In the aftermath of the shooting at a baseball practice in Alexandria that occurred on June 14, 2017, I find myself in an apoplectic stupor, listening and reading about how people are surprised that a person's political leanings can lead one to such heinous actions. And yet one only need to peruse the internet to see the alleged leader of the free world telling folks in an unambiguous manner to remove folks by force who disagree with his leanings, offering to pay the legal bills of those groupies who carry out his orders. Moreover, the man charged with leading the greatest democracy in history has shown the proclivity to act aggressively towards people, mocking their disability, dehumanizing them by leveling egregious accusations and admitting to violating their rights for his own satisfaction. These actions coupled with policies that defy human decency and the promise to weaken the sovereignty of the nation he represents, stoke the fires of fear and desperation of many who try to exist within the parameters skewed towards the Have's and privileged white America.
Many want to choose to live in oblivion, feigning ignorance, electing to believe many of the tragedies of late happened in isolation. They didn't! And we know this. The breadcrumbs are so obvious, even Big Bird couldn't eat them all to obfuscate the truth. The eight hundred pound gorilla in the room is jumping on the table, eating our lunch and pulling our hair. The hate, prejudice and vitriol is inextricably tied to the violence and discord we are seeing throughout our nation. As we as a nation try and move beyond an ugly past into a place of reckoning and accord, there are some who despise the thought of a country unified as one, determined to celebrate a shameful past and refuse to move towards a future that is inclusive and prosperous for all.
Let me be explicit here. This is not about Democrats and Republicans. This is not about abortion and the right-to-life. This is not about the right to love who you want. This is a fundamental divide in ideology regarding the constitution of our country. No, not the document, the people. The Black American, the White American, the Latin American, the LGBTQ American, the Asian American, the Disabled American, the Muslim American etc. The fear of some that extolling and exercising the true tenets of freedom by allowing everyone to exist without fear of persecution, ridicule and/or prejudice somehow lessens their own existence is the TRUE problem.
No, I will not rehash the history of this nation by reiterating how this country was inhabited long before European settlers ever laid foot on this soil and therefore is and always will be the land of its native people. I will not recount the horrors of slavery by White America to satisfy their narcissism and blatant disregard for human decency. No, I will not reignite the flames that illuminated the hate and terrorism proliferated throughout this nation via contrived practices such as Jim Crow, Sundown Towns, Black Codes and Red Lining. Moreover, I will restrain from cataloging the contemporary actions of some to preserve the symbols and statues of national traitors an audacious hate. These things speak for themselves if only people choose to open their eyes and see them for what they are.
What I will say is this, we can only truly be United once we collectively choose to accept the past with the promise to usher in a better future. We must take account of our own insecurities, prejudices and fallacies, reconcile them within ourselves and then embrace the willingness to unequivocally accept those of others. Human is the only race. We are our own greatest threat, choosing ignorance over knowledge, hate over love, and greed over solidarity. And though there is no magic elixir to right the ship and get us moving as one towards a more perfect nation, we have the greatest commodity at our fingertips to get things moving in the right direction -- US! (And yes the pun is intended)
S. McGill
One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it. "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?
S. McGill
One of the most powerful things in the world can be obtained and used liberally by anyone who chooses to use it. "If" can be the beginning of something great or the acquiescence to defeat. How will you use your "if"?
