Criminals taking black lives is a problem. But it a separate problem from police officers, who represent the Government, taking lives, without affording victims due process. Further, if I don't want a criminal taking my life, I can do certain things to minimize that risk. I can go to school, get an education, live in an environment where I do not interact with criminals taking lives. I can do the same for my kids. As a citizen, I do not have that same ability to avoid interactions with police officers. My kids do not. The guy in Minnesota, who had never been in trouble, worked in a school with kids, was a licensed gun owner, did not have the ability to avoid an interaction w/ a police officer who took his life. He was merely exercising a right that is so dear to many Americans, we are told it is the reason why we can't pass common-sense laws that may reduce some of this black on black death you are so concerned with.
My wife will tell you, I am deathly afraid of my kids owning waterguns or any other toy that even remotely resembles a gun. Because a young kid, Tamir Rice, 12 years, was playing with a toy gun, like many boys do, and was shot within 12 seconds of a cop pulling up in the playground. No questions asked. shot. Dead. Everytime, I get pulled over, I am shaken. And i don't have guns visible in my car (licensed or not), as some of my Texas friends do.
I remember as an 20 year old college kid, walking home from a campus 7 Eleven, and having 2 cops, grab me and throw me on the hood of a car without talking to me or asking me any question b/c they thought i was casing the 7 eleven, instead of reading the magazine in the store b/c i had no money.
I remember my parents not letting me drive as a teenager b/c they were afraid that cops would harass me. And I wouldn't have the emotional maturity to deal with it appropriately, and I wouldn't come home to them.
I remember that despite that, I drove with my friends in new jersey, and one summer, my friends were pulled over 17 different times when i was in the car w/ them. Significantly less when i wasn't. And one of those times, my friend, whose dad was a jersey state trooper, had an officer bring him to the back of the car, and the officer told him that his dad wouldn't approve of him driving around w/ his drug dealer. i have never ever done drugs...much less sold drugs.
And I grew up in suburbia. In a very safe neighborhood. Since I moved to America from Haiti, at age 9, I have always had white friends (and other races). I have white friends who I love dearly and are like family to me. My 2 college roomates are like brothers to me.
And I have my stories that make me shaken and scared from myself and my children when they interact with police. Especially white police officers. My trauma. I imagine kids who grow up in inner cities,have worse memories. Worse trauma. And they may not have the depth of relationships with other white people to even contextualize their experiences and interactions. Which compounds the problem.
When police officers die in the line of duty, we all feel it. Because we understand that their job is important and vital to the enduring of a strong society. But there comes great responsibility w/ that job. So when an officer makes a mistake and kills someone, everyone should stand up and say, that was wrong. If that was done, and they faced consequences for their actions, there would not be a need for protest. There would not be a need for black lives matter. No one would need to say Black Lives Matter, because the consequences for their actions would show that Black Lives Matter.
So please, stop deflecting the attention away by pointing to a separate problem. Because one problem does not excuse the other.
My wife will tell you, I am deathly afraid of my kids owning waterguns or any other toy that even remotely resembles a gun. Because a young kid, Tamir Rice, 12 years, was playing with a toy gun, like many boys do, and was shot within 12 seconds of a cop pulling up in the playground. No questions asked. shot. Dead. Everytime, I get pulled over, I am shaken. And i don't have guns visible in my car (licensed or not), as some of my Texas friends do.
I remember as an 20 year old college kid, walking home from a campus 7 Eleven, and having 2 cops, grab me and throw me on the hood of a car without talking to me or asking me any question b/c they thought i was casing the 7 eleven, instead of reading the magazine in the store b/c i had no money.
I remember my parents not letting me drive as a teenager b/c they were afraid that cops would harass me. And I wouldn't have the emotional maturity to deal with it appropriately, and I wouldn't come home to them.
I remember that despite that, I drove with my friends in new jersey, and one summer, my friends were pulled over 17 different times when i was in the car w/ them. Significantly less when i wasn't. And one of those times, my friend, whose dad was a jersey state trooper, had an officer bring him to the back of the car, and the officer told him that his dad wouldn't approve of him driving around w/ his drug dealer. i have never ever done drugs...much less sold drugs.
And I grew up in suburbia. In a very safe neighborhood. Since I moved to America from Haiti, at age 9, I have always had white friends (and other races). I have white friends who I love dearly and are like family to me. My 2 college roomates are like brothers to me.
And I have my stories that make me shaken and scared from myself and my children when they interact with police. Especially white police officers. My trauma. I imagine kids who grow up in inner cities,have worse memories. Worse trauma. And they may not have the depth of relationships with other white people to even contextualize their experiences and interactions. Which compounds the problem.
When police officers die in the line of duty, we all feel it. Because we understand that their job is important and vital to the enduring of a strong society. But there comes great responsibility w/ that job. So when an officer makes a mistake and kills someone, everyone should stand up and say, that was wrong. If that was done, and they faced consequences for their actions, there would not be a need for protest. There would not be a need for black lives matter. No one would need to say Black Lives Matter, because the consequences for their actions would show that Black Lives Matter.
So please, stop deflecting the attention away by pointing to a separate problem. Because one problem does not excuse the other.
