I know several people active with the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet I know of not one that fits the description of a hateful, racist, inciter of violence that I see coming from a few white conservative friends.
I'm sure there are such people involved that exhibit those tendencies. After all, history shows every group has their fundamental radical douchebags. But to lump everyone together in BLM is a rather absurd and illogical conclusion. It is also ignorant to assume police officers are incapable of overstepping their boundaries, because a small percentage actually do. Sometimes the minority of any group can cause the loudest of disturbances.
No single group is immune to a few bad apples. Understand that only a minor fraction of BLM may claim or believe all police are guilty or corrupt. Like I stated before, every group has its social idiots. Unfortunately, I have met several whites that despise and blame all police for their own troubles in life. It is time to stop blaming the masses for the actions of the few, in EVERY walk of life.
I have never blamed all Police, Blacks, Whites, Muslims, Christians, Republicans, Democrats, Japanese, Turks, Germans, etc for any atrocious deeds their ancestors, or minority contemporary factions, are or were perceived to have done or to be doing. That is not to say we should ignore history, nor should we trivialize pivotal events, that would be a foolish thing to do! I believe that understanding and accountability of society's less than admirable actions and qualities is the beginning of a better world.
Marginalized groups deserve recognition and acceptance. Movements such as Black Lives Matter, Gay Pride, and Feminism are doing an incredible job taking matters into their own hands. Why? Because for most of American history they have been treated like second class citizens - if they were respected as citizens at all-. They were called evil, sinners, subhuman, inferior, and were not given the same rights as the rest of the populous. It is time we all stand with them. Starting in the earliest days of our nation, hierarchies of white males allotted amounts of freedoms starting with themselves at the top, only throwing a few scraps of select freedoms down below when it felt appropriate. Sure, not all white males were responsible. However all were, and are, benefiting in some way whether we notice or not. The establishment slowly crumbled over time but often we are reminded of the imperfect world we still live in. When a large push-back happens we are forced to recognize and reexamine ourselves and our culture. All the while some people will try even harder to cling to the old norms as our narrow views become more obvious and exposed.
Negative connotations combined with unfair and sometimes extreme actions were used to demonize needed movements in the past. Abolitionism, Suffrage, Civil Rights, Marriage Equality. These movements had archaic political and religious opponents using anything from economics to the Holy Bible as reasons these people should not have the same rights as the rest of the nation, meaning males and more importantly white males. The Civil War ended in 1865 yet it took near a century before Americans of African descent were -allegedly- allowed to join the rest of American society. They stood up and had to fight for what they deserved. Many protests were peaceful in the physical sense but in certain areas these protests were viewed as illegal and the protesters as inciters of civil disobedience. Yes, some of the protests became violent. Sadly, violence will spring up during movements that are pushing for social justice and change. But the violence can be found flamed by the minority on both opposing sides. Everyone involved firmly believes in what they are doing, and emotions are running at an all time high. It can become a powder keg.
A reminder to you, we all have our hidden bigotries of which we may not even be aware. I hope that as we become aware of them we will choose to change. It's a hard thing to do, changing the status quo. That is what conservatism itself means, to be opposed to change. Many of us are frightened of change. It is a part of human nature. When it comes to social change some accept it more readily than others. In the interim the world waits for those of us to catch up, hoping they don't get dragged down by the few who still fear and oppose the change that is not only needed but required if we want our humanity to survive.
Please, let us find the common ground. Let us educate and take those needed steps that too many are sadly unaware we still need to make. Let us praise those that deserve it while holding accountable only those individuals who should be. We have a long ways to go, I have faith it will be worth the immense effort in the end.
I'm sure there are such people involved that exhibit those tendencies. After all, history shows every group has their fundamental radical douchebags. But to lump everyone together in BLM is a rather absurd and illogical conclusion. It is also ignorant to assume police officers are incapable of overstepping their boundaries, because a small percentage actually do. Sometimes the minority of any group can cause the loudest of disturbances.
No single group is immune to a few bad apples. Understand that only a minor fraction of BLM may claim or believe all police are guilty or corrupt. Like I stated before, every group has its social idiots. Unfortunately, I have met several whites that despise and blame all police for their own troubles in life. It is time to stop blaming the masses for the actions of the few, in EVERY walk of life.
I have never blamed all Police, Blacks, Whites, Muslims, Christians, Republicans, Democrats, Japanese, Turks, Germans, etc for any atrocious deeds their ancestors, or minority contemporary factions, are or were perceived to have done or to be doing. That is not to say we should ignore history, nor should we trivialize pivotal events, that would be a foolish thing to do! I believe that understanding and accountability of society's less than admirable actions and qualities is the beginning of a better world.
Marginalized groups deserve recognition and acceptance. Movements such as Black Lives Matter, Gay Pride, and Feminism are doing an incredible job taking matters into their own hands. Why? Because for most of American history they have been treated like second class citizens - if they were respected as citizens at all-. They were called evil, sinners, subhuman, inferior, and were not given the same rights as the rest of the populous. It is time we all stand with them. Starting in the earliest days of our nation, hierarchies of white males allotted amounts of freedoms starting with themselves at the top, only throwing a few scraps of select freedoms down below when it felt appropriate. Sure, not all white males were responsible. However all were, and are, benefiting in some way whether we notice or not. The establishment slowly crumbled over time but often we are reminded of the imperfect world we still live in. When a large push-back happens we are forced to recognize and reexamine ourselves and our culture. All the while some people will try even harder to cling to the old norms as our narrow views become more obvious and exposed.
Negative connotations combined with unfair and sometimes extreme actions were used to demonize needed movements in the past. Abolitionism, Suffrage, Civil Rights, Marriage Equality. These movements had archaic political and religious opponents using anything from economics to the Holy Bible as reasons these people should not have the same rights as the rest of the nation, meaning males and more importantly white males. The Civil War ended in 1865 yet it took near a century before Americans of African descent were -allegedly- allowed to join the rest of American society. They stood up and had to fight for what they deserved. Many protests were peaceful in the physical sense but in certain areas these protests were viewed as illegal and the protesters as inciters of civil disobedience. Yes, some of the protests became violent. Sadly, violence will spring up during movements that are pushing for social justice and change. But the violence can be found flamed by the minority on both opposing sides. Everyone involved firmly believes in what they are doing, and emotions are running at an all time high. It can become a powder keg.
A reminder to you, we all have our hidden bigotries of which we may not even be aware. I hope that as we become aware of them we will choose to change. It's a hard thing to do, changing the status quo. That is what conservatism itself means, to be opposed to change. Many of us are frightened of change. It is a part of human nature. When it comes to social change some accept it more readily than others. In the interim the world waits for those of us to catch up, hoping they don't get dragged down by the few who still fear and oppose the change that is not only needed but required if we want our humanity to survive.
Please, let us find the common ground. Let us educate and take those needed steps that too many are sadly unaware we still need to make. Let us praise those that deserve it while holding accountable only those individuals who should be. We have a long ways to go, I have faith it will be worth the immense effort in the end.
