Regarding Ferguson, First, I dont believe the shooting had anything to do with the color of anyones skin. It was not a race issue. This does not seem like the situation that should be used as the example of police brutality and racism. Maybe use an example of someone who was innocent. Find a fallen hero worthy of standing behind. This kid as most news outlets refer to him was anything but a gentle giant. The giant part is about the only part that fits. Within a 20 minute or so span he robbed a convenience store, assaulted the owner, and assaulted an officer. People keep saying hands up dont shoot despite the physical evidence along with eyewitness testimony stating that is not what happened. Michael Brown was not shot over cigars, because he was black, or because he was walking in the middle of the street. He was shot because he attacked a police officer, attempted to take his weapon, and then when told to freeze when he had started to flee, he chose to turn and charge the officer to attack him again. This is the hero of your cause? This is the example of the abuse you suffer from? It is sad that the young man lost his life. It is sad that he was not taught to respect laws and those that risk their lives every day enforcing them, but I dont believe the black community is helping their cause by raising him up as a martyr. Secondly, I think a huge portion of the blame goes on the media. All of them. Im not separating liberal or conservative. Their desire for anything to get viewers led them to put Michaels buddy on the air, which he used to put a bunch of lies out their without media outlets checking the stories for accuracy. That was the first and only message on the news for a decent amount of time. Just long enough for everyone to get nice and worked up to the point where they would not believe any of the facts once they were released. It was inexcusable. Its fine for bloggers to write whatever they want and spit it out on the web with half hearted fact checking because theyre rookies, amateurs, and hobbyists. The news stations, however, should have a higher standard. They should know theyre broadcasting a wanted criminal nationwide that has been convicted on several occasions for lying to the police. Yet, they ran with the sensational news. White cop shoots unarmed teen. They need to report more responsibly. Lastly, Im not saying that prejudice is gone. That racism is gone. I believe they are still around. I also believe it is not a one way street. I dont think only white rich people are racist. I think there is plenty of hatred to go around. I think most of it goes back to fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what we dont understand. Fear and ignorance. Again, on all sides. So many people on all sides are ignorant. Not to be confused with stupidity. Ignorance is not the inability to understand and comprehend, but simply the lack of education or the opportunity to learn and understand. I didnt grow up around a lot of bikers. If I was in a bar with a bunch of bikers, Id be a little nervous. Not because theyre definitively bad people, theyre not, but because I dont know them or understand their culture. However, Im sure if I sat down with them and talked to them and learned about them, my fears would diminish. People on all sides that are UNWILLING to do this simple thing of meeting and learning about people of different colors, religious beliefs, political beliefs, and whatever else go from being ignorant, which is excusable to a certain extent to being stupid, which is not. Going back to my biker example, if I took the time to learn about them and then they kicked my butt and destroyed my stuff then wouldnt my fears be validated and stronger in the future. That is why the peaceful protesters and people that genuinely desire change should detest the rioters. They are not improving anything. They are increasing the fear of the ignorant that see them as representatives of the many as opposed to the selfish minority they are. My suggestion to the peaceful protesters is to rise up, first against the rioters and looters that are destroying your message, and then seek to educate the ignorant. Nothing is undermining your cause more than than the small faction among you that is stealing, burning, and attacking people. My recommendation to all, is to evaluate yourselves. If you fear someone because of their race or anything else, why? Take time to get to know people that are different from you. You might find a friend and you might be surprised how much that helps settle your fears and if all of us are doing that, maybe begin eliminating the hate.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 04:59:54 +0000
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