Tears in Heaven: For all who were killed or injured this week, July 08, 2016 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #935)

First, a moment of silence in honor of the U.S. citizens and police officers who were killed or injured this week—and for those around the world:

“Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven (lyrics)”, a video by Stefani Berto

 

I have no lofty words to explain or understand this crisis of violence in our nation.  Other than to say two things:

1) #BlackLivesMatter–We are all neighbors, here and around the world.  And life is precious.  Do not be so quick to end another’s life—as what happened recently in Minnesota and elsewhere.  You kill the future when you do that.
I am “peach” colored, caucasian. But I am also social justice oriented–and killing Black or Hispanic/Latino/a and other citizens is wrong, wrong, wrong.  I also have another even more personal reason for my own outrage and shock at these killings of Black men—this week and earlier, such as Trayvon Martin—I have dear friends and family who are “Black”, biracial, etc.  They and their welfare are firmly entrenched in my heart.  And I want to see my precious little biracial toddler boy cousin live a full and happy life.  But I am fearful for him, in these times that we live in.  We are better than killing citizens—particularly young and adult Black men.  We must be better than this.

2) As my Mama always said, “two wrongs, don’t make a right.” Killing another person in revenge—a person who had nothing to do with the cause of the revenge, and who might be a person who believes in and validates your grief and outrage—is just as senseless.  Don’t do it.  Just don’t do it.  Peaceful protest without violence—which is what the peaceful protestors in Dallas were doing—is one of the only “right” responses.  And the shooters undermined the protestors messages.

 

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke on the recent killings from Poland:

1) The Dallas shooting yesterday:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/09/us/politics/obama.html?_r=0 (excerpted below)

“WARSAW — President Obama on Friday deplored the shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas, saying there was “no possible justification” for such a “vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.”

“We are horrified over these events,” he said, “and we stand united with the people and the Police Department in Dallas.””

2)  The shooting of Philando Castile by police in Minnesota: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/us/philando-castile-falcon-heights-shooting.html (excerpted below)

“ST. PAUL — President Obama, reacting with the same horror as many Americans to a grisly video of a bloody, dying man in Minnesota who was shot by the police, begged the nation to confront the racial disparities in law enforcement while acknowledging the dangers that officers face.

“When incidents like this occur, there’s a big chunk of our citizenry that feels as if, because of the color of their skin, they are not being treated the same, and that hurts, and that should trouble all of us,” Mr. Obama said in a statement on Thursday after arriving in Warsaw for a NATO summit. “This is not just a black issue, not just a Hispanic issue. This is an American issue that we all should care about.”  “

 “This is not just a black issue”--To which I/Grati say, Amen!

Okay everybody, group hugs!  We need them–not only to heal from the shock, grief, and outrage about these and earlier killings–but to reaffirm our commitment to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for ALL of us.  And if we truly believe in equality for all, then we have to stand up for it, however we are able to—with our voices and with our votes.

Hugs & Much Love, Grati