What I plan doing for now is listening, reading, becoming more informed. I'll also take action where/when it makes sense and can actually help. Again, at least for now. One on-going lesson of the year 2020 is that we may all be called upon to do extraordinary things.
What do I know? What am I qualified to speak/write about?
- I know what it's like to be poor. While racism is probably the biggest un-removed stain on our nation, second is institutionalized poverty. Too many suffer at the hands of both; is there a wonder why so many seem so desperate?
- I know that I can't look into the heart of the current president of the United States*, so whether or not he is a racist is beyond what I can tell. I do know this though...he tolerates racism ("...had some very fine people on both sides...")...and his words/actions provide a kind of lubrication for racists, white nationalists, etc. He needs to be the leader of the entire country, not just the leader of his supporters.
- I know that the president of the United States has not publicly addressed the nation with empathy about the killing of George Floyd. Instead he relies on Twitter, mostly, I suspect, because it's easy for him and provides a kind of air-cover to be outrageous. In times of crisis, we need leaders to be up front and actually lead, not hide behind a cellphone screen, throw social media bombs or speak though a paid spokesperson (press secretary).
- I know that in desperation people will sometimes act out of character. The solution is to address the underlying cause of their desperation.
That's it. We need to do better. The first step is to hold people in positions of power accountable, from the top down.
#8645
(*) As I may have noted before, but which I'll mention again, I'm not going to publicize a brand name here. Period.
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