Response to Radley Balko, Washington Post Article on Police Brutality
Dear Radley,
When is all this hypocrisy going to stop. A life is a life. You've rationalized death by demographics to suit your view of race. You don’t like the statistic that there are twice as many white deaths by police than black deaths. You've asked yourself the obvious question we all have - why no flash point of protests and riots with Latinos, Asians and other races, but you don't like the answer. Black on black deaths in major cities all over America the same weekend. in Chicago, 500 died over Labor Day weekend alone in 2017! Now three very fine black cops are killed and one in the hospital by the 'voices' that want to be heard.
Their names:
Chris Beaty
Patrick Underwood
David Dorn
Max Brewer
What about their lives, their voices.
We compartmentalized blacks in housing projects, made them slaves again with the heavy chains of food stamps and welfare. And worst of all allowing the selfish motive of vote gathering to percolate up though these terrible, failing programs.
We conveniently keep blacks in this awful rut so 'compassionate' politicians can win elections. Turn your 'moral' mirror on yourself and introspect without interruption for a couple of hours. Then wonder no longer at the craziness in the world. Are you helping or hurting? Get out of the office, sell your house, move into the ghetto, immerse your life in their lives.
People talk about white privilege while heavy handedly laying down mounds of guilt. This is one of the most ignorant things you can do. Reverse racism, reverse victimization.
This cycle will continue until, like MLK and Gandhi lived and taught, we fundamentally change ourselves. The critics want others to change, when they need it the most. All the selective self-righteousness, protests, riots, raised fists, mandates and laws, meetings and conferences, empty rhetoric has not and will not ever bring lasting peace. If you want to bring light into the world, you must bring it to yourself first.
MLK:
On forgiveness: Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.
On evolving: “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
On violence: "Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace."
The cure for the ills of society lie within each soul. Dive deep there and you will discover Spirit. Finding Him within, you will find Him without and know divine love. Then it will be impossible to behave inimicaly towards anyone and you will see mankind, everyone as a blood-brother, “. . . for love is indispensable”.
A Prayer for Inner Guidance
Lord, I take a sacred vow to never let myself sink into the pit of negative emotions. That I only manifest the Christ qualities of fearlessness, courage, forgiveness, love and understanding.
Well, I'm sort of all over the place here. Take care.