I woke up this morning with a pit in my stomach after another restless night of trying to sleep. I am living in the greatest Country in the World and yet right now I do not feel proud to be an American. The racial divide is growing bigger and bigger in America and yet all I see is allot of People talking the talk but not walking the walk. Community Activists and Church Leaders using the problem of racial divide for their own agendas and not truly doing what is needed to come together and discuss and find common ground for a solution. Time for Change is Now!!!
This past weeks shooting of 3 African American Males by White Police Men as well as the ambush by an African American Man of White Dallas Police has heightened tension all over America. This isn't the first time both these incidents have happened but I truly hope and pray to God that they will be the last! We need to mourn for them and to pray and comfort those hurting as well. It sickens me to see this great Country being torn apart by deep racial tensions and differences that continue to happen and grow and tear apart the Communities We all live in nowadays. We now have Cops all over the Country going to social media both black and white, ranting on and on about Black Lives Matter as well as Church and Community Leaders and everyone else having their own opinions on this too. Again talk is cheap, the time is now for Action and plenty of it. All Lives Matter!!! Not just Black or White or any other ethnicity!!
The elephant in the room is that no one really wants to sit down and discuss what needs to be discussed. The Lack of Race Discussion is what is wrong and everyone knows this but few really want to sit down and discuss it openly and with a frank dialogue. Neither side wants to concede or admit or even budge when it comes to these discussions so the divide grows even more so by the day. The time is Now to change Police Policies in every department in America from the Federal Government all the way down to the smallest of Communities or Cities. Changing Policing in America should be first and foremost as a step to start to bridge racial division. I keep hearing in the Media and by President Obama and others that We as a Nation have racial bias and we are dealing with these issues better now then any other time. While I agree with President Obama somewhat, I see us taking one step forward and three steps back nowadays in dealing with racial issues. Peaceful Demonstrations are no longer peaceful, violence always seems to come to the front of these Demonstrations. Some think violence is the only way to deal with this issue but deep down we all know violence will not do anything but incite and rile everyone up where nothing gets done. And for the most part those that suffer the most are the Mom and Pop store Owners who are the Cornerstone of Our Communities who are either damaged, pillaged or burned to the ground. We as a Nation are great at raising our voice, getting all riled up but then sitting back and letting the momentum die down as time goes by, this happens all too frequently. Social Media is a great tool to get people involved but it also too quickly moves onto the next big news topic without regards to the current ones. The Time for Change is Now!!! Not next week or next month or next year!!
We need to make the issue of racial divide a Top Political Issue in this years Presidential Election and not let the Presidential Candidates or the GOP or DNC off the hook or let their public relations groups spin this as all the other topics they do not want to talk about. Lets make this a Priority in this Presidential Race and nail down the Candidates to precise plans on how to deal with this issue! Today, President Obama and ex President George Bush along with many other dignitaries will be in Dallas for an Interfaith prayer gathering to mourn the victims of the Dallas Police Tragedy. This is an important step but just a baby step in healing this racial divide. We as Americans need to do much more to start the healing process.
Here are my thoughts and solution to healing this great Country and moving forward as One People not just Black, or White, or Asian, or Muslim, but One People who Love and treat each other with Dignity and Respect and see each other as a mirror of themselves and not the color of their skin! Start walking up to those you see on the streets or in a Mall or a restaurant and say hi, shake a hand, give a hug, be polite and courteous. Lets treat each other as We want to be treated! We need to come together as a Community and as a Church. One Unified Voice with a clear and concise vision of clearly wanting to deal with this ugly racial divide across America. It is simple, I call on the Leaders in every Community and City, no matter how big or small, these People need to come together and talk and start the change from within their Communities. Churches need to have interfaith services not churches of one color but churches for all religion and faith and ethnicity to be welcome and to come together. Power in numbers. Community Leaders and Church Leaders need to stop trying to be the Alpha Person and learn to coexist and get along and find common ground to help diffuse and work towards a common goal and solution of racial divide. Mayors and Governors and State Officials need to also let go of their petty differences and agendas and help on a broader platform to start the change of Policing Policy and race division within each State. On the Federal Level, the President and Congress and the GOP and DNC need to bury the hatchet and stop with all the political and party rhetoric and take a stance and do what is right to fix this racial divide that has been going on for far too long!!! Time for Change is Now!!!
How many more lives of all ethnicity have to be lost or injured before We as the great Nation We are, stand up as One UNIFED VOICE and say Enough is Enough and demand change to happen now!!! Our Nations Police forces have a very hard job of protecting and keeping all of us safe. Many times it is a thankless job. When you see a police officer go up to them shake their hand or give them a hug and a simple thank you for all you do. We need to mourn those who have lost their lives and also those affected by these senseless tragedies and pray for them and help them if We can. It is Now Time for Change and to let the healing begin! We need to make America a Proud Nation again filled with Love, Respect and Dignity towards one another not hatred and anger. There is enough of that in the World!! Lets take back our great Nation and be an example for all Nations as One Nation with One Unified Voice and start now to fix this racial divide. I want to be able to start waking up once again in the morning with a smile and a Heart glowing of being a Proud American once more! The Time for Change is NOW!!!!!
cupofjoeinthed@gmail.com @cupofjoeinthed
Excellent words Joe! It is time that we come together as a nation and forget our political differences, and start treating each other as human beings once again. We never know how much the simple act of stopping to take the time and say Hello means to someone and Thank them for serving this nation, or precinct until it is actually done.
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