Protest Friday. I'm planning on going. It is really, really difficult to be at work lately. It's hard to feel like what I do for $$$ actually matters or is making a difference in the world or even my community because, you know, it's not. Not compared to a whole lot of more important things going on. But it does give me $$$ to donate, which I have been. The unfortunate side is knowing that some of the management here are doing some positive things because they know they have to, not because they actually believe any of this (true for COVID and BLM, the latter of which they don't give a shit about). Lots of talk about property being destroyed, staying safe, etc. and little to no talk about the reasons for these protests, the deaths of Black Americans across the nation...nothing. I don't know what else to do. If there's one thing the past 4 years have taught me it's that the people in power right now do not give a fuck and we have one political party who does not give a fuck and there's a surprising amount of people who just do not get it. Having a debate this morning with a friend (white) over the fact that I am painting cops as not being your friend, and that many good cops doesn't excuse some bad cops - we all know by now that there's plenty of bad cops to go around. I'm fully prepared to lose friends over the state of our country.
I'm sure you've seen it enough times that it's almost cliche at this point, but I liked the tweet so I'll paraphrase it: The way people speak is indicative of their priorities, and it's sad to see so many saying, "It's a shame that an unarmed black man was killed by police, but I can't support property damage," rather than, "It's a shame that people's property has been damaged, but I can't support the killing of an unarmed black man by the police." I'm sure that could be worded better, but you get my point. I don't like that property has been damaged either, but, y'know: And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. MLK said it bestLots of talk about property being destroyed, staying safe, etc. and little to no talk about the reasons for these protests, the deaths of Black Americans across the nation...nothing.
...It is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots. I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard.
"War is the continuation of policy with other means" - Carl von Clausewitz Every fuckin' rhino-humper out there knows Clausewitz. Plenty of 'em have tattoos. His is the rhetoric of "you won't listen so I must crush your skull." Good for me, but not for thee.