fuels people's responses to injustice...... and racism is the focus and not police brutality, I see little opportunity for the kind of change that is needed to make this world a better place for all to live-together....especially, if violence are methods used to try to create change by those who want equality.
