The Black Lives Matter movement was probably overdue in bringing attention to the slow progress being made in addressing legitimate concerns that have been brewing for much too long. Typically, addressing a grievance begins with a search for the culprit. People tend to feel better about a bad thing if they can find someone, other than themselves, to blame. The BLM movement is way ahead; seems to me it has found four things to blame.
First, there’s the slavery era in our early history, second, there is the brutal police force out of control, then, there are those ungodly statues of Confederate soldiers and finally, and probably most important, there are those racist white people.
Slavery was indeed a terrible episode in our history. Our ancestors fought a costly and bloody war to end it, almost breaking the country apart. That was over 150 years ago. None of our parents, or grandparents or even great grandparents were ever slaves or slaveholders. That’s over. It’s been over for a long time. The issue at hand is no way about slavery.
The police have a tough and thankless job. Yes, as in any large body of people there are rogues, cowboys and incompetents. It is clear that many police departments do need better vetting, better training, rigorous boundaries and perhaps better equipment. But it must be remembered that the Police provide an indispensable service protecting our lives, our property and ensuring that order is maintained, and our laws are respected. We need more funding for the police, not less. It is the height of recklessness and irresponsibility to talk of dismantling or defunding the police. No civilized nation or third world country is without a police force, because bad things happen anywhere and everywhere to anybody.
In 2001, the Talaban destroyed ancient Buddhist monuments that were offensive to them and we condemned that action. That ‘feelgood’ act did nothing to improve their plight or advance their cause. Destroying artifacts does not undo the wrongs of the past nor improve prospects for the future. Removal of offensive statues will not improve relations between communities nor will it advance the cause of BLM. It will be totally counter-productive, and I fear it will trigger the opposite reaction from many.
Racism is a tough one because it is endemic, often unconscious, and widespread across virtually all ethnic, cultural and religious bodies. It is a product of perceptions, often deeply engrained and hardened over a lifetime. It cannot be eliminated by passing a law or removing a statute or kneeling when others are honoring this nation. It requires a serious effort, not on one side, but on all sides. It requires education and an understanding, an appreciation and acceptance of cultural and religious differences. To me the greatest challenge facing the Black community, and the greatest contributor to racism, has to do with the family structure. Many Black leaders expound on this and decry the breakdown of way too many families in Black communities. The same outcome is seen in some White communities. On an individual basis, a person of color is no better and no worse than a white person (except maybe on the basketball court!) Given an equal opportunity there is nothing that favors one over the other. We have to do a better job ensuring the Black community does indeed have equal opportunities but, in the meanwhile, the Black community has to get its own houses in order and provide the framework that will prepare their children to compete, to participate and to contribute to a better America. Many Blacks have demonstrated that dream is indeed achievable. Blacks do have legitimate demands but airing those grievances and pursuing those demands cannot succeed in an atmosphere of obstruction, destruction or lawlessness. Nor is the solution in symbolic gestures. I grew up with Aunt Jemima. She was like a member of my family. To us there was no racial or slavery connotation. Shame on Quaker Oats for even contemplating removing that friendly smiling face that has been in virtually every American household since 1889. Symbols will not resolve this or any problem. Let’s not give up on quiet diplomacy.
– – – – Just the view of a common man
Views of a Common Man 