I need to get something off my chest.
This past week has been tumultuous. Hot off the heels of a global pandemic and lock down within the nation due to COVID-19, the United States is burning. It's burning as a result of police brutality which led to the death of George Floyd. I've sat back and listened during this to what everyone on social media and the news has been saying. It's been hard to really think of the words to describe what I'm feeling right now with everything. After talking with people and really taking time to think, I've finally made a decision on how I feel... I don't know. I don't know how to feel. Part of me is angry, part of me is sad, part of me is confused, and part of me is overwhelmed. I've decided to post my thoughts and feelings here, as those who wish to read it are welcome to and those who believe my opinion is irrelevant aren't forced to read this. I'm going to be going into detail about my thoughts after taking time to really process everything and figure out what I think.
First off, for what seems to be the first time in my life I don't know what I think. This whole situation is overwhelming for me. What seems like such a simple issue just isn't. It's so easy to say that racism is wrong and should be condemned, yet it still exists. It exists in dangerous forms that have led to the murders of many African Americans by the hands of rogue police officers. I grew up in a family that supported the police and have had family members take up the badge to protect and serve their community. Through this I've gained a lot of respect for law enforcement and know of the good they do. However, reality shows otherwise as time and time again police use excessive force and take the lives of African Americans. This latest example of George Floyd doesn't sit right with me. It doesn't sit right for many, many reasons.
I've deliberately stayed silent on the issue out of respect for the family of George Floyd and as a result of not knowing what to think. I didn't want to cause more damage by giving my opinion as a privileged white man. I don't want to tell people what to think or do or how to express their feelings regarding this, because simply put I'm not capable of it. I don't know what the Black community is truly going through right now and how they must feel. I never will. I see posts on social media talking about how "silence is deafening" and that remaining silent is "part of the problem". I personally have been called out for remaining silent on this as well. It assumes that not posting on social media equates a person to being complacent in a racist system and in turn makes that person racist themselves. I think this is incredibly ignorant. I would assume many people are in a similar position as me here; not knowing what to think or do or feel. Instead of joining trendy hashtag movements, I've decided to sit back and listen. I want to see what people think about this and educate myself on what is really going on. I have talked with people to better understand their views and why they feel the way they do and try to get my confusion cleared up. I think I've finally figured out my feelings on everything.
I feel as if the social media frenzy I'm seeing is really harmful to the overall goal of all of this advocacy. I keep seeing people post things on their stories or feeds about being in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and condemning racism. That's really good, but I would hope that this was how these people felt prior to George Floyd's murder. This past Tuesday, there was a #BlackoutInstagram trend where people would post a black box on their page in solidarity with the BLM movement. I see the rationale for it, but to me it seemed incredibly disingenuous. First, it was contrary to what the intention was. I read an article by CNN that went over how this was harmful to the movement as it basically shut out important information from being seen on people's feeds. Additionally, I would bet that many people will end up deleting this black box from their feeds once the protests start dying down. What hurts me with how people on social media operate is that once these protests become "old news" in the media and something new and topical comes up, the posting will stop. The advocacy will stop. It'll all go "back to normal" for those individuals who keep posting about it. This happens every single time. It just seems to me that the posting on social media is because that's what "everyone is doing" because its the hot news story, yet when the story ends no one cares anymore. Democrats in America were incredibly quick to post many pictures and stories of the border crisis when the President was being accused of locking children away in cages. However, this story died down and no one talks about that anymore. Shoot, even more recently people were combating and posting COVID-19 related pictures and stories about why protesting the lock downs was unsafe and dangerous. That ended too. People's advocacy seems to me to be based on what's topical and less of what the movement actually is, but rather what everyone else is doing. I see posts on Facebook about "if you support _____, unfriend me." These same people never post this when the nation isn't in a national crisis. The hypocrisy I'm seeing from people on social media sickens me. It is incredibly easy to post the same things everyone else is and everyone can make their statements about how they feel, but it ultimately means nothing if their isn't action to back it up. Posting a picture of a black box isn't the cure to racism. If the individuals posting this truly want to help fight back against racial prejudice, then sign the petitions and donate to the organizations. Being loud on social media I don't feel will amount to significant change if there's no followup on that advocacy.
Someone asked me earlier "what have you done to change the world?" I struggled and couldn't find an answer to it at first. It really made me think hard about what I've done throughout my time here, yet I've come up with one. I step outside my comfort zone and am willing to discuss and listen to others with opposing beliefs with an open mind, while defending how I feel respectfully. Throughout my time in college I've had dozens of conversations with students who disagree fundamentally with every single thing I believe in, yet I listen to their beliefs and defend my own. Truth be told, some of these conversations have fundamentally altered my own beliefs as a result of just listening. As I said earlier, its easy to post a picture on social media. However, its hard to step out of your comfort zone and have those difficult conversations where you may not know everything. To bring this back to my original point, I don't take issue with people invoking their first amendment right to free speech when posting their advocacy for Black Lives Matter on social media - in fact, I urge people to continue it well after the protesting stops. However, there needs to be more to it than just simple hashtags and posts. I don't want to see George Floyd be relegated to a hashtag when all is said and done. I want people to come together and talk. I want white people to sit down with black people and ask how to better themselves to be a true advocate for the black community. I want people of all political ideologies to be able to talk and refine their own beliefs to better themselves as people. I just worry more than anything that this will all be a figment of the past and the fight for change will die until the next instance of police brutality occurs. Because if this becomes just another quick social media movement, then it will occur again.
Social media has really upset me, as I've made clear by now. However, there's two aspects to this whole situation: social media presence, and the protests. Peaceful protesters and harmful rioters are being swelled together by media personalities. I am most passionate about the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. The right to protest is something I cherish and will always fight to protect. The peaceful protesting of civilians is something that should continue to occur until real change is enacted. The instigation by police officers in the videos I see of peaceful civilians being shot and tear gassed breaks my heart. It is not only an attack on those individual civilians, but on the First Amendment and on the very nation we live in. Protest is a fundamental part of who we are as Americans. The American Revolution didn't occur by sitting back and doing nothing. It occurred when American Colonists were sick and tired of oppression and decided to protest and fight back against an unjust rule. The Civil Rights movement didn't occur by sitting back and hoping something would happen, but rather one of the largest gatherings in the nation during the March on Washington which forced lawmakers to make changes. Protesting is American. These protests are in support of the African American community which has been oppressed in this nation well before we declared independence from Britain in the 1700's. The protesting should continue and it should continue until real change is enacted. I hope that the movement to enact real change to at least help fix our broken system will continue long after the media focuses on other things to report on. I hope for the future of America for us to finally live up to the "We the People" mantra our founding fathers penned to paper hundreds of years ago.
Rioting however, is not the answer. This may be the most controversial aspect of this blog post, yet I stand by my beliefs on it. I know why the riots are occurring. African Americans have been murdered, silenced, and oppressed for generations and it seems that the only way to be heard is through civil disobedience. However, I feel as if these riots have taken away from the movement America is trying to have.
It has seen wanton destruction of property. Now many who are supportive of the riots believe that this is fighting back against capitalism and the downfall of the powerful corporation owners who hoard the nation's wealth for themselves. The looting and burning of Targets and McDonald's and other businesses aren't doing that though. These stores are insured and the CEOs of these companies won't lose a penny. What it does do however, is put people who rely on those paychecks out of work and hurts some of the very people the protests are meant to protect. The rioting is hurting one another, not the people it's focused on. Small businesses who barely survived the pandemic are out of business now as a result of their own people burning them to the ground. Many believe the destruction of property is less important than the loss of lives. I'd have to agree to this point. However we live in a society that focuses on capital as a means of life and when these people are out of jobs, especially in this job market, their lives are ruined. The destruction of these businesses is directly affecting lives, as both are interconnected. It's heartbreaking that these riots have destroyed property, but it's worse that lives are being lost.
This rioting has seen the additional loss of life. Innocent civilians are being killed in these riots. A building in Virginia was set ablaze and rioters refused to let police and firefighters put the fire out and as a result, a child was burned alive and killed. Many other people in the streets, unaffiliated with the protests, have been killed by rioters as well throughout the United States. These riots are seeing the looting of stores and businesses, which to me seems to be individuals exploiting a tragedy for personal gain. This is heartbreaking to watch unfold. Police officers have caused problems too. Police have provoked protesters by attacking peaceful gatherings and arresting individuals for practicing their First Amendment right which has caused outrage and for riots to gain momentum and spiral out of control. Violence is not the answer on either end and ends in more violence. Many of the police officers who are using force is out of self defense, as many have been attacked and hurt as a result. St. Louis Police Captain Dave Dorn, an African American, was shot and killed in these riots. However, many policemen have been using excessive force during these protests as well, for seemingly no reason which has caused innocent civilians to be harmed. Neither side is right here, and yet neither side is letting up. I worry that these riots are losing their sight, as this is about George Floyd and every other African American life lost at the hands of police brutality along with the overall systematic oppression African Americans face day in and day out at the hands of an unjust system. I hope the protests moving forward focus their sights on that. Black Lives Matter has been fighting for this for years, starting in 2013 during the Obama administration as the result of police brutality. These riots however, are being orchestrated not by BLM, but by Antifa which I believe is focused on anarchy and violence. These groups are not the same people, and yet they're being blurred as one in the same. This is about racial injustice, not anarchist ideals of the alt-left. I know there's frustration. The destruction of property will never equate to the loss of innocent life. However, this rioting is only adding to that loss of life.
At the end of the day, I want to see a nation united. United against injustice and prejudice and fighting together to end the systematic racism we've seen for far too long. A nation divided is a nation that is doomed. Only together can we truly work for the betterment of society. I do not want to see George Floyd die in vain. I do not want to see any of the victims of police brutality be forgotten. I do not want to see this become another trend which dies down and ends when the media focuses on other things. I want to see this be the enactment of positive change. I want to see people posting on social media act and do something other than focusing on posting what is topical and trendy. I want to see protesters focus on the common goal and ensure that people listen. I want to see the rioting and destruction of lives end and a realignment of the principles that drove the original anger and desire to riot show themselves. I want people to come together to truly make the change needed for a better America. Only together can this happen, and I pray it happens.
I am a white straight man. I know I'm privileged with this. I will never understand the fear people of color face each and every day, whether that be of the police or others. I will never understand the fear women have of walking home at night or being objectified. I will never understand how the LGBTQ+ community feels having to suppress their identity around homophobic people. I don't know what it's like. I never will. However, I want to continue to listen, and to learn, and to better myself to be an ally of your causes. We Are the People of the United States and as a result we're all in this together. I want to better myself to help better this country. I want to use my position of privilege for good, not evil. I want to ensure all people are justly represented and given that voice and ability to live free of oppression and hate. I want us all to fight for what's right. I want us to be united for good.
Please, don't let the movement die. Don't be a part of just another hashtag. Please be the change that is needed in this nation.
What have you done to change the world?
This past week has been tumultuous. Hot off the heels of a global pandemic and lock down within the nation due to COVID-19, the United States is burning. It's burning as a result of police brutality which led to the death of George Floyd. I've sat back and listened during this to what everyone on social media and the news has been saying. It's been hard to really think of the words to describe what I'm feeling right now with everything. After talking with people and really taking time to think, I've finally made a decision on how I feel... I don't know. I don't know how to feel. Part of me is angry, part of me is sad, part of me is confused, and part of me is overwhelmed. I've decided to post my thoughts and feelings here, as those who wish to read it are welcome to and those who believe my opinion is irrelevant aren't forced to read this. I'm going to be going into detail about my thoughts after taking time to really process everything and figure out what I think.
First off, for what seems to be the first time in my life I don't know what I think. This whole situation is overwhelming for me. What seems like such a simple issue just isn't. It's so easy to say that racism is wrong and should be condemned, yet it still exists. It exists in dangerous forms that have led to the murders of many African Americans by the hands of rogue police officers. I grew up in a family that supported the police and have had family members take up the badge to protect and serve their community. Through this I've gained a lot of respect for law enforcement and know of the good they do. However, reality shows otherwise as time and time again police use excessive force and take the lives of African Americans. This latest example of George Floyd doesn't sit right with me. It doesn't sit right for many, many reasons.
I've deliberately stayed silent on the issue out of respect for the family of George Floyd and as a result of not knowing what to think. I didn't want to cause more damage by giving my opinion as a privileged white man. I don't want to tell people what to think or do or how to express their feelings regarding this, because simply put I'm not capable of it. I don't know what the Black community is truly going through right now and how they must feel. I never will. I see posts on social media talking about how "silence is deafening" and that remaining silent is "part of the problem". I personally have been called out for remaining silent on this as well. It assumes that not posting on social media equates a person to being complacent in a racist system and in turn makes that person racist themselves. I think this is incredibly ignorant. I would assume many people are in a similar position as me here; not knowing what to think or do or feel. Instead of joining trendy hashtag movements, I've decided to sit back and listen. I want to see what people think about this and educate myself on what is really going on. I have talked with people to better understand their views and why they feel the way they do and try to get my confusion cleared up. I think I've finally figured out my feelings on everything.
I feel as if the social media frenzy I'm seeing is really harmful to the overall goal of all of this advocacy. I keep seeing people post things on their stories or feeds about being in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and condemning racism. That's really good, but I would hope that this was how these people felt prior to George Floyd's murder. This past Tuesday, there was a #BlackoutInstagram trend where people would post a black box on their page in solidarity with the BLM movement. I see the rationale for it, but to me it seemed incredibly disingenuous. First, it was contrary to what the intention was. I read an article by CNN that went over how this was harmful to the movement as it basically shut out important information from being seen on people's feeds. Additionally, I would bet that many people will end up deleting this black box from their feeds once the protests start dying down. What hurts me with how people on social media operate is that once these protests become "old news" in the media and something new and topical comes up, the posting will stop. The advocacy will stop. It'll all go "back to normal" for those individuals who keep posting about it. This happens every single time. It just seems to me that the posting on social media is because that's what "everyone is doing" because its the hot news story, yet when the story ends no one cares anymore. Democrats in America were incredibly quick to post many pictures and stories of the border crisis when the President was being accused of locking children away in cages. However, this story died down and no one talks about that anymore. Shoot, even more recently people were combating and posting COVID-19 related pictures and stories about why protesting the lock downs was unsafe and dangerous. That ended too. People's advocacy seems to me to be based on what's topical and less of what the movement actually is, but rather what everyone else is doing. I see posts on Facebook about "if you support _____, unfriend me." These same people never post this when the nation isn't in a national crisis. The hypocrisy I'm seeing from people on social media sickens me. It is incredibly easy to post the same things everyone else is and everyone can make their statements about how they feel, but it ultimately means nothing if their isn't action to back it up. Posting a picture of a black box isn't the cure to racism. If the individuals posting this truly want to help fight back against racial prejudice, then sign the petitions and donate to the organizations. Being loud on social media I don't feel will amount to significant change if there's no followup on that advocacy.
Someone asked me earlier "what have you done to change the world?" I struggled and couldn't find an answer to it at first. It really made me think hard about what I've done throughout my time here, yet I've come up with one. I step outside my comfort zone and am willing to discuss and listen to others with opposing beliefs with an open mind, while defending how I feel respectfully. Throughout my time in college I've had dozens of conversations with students who disagree fundamentally with every single thing I believe in, yet I listen to their beliefs and defend my own. Truth be told, some of these conversations have fundamentally altered my own beliefs as a result of just listening. As I said earlier, its easy to post a picture on social media. However, its hard to step out of your comfort zone and have those difficult conversations where you may not know everything. To bring this back to my original point, I don't take issue with people invoking their first amendment right to free speech when posting their advocacy for Black Lives Matter on social media - in fact, I urge people to continue it well after the protesting stops. However, there needs to be more to it than just simple hashtags and posts. I don't want to see George Floyd be relegated to a hashtag when all is said and done. I want people to come together and talk. I want white people to sit down with black people and ask how to better themselves to be a true advocate for the black community. I want people of all political ideologies to be able to talk and refine their own beliefs to better themselves as people. I just worry more than anything that this will all be a figment of the past and the fight for change will die until the next instance of police brutality occurs. Because if this becomes just another quick social media movement, then it will occur again.
Social media has really upset me, as I've made clear by now. However, there's two aspects to this whole situation: social media presence, and the protests. Peaceful protesters and harmful rioters are being swelled together by media personalities. I am most passionate about the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. The right to protest is something I cherish and will always fight to protect. The peaceful protesting of civilians is something that should continue to occur until real change is enacted. The instigation by police officers in the videos I see of peaceful civilians being shot and tear gassed breaks my heart. It is not only an attack on those individual civilians, but on the First Amendment and on the very nation we live in. Protest is a fundamental part of who we are as Americans. The American Revolution didn't occur by sitting back and doing nothing. It occurred when American Colonists were sick and tired of oppression and decided to protest and fight back against an unjust rule. The Civil Rights movement didn't occur by sitting back and hoping something would happen, but rather one of the largest gatherings in the nation during the March on Washington which forced lawmakers to make changes. Protesting is American. These protests are in support of the African American community which has been oppressed in this nation well before we declared independence from Britain in the 1700's. The protesting should continue and it should continue until real change is enacted. I hope that the movement to enact real change to at least help fix our broken system will continue long after the media focuses on other things to report on. I hope for the future of America for us to finally live up to the "We the People" mantra our founding fathers penned to paper hundreds of years ago.
Rioting however, is not the answer. This may be the most controversial aspect of this blog post, yet I stand by my beliefs on it. I know why the riots are occurring. African Americans have been murdered, silenced, and oppressed for generations and it seems that the only way to be heard is through civil disobedience. However, I feel as if these riots have taken away from the movement America is trying to have.
It has seen wanton destruction of property. Now many who are supportive of the riots believe that this is fighting back against capitalism and the downfall of the powerful corporation owners who hoard the nation's wealth for themselves. The looting and burning of Targets and McDonald's and other businesses aren't doing that though. These stores are insured and the CEOs of these companies won't lose a penny. What it does do however, is put people who rely on those paychecks out of work and hurts some of the very people the protests are meant to protect. The rioting is hurting one another, not the people it's focused on. Small businesses who barely survived the pandemic are out of business now as a result of their own people burning them to the ground. Many believe the destruction of property is less important than the loss of lives. I'd have to agree to this point. However we live in a society that focuses on capital as a means of life and when these people are out of jobs, especially in this job market, their lives are ruined. The destruction of these businesses is directly affecting lives, as both are interconnected. It's heartbreaking that these riots have destroyed property, but it's worse that lives are being lost.
This rioting has seen the additional loss of life. Innocent civilians are being killed in these riots. A building in Virginia was set ablaze and rioters refused to let police and firefighters put the fire out and as a result, a child was burned alive and killed. Many other people in the streets, unaffiliated with the protests, have been killed by rioters as well throughout the United States. These riots are seeing the looting of stores and businesses, which to me seems to be individuals exploiting a tragedy for personal gain. This is heartbreaking to watch unfold. Police officers have caused problems too. Police have provoked protesters by attacking peaceful gatherings and arresting individuals for practicing their First Amendment right which has caused outrage and for riots to gain momentum and spiral out of control. Violence is not the answer on either end and ends in more violence. Many of the police officers who are using force is out of self defense, as many have been attacked and hurt as a result. St. Louis Police Captain Dave Dorn, an African American, was shot and killed in these riots. However, many policemen have been using excessive force during these protests as well, for seemingly no reason which has caused innocent civilians to be harmed. Neither side is right here, and yet neither side is letting up. I worry that these riots are losing their sight, as this is about George Floyd and every other African American life lost at the hands of police brutality along with the overall systematic oppression African Americans face day in and day out at the hands of an unjust system. I hope the protests moving forward focus their sights on that. Black Lives Matter has been fighting for this for years, starting in 2013 during the Obama administration as the result of police brutality. These riots however, are being orchestrated not by BLM, but by Antifa which I believe is focused on anarchy and violence. These groups are not the same people, and yet they're being blurred as one in the same. This is about racial injustice, not anarchist ideals of the alt-left. I know there's frustration. The destruction of property will never equate to the loss of innocent life. However, this rioting is only adding to that loss of life.
At the end of the day, I want to see a nation united. United against injustice and prejudice and fighting together to end the systematic racism we've seen for far too long. A nation divided is a nation that is doomed. Only together can we truly work for the betterment of society. I do not want to see George Floyd die in vain. I do not want to see any of the victims of police brutality be forgotten. I do not want to see this become another trend which dies down and ends when the media focuses on other things. I want to see this be the enactment of positive change. I want to see people posting on social media act and do something other than focusing on posting what is topical and trendy. I want to see protesters focus on the common goal and ensure that people listen. I want to see the rioting and destruction of lives end and a realignment of the principles that drove the original anger and desire to riot show themselves. I want people to come together to truly make the change needed for a better America. Only together can this happen, and I pray it happens.
I am a white straight man. I know I'm privileged with this. I will never understand the fear people of color face each and every day, whether that be of the police or others. I will never understand the fear women have of walking home at night or being objectified. I will never understand how the LGBTQ+ community feels having to suppress their identity around homophobic people. I don't know what it's like. I never will. However, I want to continue to listen, and to learn, and to better myself to be an ally of your causes. We Are the People of the United States and as a result we're all in this together. I want to better myself to help better this country. I want to use my position of privilege for good, not evil. I want to ensure all people are justly represented and given that voice and ability to live free of oppression and hate. I want us all to fight for what's right. I want us to be united for good.
Please, don't let the movement die. Don't be a part of just another hashtag. Please be the change that is needed in this nation.
What have you done to change the world?
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