Start Thinking Differently - Stand Up to Others

How did we get to the point we are at now? The trial  may be over but some of us are still wondering several things that we can't seem to figure out.  Things like:

- When did the Blue Line become more important than a human life? 

- Why didn't the officers with Derek Chauvin stand up to him and tell him what he is doing is wrong???? There were several officers at this scene to question Chauvin over and over again, instead of standing by and letting him make the decision to stay with applied pressure to George Floyd's neck!

It does not matter what color, or race, you are.  It does not matter where you live - what state, city or suburban area.  It does not matter how much money you earn or what material things you have... YOU can be a victim of police brutality.  We are supposed to be able to call the police to assist us when needed. Calling for help from those hired to protect and serve, should not be a second thought.  One should never be afraid to get out of a vehicle, turn their back on an officer or to answer a police officer's questions - fearing for their lives.  As a child, we are taught to respect the police. We are taught they are good people in our community however, that well known cliche is true, "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch."  This means that while we have biases, once you act on them, it creates a domino effect of behavior and actions.  This is one of the main reasons the Black Lives Matter Movement started.  One day, children will be reading about this in their history books.  Well, I hope they will be.

I'm not sure which is worst - an emotional or physical wound.  Emotional wounds heal.  You meet new people with different experiences that alter your way of thinking. You talk about experiences with others shedding light on feelings.  Physical wounds heal quicker, however, this feeling of continued frustration and anger with how the police use force on citizens and get away with it is another feeling.  You see the scars.  You feel the pain they caused and you are instantly reminded of one encounter that caused the scar.  The look in the officer's eyes as he continued with a complete disregard for Floyd's life - made me wonder how many days he has driven those streets with the same look in his eyes and displayed the same rage. We now know, it wasn't the first.  We know that in 2017 another African American male ran in to Derek Chauvin as well.  Of course, he had way too much control over the situation.  He took control of the responding officer's call.  He knew how to apply the heat.  He thought no one would tell.  He was wrong. 

We must ALL tell.  We must ALL pay attention to what is happening in the streets and tell someone else - Social Media!!  It is powerful - when used correctly. 

Again, I pray for Floyd's daughter. I pray she carries on a civil rights conversation and movement to show what she lost, regardless of how they portrayed him.  It's a new day to start thinking differently no matter where you work or where you live. Let's think about that.

Dear Police Officers....

When your eyes open and you stretch as you wake to start your day, thank our higher power that you lived another day to breathe that wonderful air.

When you dress, kiss your loved ones good-bye and leave out your door to head to work, hope and pray that you walk back through that door hours later- one last time.

When you walk and drive the streets of your beat, know that every single person, every single face you lock eyes with during those hours, have a mother, father, sister, brother, child, other family and friends that love them.  They are human, as you are, leaving a footprint in the world. They left their homes the same way you did, not thinking, not knowing, if they would return.  

When you walk and drive the streets of your beat, know that we want to approach you if we need help, but some of us may feel a bit apprehensive about doing so. There may have been times one has had a bad interaction with an officer, know someone who has had a bad interaction with an officer or feel you may not be so willing to help.  We will approach gently.  Don't be afraid of us. We don't want to be afraid of you.

Let us not forget about the past events that have occurred.  This is not just about the recent excessive force cases we have seen in the news.  This stems back many years.  Years of oppression. Years of begging the police to treat us as respectable human beings. 

We understand you have your guard up.  We do as well.  We understand you are nervous.  We are as well.  We understand you may want to stand behind and use the badge as an ego trip. We're nervous about that as well.

Know that we are people. We want to be respected.  Wanting to tell our side of the story that you may not have witnessed is normal but our words may not be as kind as you want them to be. You are called into hostile situations where we all think and act differently - yet we want to go home at the end of the night after getting you to listen. 

Don't draw your weapons on us. Use your mace if you feel you are unsafe. Mace is better than your gun.  Don't call your backup to come rushing in to attack us.  Ask us nicely instead of throwing us against the cars or the ground. You can ask nice in a demanding tone and we will give in.  Understand, we know you have the authority to use force but understand that we want you to earn the respect that we have been expected to give you since we were little uneducated human children.  Of course we know you fear for your life - same as us!  Some of you don't realize it because of the privilege you have of having lighter skin and not being judged because of the clothing you choose to wear.  

Protect us from harm, from each other, but don't hurt us. If you do this, there is a good possibility we can all go home at the end of our day - living to see another - to take another breath and not be afraid of each other.  There is also a possibility that as we see your face in our community over and over again, others will learn you respect the citizens, the locals, and you will receive respect due.  

Living in America, we are supposed to be different from other countries. Let's not forget that. Think about that so you can go home again like we want to. 

When you wake up to start your day, start thinking differently. Make a change. Cross over the Blue Line.