RESPECT GIVEN IS RESPECT GAINED

RESPECT GIVEN IS RESPECT GAINED 

The reason so many people disrespect law enforcement officers is because law enforcement officers show so little respect for the people, predominantly minorities. I taught school for 32 years and every time the discussion came up concerning law enforcement, black students particularly, spoke out loud and clear about being harassed by policemen. I heard examples of students being arrested for jay walking, being arrested for wearing a certain color cap in a mall, and for jogging in a white neighborhood. And Lord knows how many examples I heard of teenagers who were arrested and put in jail for smoking a joint. 

I also heard students give examples about the things their parents told them concerning police brutality. This goes as far back as the seventies, so police brutality is not something new in America. It is the quick availability of cameras that has brought these acts to the forefront. Some of the same things students told me in regards to police brutality in the seventies and eighties are still happening today. 

I want it well understood that I oppose all acts of violence, but don’t tell me that when the violence stops, justice will be served, because that is just not true. America has had 243 years for justice to be served and black Americans are still waiting. There is racial imbalance in the criminal justice system and so far talking about peace has not brought about change.  Still black men are being murdered by police and gay men and women are being brutally beaten by straight policemen. The only nation in the world where innocent black men are being killed by policemen is in United States.    

This is a message that must be heard by all Americans. America does not belong to white Americans only.  America does not belong to heterosexual Americans only and never will.  America is a diverse nation made up of all types of people from around the world. Is it so alarming to tell the truth that America has been made great because people from around the world made it great? This may be straight talk to some, but it is something white Americans must accept. 

It is such a selfish act that any race of people would go so far as to destroy a great nation rather than share it. Sharing is easy and much easier than war.  What kind of eyes cannot see what hatred, prejudice, and white superiority, has done to America? Rest assured Americans will never see peace until there is justice. 

Now the question must be asked, what should African Americans do? They tried to call attention to injustices by the peaceful protest of taking the knee, and look what happened. The president called them SOB’s and white people cheered.  Then they tried more peaceful means. A popular black man built a school and supplied all the equipment for students to attend free. Other black men put up hundreds of millions of dollars to help support small business owners. The news media became involved by reporting to the public what these men were doing. But even then the president got involved by using disparaging name calling not only for the ones that were performing the good deeds, but to the TV announcer who was reporting it. So I ask what choice is there for African Americans?  Of course, I disapprove of the violence, but if these are not examples of damned if you do, or damned if you don’t, I don’t know what is.