Relaxing near assholes is so difficult

Staying in a

condo on vacation. Sitting outside on the balcony.

Overheard lady on the phone who was talking with her dad about the RNC, protests, etc.:

"I don't think Black hoodlams' lives matter."

This lady gave no effs about being heard. She was emphatic. She was proud.

Okay, so let's talk about this...

First, I didn't say anything to her even though I am shaking, I'm so mad. It's a free country. She's on her property. She can say what she wants. Even if she wants to advocate for the killing of an entire category of people.

I'm not able to see her, let alone confront her. But I also have freedom of speech, and if I were to say something to her, that would be my right too. There seems to be a rampant sentiment that people who "say how they feel" should be allowed to do it even if it doesn't align with the "liberal consensus". Sure, but that goes in two directions.

Second, many of the high profile cases of police shootings have gotten attention because the victims are in fact NOT "hoodlams". They are just people who are going about their business sleeping, protecting others, driving, etc., etc., etc. And while some victims may have broken the law, their crimes were not worthy of the death penalty.

Which brings me to my third point... we have the right to a fair trial with a jury of our peers. We have the right to due process without cruel punishments. All of us have these rights. Even hoodlams. We must protect these rights for all of us. Even hoodlams.

If you are okay with some people losing their lives at the hands of law enforcement, then you need to really consider the type of government you're advocating for. Because it's not a democracy.

I stand with Black Lives Matter because I believe we have a racism problem in this country. I've worked to educate myself on the history, the concerns, the policies being advocated. Do I agree with all of the tactics, all of the positions, all of the voices? No. But you either stand for racial equality or you stand for white supremacy, and I know which side I need to be on.

And that's not to say I am anti-police. In high school, I strongly considered a career in law enforcement. I have enormous respect for the job that police officers do and the fact that they put their lives on the line engaging with many of the hardest parts of humanity.

So let's say it's too uncomfortable to go all in on BLM. For many white people, it's difficult. I get it. We were raised not to talk about race. We were raised to believe that the Civil War and the Civil Rights Act fixed everything. We were raised with the idea that if you work hard, you'll succeed, and if you don't succeed, you should work harder. We are surrounded by outspoken people we love and respect who are racist or Conservative or anti-BLM or in law enforcement or whatever, and it's hard to speak up or turn away from the people we care about.

And so, here's what I'll say... You don't have to turn away from supporting police. You don't have to turn away from loved ones. You don't have to support an organization you don't believe in. Hell, if you don't give a shit about Black lives, it's your right to be a racist asshole. There is no need for false dichotomies or cognitive dissonance.

But dammit... please fight for our democracy, for our rights as citizens. We have the right to a fair trial. We have the right to due process. That is something we should all fight for, for all of us. Fight for life, for freedom, for liberty and justice for all.

*end rant*

Note: the image is one I grabbed from Google. I'm not sure whom to credit. Thank you to all those who share awesome stuff freely on the internet.