I want to add my voice, for what it’s worth. I don’t know that it will mean anything. I am nobody. I hold no sway or influence over absolutely anything and I have white privilege oozing out of my pores.
The oozing part may be a medical thing … might have to get that checked out.
As a man who has never been afraid to walk out his front door and whose only worry when seeing flashing red and blue lights behind me on the freeway is how much my car insurance will go up, I do not have the wisdom, insight, or knowledge to weigh in on this crucial moment in our history other than to say, Black Lives Matter.
Black Lives Matter
“Oh, but actually all lives ma–”
Shut up!
All lives matter is a bull shit copout for people who can’t face the fact that they may be part of the problem. People who, at the very least, have benefited from a corrupt and broken system that has set them up for success at the expense of millions of their fellow Americans. People who are afraid they will somehow lose their slice of the pie.
If I were to say to you, “Save the rain forest,” your response wouldn’t be, “Actually, save all forests.”
My wanting to save the rain forest does not mean I want to burn down every other forest, or that no other forests matter. Of course, they matter. But guess what? Those other forests are doing just fine right now. It’s the rain forest that needs help.
For What It’s Worth
I cannot express the sadness, anger, and outrage I feel as I listen to and read about the experiences of people of color who, despite living next to me, sure as hell do not live in the same country as me. And my sadness, anger, and outrage are not worth much. Compared to hundreds of years of systemic, entrenched racism it feels … not enough.
I want to be an ally. I want to support. I want to see change. I sure as hell don’t want to be part of the problem.
So, I will continue to learn how I can best do all that. I will listen to the stories, I will examine myself, I will practice love and compassion, and you can bet your ass I am going to vote.