Are we gonna see another bloody day?

I have been thinking about how all conversations I have had, or any argument people have against the Black Lives Matter movement, gun control or anyone speaking out against police brutality always leads to them talking about some other injustice. More white people are killed by cops is often cited, not considering the population adjustment and the actual percentage of whites killed versus black. But of course, their outrage is not that this is happening, but rather that no one is talking about it the same or its not getting the same amount of coverage. I think that if you are so outraged about the amount of white deaths at the hand of police, then maybe do something. Maybe something needs to be done with the police force, which is what we’re saying when we say defund the police. Of course, it’s complicated, of course there are a lot of variables into defunding the police, but its something that needs to be done. 

When we talk about Gun Control and the need to have bans on specific guns and legislation to prevent the sell of these firearms to people who should not have them. But they’ll argument that removing guns or prohibiting the sale of them, wont stop crime from happening – of course it won’t stop all crime, but why are we having all or nothing thinking on these matters? Stop hearing gun control and replacing it with “no guns ever!” Start looking at fact-based evidence and start putting stock in areas that need attention.

It’s not that white lives are taken, and mass shootings are so frequent is it? It’s not that something equally horrific is happening, it’s that you’re not the center of attention anymore. You are not seeing the outrage you want for your issues and causes. It’s that you chose a side that benefits from the status quo. If we demand attention to a specific issue, you want to bring up other issues that need attention, as if to spotlight one we must spotlight them all. If you want to take up the cause, no one is stopping you. Get involved. Start having real conversation with people who can evoke change.  Why can we not have concern for all of them? Why are we not starting movements for all the injustices, instead of using them as reasons we cannot speak about one.

The system is flawed, the constitution is flawed, as like humans, they require growth and change. But if we adjust policies and procedures it is seen as a “dangerous president” to remove the more important rights held by the status quo.  Shouldn’t we want the best world we can have? Obviously, the answer is no to many that profit or benefit from the Status quo. But the answer should be an astounding, YES. Yes, all these issues matter – But right now we’re talking about these because they are happening at an alarming rate and succession. Stop trying to take away from them, simply because it makes you uncomfortable. Sit with that, sit with why it makes you uncomfortable.

We talk about our own issues on a micro level and how to accomplish what we need to do in adversity we need to start somewhere – fold laundry, sweep the floor, do the dishes. We break down the large task of cleaning the entire house into smaller manageable pieces. We create a check lists of items and tasks and keep checking them off. That’s what we should be doing, instead of arguing about the handful of other things that need to get done until nothing is done.  Do the work, think critically, think about the world as a whole and how to make it better, because if you are not the victim of this one issue, eventually you will be or someone close to you will be, and really – how many times does it have to be said, you should care about the other people who live in the world that you do. It’s not rocket science.