http://www.seattlepi.com/local/crime/article/NAACP-Police-involved-shooting-a-cold-blooded-6850343.php
As a person of color who has to deal with the unpleasant racial realities every day of my life, who remembers writing an impassioned review of "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1967 at Meany Middle School, I feel compelled to write this review.
During the Vietnam War, people of my generation protested against what they believed was an unjust war as well as racism.
They also railed against conformism, all forms of entrenched power, and authority ("the "Establishment").
I am wondering what Dr. King would have thought of the actions of local chapters of the NAACP in recent years such as the Seattle chapter (see link above).
Self-righteousness, arrogance, posturing (a still for "Dallas"?), superiority, a disdain for opinions for other than one's own, a rush to judgment before all the facts are known: these are not in accordance with the values I he believed in.
Workshops on non-violent conflict resolution, anger management, and on the effects of machismo/no-snitching might be of much greater benefit to he community than immediately exploiting for political advantage the unfortunate death of a black man, a convicted felon (robbery, assault, and rape).
To accuse the very people who overwhelmingly protect African-American life and property in Seattle of "cold-blooded murder" is unfair.
What is amounts to is to unload all the frustration and failures of individuals as well as the larger group onto a specific, easy target: the police.
And when, nationwide, police are murdered, there is a question of accountability. I doubt whether this strategy will lead, in the long run, to racial reconciliation or equality.
After Ferguson, MO, where the accused policeman had to endure months of investigation, accusations, and condemnation; go on trial; resign his job;, and then go into hiding after his family received death threats, only a very stupid cop would shoot a black man..unless as a very last resort--fear for one's life.
This fear may have to do with the overwhelmingly disproportionate amount of violent crime committed--for whatever reason or cause--by African-Americans, locally or nationally. One has only to look back at the past week or month and not have blinders over one's eyes to see this.
If only, ironically, the Seattle Police Department were able to release the demographics of their statistics, that is, assuming they are even allowed to note such things).
The people who call other racists are often the most racist people.
It pains me to reflect on the fact that within minority groups, minorities are often persecuted as much or even more than those minority groups are by the society at large.
In my life I have made bad decisions. Sometimes out of cowardice, inflexibility, or foolishness.
The limitations of my culture and family upbringing had a part to play as well. Accordingly, it is unimaginable for me to hold white people--or any other race--at every turn of my life, responsible my lack of success or discontent.
Can you kill ideas as easily as...?
Freedom...?
Courage?
Tolerance?
Diversity?
Brotherhood...?
Only the Lord Almighty is beyond reproach.
As a person of color who has to deal with the unpleasant racial realities every day of my life, who remembers writing an impassioned review of "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1967 at Meany Middle School, I feel compelled to write this review.
During the Vietnam War, people of my generation protested against what they believed was an unjust war as well as racism.
They also railed against conformism, all forms of entrenched power, and authority ("the "Establishment").
I am wondering what Dr. King would have thought of the actions of local chapters of the NAACP in recent years such as the Seattle chapter (see link above).
Self-righteousness, arrogance, posturing (a still for "Dallas"?), superiority, a disdain for opinions for other than one's own, a rush to judgment before all the facts are known: these are not in accordance with the values I he believed in.
Workshops on non-violent conflict resolution, anger management, and on the effects of machismo/no-snitching might be of much greater benefit to he community than immediately exploiting for political advantage the unfortunate death of a black man, a convicted felon (robbery, assault, and rape).
To accuse the very people who overwhelmingly protect African-American life and property in Seattle of "cold-blooded murder" is unfair.
What is amounts to is to unload all the frustration and failures of individuals as well as the larger group onto a specific, easy target: the police.
And when, nationwide, police are murdered, there is a question of accountability. I doubt whether this strategy will lead, in the long run, to racial reconciliation or equality.
After Ferguson, MO, where the accused policeman had to endure months of investigation, accusations, and condemnation; go on trial; resign his job;, and then go into hiding after his family received death threats, only a very stupid cop would shoot a black man..unless as a very last resort--fear for one's life.
This fear may have to do with the overwhelmingly disproportionate amount of violent crime committed--for whatever reason or cause--by African-Americans, locally or nationally. One has only to look back at the past week or month and not have blinders over one's eyes to see this.
If only, ironically, the Seattle Police Department were able to release the demographics of their statistics, that is, assuming they are even allowed to note such things).
The people who call other racists are often the most racist people.
It pains me to reflect on the fact that within minority groups, minorities are often persecuted as much or even more than those minority groups are by the society at large.
In my life I have made bad decisions. Sometimes out of cowardice, inflexibility, or foolishness.
The limitations of my culture and family upbringing had a part to play as well. Accordingly, it is unimaginable for me to hold white people--or any other race--at every turn of my life, responsible my lack of success or discontent.
Can you kill ideas as easily as...?
Freedom...?
Courage?
Tolerance?
Diversity?
Brotherhood...?
Only the Lord Almighty is beyond reproach.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire