Something doesn't feel right about BLM

[JackRT]

If my wife comes to me in obvious pain and asks "Do you love me?" an answer of "I love everyone." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

If a co-worker comes to me upset and says "My father just died." an answer of "Everyone's parents die." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says "Black lives matter." an answer of "All lives matter." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

~~~ Doug Williford

 

[Broken Fence]

You know, white people said this same thing during the Civil Rights Movement. Interesting that this sentiment prevails in 2020.

Well I was not even born back then. However I can see where the world is headed.

 

[istodolez]

If my wife comes to me in obvious pain and asks "Do you love me?" an answer of "I love everyone." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

Excellent summary!

So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says "Black lives matter." an answer of "All lives matter." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

~~~ Doug Williford

Thanks for posting this! I like it a lot!

 

[istodolez]

Well I was not even born back then.

I was born 3 months after MLK's "I have a dream" speech. And sadly the world has yet to see the dream.

However I can see where the world is headed.

That's why it's up to us to make the changes that are needed. We need to model the behaviors we want to see manifest in the world.

As St. Francis of Asisi is apocryphally attributed with saying: "Preach the gospel always. Use words when necessary."

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Couldn't agree more! Which is why it is up to us to do the hard work of sharing all our own personal blessings!

It's time for us to stand up for justice and against racism!

But that means change! Many do not want things to change.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Well I was not even born back then. However I can see where the world is headed.

The world is lost. We have do what we can to bring light into the darkness.

 

[JackRT]

But that means change! Many do not want things to change.

Niccolo Machiavelli wrote --- It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out nor more dangerous to handle than to initiate a new order of things; for the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order; and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order; this lukewarmness arising partly from the incredulity of mankind who does not believe in anything new until they actually have experience of it.

 

[Broken Fence]

But that means change! Many do not want things to change.

There will be change, but I do not think American citizens are gonna to like that change.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

LOL, Floyd should be ashamed for making that officer put his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. He should be charged with... oh, wait, he's dead. Can we charge a dead guy?

Well, there is a precedent set by Pope Stephen VI regarding Pope Formosus…

 

[durangodawood]

There will be change, but I do not think American citizens are gonna to like that change.

I would lay that mainly at the feet of those who dug in their heels against changes we all need.

That said, I dont agree at all that doom and gloom is inevitable.

 

[BNR32FAN]

You are a Christian so this should make very good sense. Here's how I think about it.

Think of systemic racism as a form of "original sin". Those of us who are white in the USA are born into a system that has long existed which benefits white people to the detriment of black people. We are all born and raised in a system that has existed long before we were around.

NOW: the value of "apologizing for being white" is NOT one of simple "mortification of our ego" but rather an acceptance that we have benefited from this system and it is our natural state to want to continue that system which benefits us...and that in order to make changes we must accept that we have thus benefited so that we might be able to give up some of those benefits so others may have them.

The first step toward salvation is accepting that we are all sinners.

Does that make sense? I'm not saying all of us white people are evil horrible lynch mobs...but we DO have advantages granted us solely due to our skin color. And even if we don't always appreciate those advantages we DO get them. Our goal then is to ensure that ALL people get those advantages.

We are "trying", obviously, but clearly not enough. Or we wouldn't be here now having this conversation.



I agree that we shouldn't attack police character. But, again, my lived experience as a cis white male is very different from that of others.



When corporations jump in it can definitely feel that way. But, by the same token, it is also an accession that their customer is more than just a white face. That they must reach out. NOW, whether they make it more than "slogan" or virtue signal is when the rubber meets the road.



The BLM movement is just fine. It's an agreement we must make that black lives, indeed, matter just as much as white lives. And that's a noble goal for a country that has seen fit to treat black bodies as second class citizens for as long as the USA has.

I don’t see anyone treating anybody as second class citizens. I see an equal opportunity for everyone regardless of race, religion, or nationality in America. Now are there racists in America? Sure and there always will be but racism is not prominent enough to have an effect on a person’s life as a whole. Sure everyone will encounter racists. Hopefully everyone knows that racism comes in all colors and yes whites experience racism to. The thing is that nobody can say they are poor because of their color. Nobody can say they’re a criminal because of their color. Nobody can say they’re not successful in life because of their color. That’s just someone not wanting to take responsibility for their own shortcomings.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

There will be change, but I do not think American citizens are gonna to like that change.

And THAT is the reason we are here today.There were many who did not want to see slaves set free. They went to war to prevent the change. Many still do not embrace that ALL men are created equal.

 

[childeye 2]

Is it just me? Am I crazy in thinking that something might not be so right about the BLM movement?? Someone please let me know.

There's always something not so right with every political organization because there's something not so right with people in general.

However since I believe the spiritual enemy of all mankind wants to get us to not treat others as ourselves, that spirit must therefore tempt us to not see others as ourselves.

We therefore shouldn't use negative prejudice as a means for decision making. That's what your post sounds like you are doing, and I would think it would be better for you, if you would use the reasonable criteria of treat others as you would want to be treated in evaluating whether BLM is doing that same thing or not.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

I don’t see anyone treating anybody as second class citizens. I see an equal opportunity for everyone regardless of race, religion, or nationality in America. Now are there racists in America? Sure and there always will be but racism is not prominent enough to have an effect on a person’s life as a whole. Sure everyone will encounter racists. Hopefully everyone knows that racism comes in all colors and yes whites experience racism to. The thing is that nobody can say they are poor because of their color. Nobody can say they’re a criminal because of their color. Nobody can say they’re not successful in life because of their color. That’s just someone not wanting to take responsibility for their own shortcomings.

Either you are blind or just can't see! Your brothers and sisters of color have been screaming it for years. They point it out to you and you minimize their complaint. Why? I will tell you why. It is not happening to you.

 

[Broken Fence]

And THAT is the reason we are here today.There were many who did not want to see slaves set free. They went to war to prevent the change. Many still do not embrace that ALL men are created equal.

That is in the constitution, however I understand and accept that there is racism in the criminal justice system and the job market as well as higher learning. I accept the decisions I have made in my life, dropping out of school at 15 to goto work as an example. I am thankful I have a income. So I really understand that black lives matter.

 

[Aldebaran]

If my wife comes to me in obvious pain and asks "Do you love me?" an answer of "I love everyone." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

If a co-worker comes to me upset and says "My father just died." an answer of "Everyone's parents die." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says "Black lives matter." an answer of "All lives matter." would be truthful but hurtful and cruel in the moment.

~~~ Doug Williford

Is your wife's love, or the death of a person's father a group of people that have divided this country and caused death and destruction using terroristic tactics? Does your wife say, "If you don't specifically love me, then you must be a sexist"? Does the guy who's father die threaten you with violence as he tells you about his loss? Are either one of these people taking over parts of cities and carrying guns and shooting each other while forcing the police out even when they come to render aid?

 

[Albion]

And THAT is the reason we are here today.There were many who did not want to see slaves set free. They went to war to prevent the change. Many still do not embrace that ALL men are created equal.

On the other hand, people who have dared to say what you just wrote here have been fired from their jobs, been roundly vilified as racists, and worse.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Unfortunately you are very correct. This is a attack on America. A lot of the protesters are being paid to protest. This is a very real threat and honestly I am not sure if America will survive. This protest is a break down of law and order, the radical factions and the criminals are going to milk this protest for all they can.

What protesters are being paid. I haven't got the memo.

 

[Broken Fence]

What protesters are being paid. I haven't got the memo.

Apparently some of them. You can sign up online, and people have stated they are getting paid.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Is your wife's love, or the death of a person's father a group of people that have divided this country and caused death and destruction using terroristic tactics? Does your wife say, "If you don't specifically love me, then you must be a sexist"? Does the guy who's father die threaten you with violence as he tells you about his loss? Are either one of these people taking over parts of cities and carrying guns and shooting each other while forcing the police out even when they come to render aid?

You are not describing the protesters who are peacefully protesting.