What NOW?

 

As a believer, I keep trying to blog on topics that are uplifting and encouraging.  But, every week there is SOMETHING in the news that throws that.  I think maybe we have become too accustomed to living our life and the only things that move us are things that directly affect us, so after a bit of time, we forget about the problems in the world as we address the drama in our own world.

We have heard so much about the shootings and problems from our media.  From a quarterback refusing to stand during the national anthem, to a young boy shot before he had a chance to look up.  Now there is Terence Crutcher, an unarmed man with a broke down car, and a man who was waiting for his child at the bus stop, reading a book – both shot and killed.  This morning we wake to reports of overnight riots, fires and chaos in a community that cannot afford the price tag.

What NOW?

I was talking to a friend the other night after hearing about the recent death of yet another black man at the hands of police officers.  Once again, a video is shown, a man who supposedly was in the road because of car problems was gunned down.  The play by play from the helicopter was almost as disturbing as the video.  Hearing the voices of men calmly stating that  “he is still walking”, “he is still moving”, “time for a Taser” , 'He looks like a big bad dude." then ‘boom’….  “Shots Fired.”  As the helicopter wraps around the side we watch as Mr. Crutcher falls to the ground.  The VERY NEXT comment from the helicopter deals with closing roads.  Not what just happened or any questions on whether or not Mr. Crutcher did something out of their sight that warranted the gunfire.  No shock that they just witnessed another shooting.  It was business as usual. There was more effort to shut down the streets than there was to help a dying man.  According to the video, I didn’t see them approach him for quite a while.  If he had a gun, should they not look to disarm him?  Push the gun away from a hand that could possibly still reach for it? Perhaps hand cuff him, or render aid so he has his time in court to argue what he was doing?  They used to do that.  But no aid, no follow up and the abundance of police officers just happened to block the dash camera so all we see is the helicopter view.

What Now?

"I’m having a hard time."  I told my friend.  I was not raised racist or prejudice, so I don’t know how to change that now, nor do I plan to.  Probably much like people who were raised in a racist environment I am sure they have a hard time changing how they think.  But my current struggle is this:

How do I reconcile this in my mind?

I support our officers and our first responders, but what do I tell my son?

How can we pretend nothing is wrong if an armed suspected terrorist who has shot 2 police officers and set off bombs with the intent to kill- walks away with an injury, but alive- with all the medical attention needed to assist him; but an unarmed man who has his hands up, is shot and left on the cold concrete to die?  Life is becoming harder to explain, not just to my son…but to myself.

I realize there may be a REASON we want the terrorist alive, maybe to answer questions, to help us locate other threats.  But, any tax paying American citizen (black, white or otherwise) who is not trying to kill anyone surely deserves to get out of an encounter with police…. ALIVE.

Irreconcilable Differences?

Our news coverage today sounded normal.  It is becoming the norm to hear about these occurrences and put a #hashtag on it.  It is normal for the news cast  to begin covering these shootings and once another interesting story comes up, we stop the dialog. 

I was disturbed that more time was spent this morning talking about the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie break up.  (Yes, it is really happening), irreconcilable differences.  It is sad when we are more interested in how they will handle their relationship, and who will get custody of their 6 kids.  Either way they go, their kids will be considered by both parents.  Divorce is never good, but it is survivable. But what about us?

 

The race relationship we have in America has hit a horrible low.  Are we going to cite irreconcilable differences and allow fellow Americans to suffer because we won’t do anything about it?   To allow our kids to grow up in fear that neither side is willing to come to the table and talk?  Irreconcilable is supposed to mean it cannot be fixed.  But it is really the courts way of allowing you to separate without having to talk or go through the rights and wrongs of the relationship.  It stops us  from having to point fingers and have difficult conversations.   We cannot afford that as Americans.  WE deserve and need to have the difficult talks and we need to point out things that just by looking- you know it is wrong.   We need the powers that be to realize we have a problem, a serious downward spiral that has to be changed. Just because it has not happened to your kid, your father, your spouse, does not mean it is not happening.

Undercover Racism?

If you still think we don’t have race issues… just look at ANY report of the occurrences that happened this past week.  Read the comments from everyday Americans who can post their thoughts without being found out.  We have undercover racism on all sides.  I can’t believe the things that people say in any news story when they feel no one can trace them.  The comments they post just because the race of a person is noted, or the assumptions they make are sickening. Due to our political climate, it is becoming acceptable to state what you think about other nationalities.  It is popular to use terms that used to be spoken only in the company of likeminded people.  Now the covers have been pulled, and if we really open our eyes... we will see the problem.  NO more pretending it does not exist.  

If we are not held accountable for how we treat each other, this HUMAN RACE relationship will not make it. 

 

America, What NOW? 

I am still not sure what we are going to do.  In the meantime, I will continue talking to my young son about how he plays with his nerf gun outside, how he talks to any authority and how things are not as easy for him as it was for his 4 sisters.  (So wrong since we really wanted a son)  I will continue to pray for our country and my friends of all nationalities so that we can keep our relationships strong regardless of what others are trying to do to race relations.  I will look for ways to participate in the solution, not the problem and will still stand for our national anthem, support our first responders and pray that my actions are not in vain.  

Faith is only the beginning.

We have to do something.