Post-Lockdown, What’s Next?

We’re back! We took a long-ish break but we’re ramping up again…collecting our thoughts…getting rid of anger and frustration as the world seems to be literally exploding.

What’s Next

RafifJ, #Malaga, #Spain

The lockdown in Spain is over, at least for now. We’re mostly practicing social distancing (and are required to wear masks in public), but the situation around the rest of the world is hardly comforting. Numbers are going up in areas that have resumed almost-normal. The potential for a second wave is there and probably increasing. Meanwhile, the world is going to shit with more-obvious-than-ever hatred and racism. Didn’t we once believe humanity was better than this? What we’re seeing on flagrant display is just devastating. But I’m trying to think positive thoughts: DC statehood, #BlackLivesMatter, and movements for justice cropping up around the world. I am personally embarking on a couple of big initiatives that involve Syria and activism.

I’ll leave it at that tonight. Tomorrow is another day. Who knows, maybe Trump will finally catch the #Coronavirus.

The New Karen

Tina F., Fairfax, #Virginia

During the past few weeks, we have witnessed the world waking up to confront years of bigotry and racism in the wake of the horrific murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minnesota. There are fleeting glimpses that we the people may actually be coming together in support of the social injustices perpetrated against the black citizens of this country and the minorities of the world.

With that awareness comes a different problem in America. People are policing others and shaming them into doing the “right” thing. Meanwhile, thanks to technology, there is a camera rolling somewhere, capturing these encounters. Many recordings have gone viral and made headlines.

Most prominent is the angry middle-aged white woman nicknamed “Karen” who personifies white privilege and entitlement. It is a little vague as to the origin of this nickname, but recently “Karen” has been recorded ranting at people of color and minorities in a confrontational and aggressive manner.

As I watch the scenes unfold on my social media feeds, I am touched by a myriad of emotions. I am shocked, amused, angry, sad, and even disgusted. These encounters are not new, but have a new meaning in light of the rising black voices against racism.

By now we are all familiar with Amy Cooper, the Central Park woman who becomes irate at a black man for telling her to keep her dog on a leash. She even calls the police and lies that she is being “attacked by an African-American man.” Why does she think it’s okay to do that?…. because she is a Karen. This Karen is using her white privilege to put a black man “in his place.”

Or the other one was the Karen in San Francisco who accused a man of defacing private property because he was chalking “Black Lives Matter” on the front of a home in an affluent neighborhood.

She and her husband assumed that he did not live there because of his “brown” skin color. Not only was it his home, but he had lived there for 18 years.

I realize that there are two sides to every story, but as soon as a white person takes a hammer and beats the shit out of a neighbor’s car they have lost the argument. As was the case with the LA Karen.

White privilege in America and the delusional assumption that they are superior has really gone on way too long, but isn’t that why millions of people have been protesting around the world these past few weeks? Demanding social justice for people of color? BLACK LIVES MATTER! Black people matter.

Remember I said I had a myriad of emotions? Well I forgot to add conflicted. I wonder if these incidents can be avoided altogether. Maybe we should we stop trying to police each other? Especially during tenuous times when everyone is on edge. Everyone is on hyper-alert at the moment. I think if we lay off the antagonism and take a chill pill or walk away, we could avoid these blow ups. Hey, just don’t be a Karen!

Becoming an Activist

Reposed with permission from Wayne Wallace, McLean, Virginia

It didn’t happen overnight. Despite (or perhaps because of) growing up in the South in the 60s and 70s, I have been offended by overt racism most of my life. But the more insidious, constant racism that permeates our society, not so much. It’s not that I didn’t see it; it’s that I didn’t see how harmful it actually was. Plus, it didn’t affect me. And who am I to change the world?

While I never thought it was fair that my opinion mattered more than my Black, Brown, and female colleagues, I didn’t see it as that big of a deal. I could see that it was annoying, but worth making a fuss about? Certainly not

for me. For one, I was the beneficiary of the subtle racism, and I had more important things to do. And who am I to change the world?

Then a lot of things happened that changed my perspective. For starters, I spent a lot of time with Syrian activists and saw what a difference a little activism can make. No, they didn’t topple the regime, but they did a lot of good and have helped establish the bedrock needed to make Syria better once the regime is gone. They made a difference. It’s inspiring.

I also had major changes and losses in my life that significantly altered my perspective about what is important. Not that I ever thought material possessions were key to a successful life, but my focus was more there than on improving the world beyond my very small circle. And besides, who am I to change the world? I should focus on raising my kids and improving MY world. Not THE world.

Now, the injustices in the world are too much for me to simply watch and ask, “Who am I to change the world?” I’m just one voice, but if a group of voices can work together, we can pry dictators out of their fortresses and into courts of justice. We can bring about real change.

So today I write, I document, I photograph, and perhaps film the world I see around me. I will add my voice to those of the others marching in Washington, Minneapolis, Paris, Sydney, Amsterdam, and Idlib. I know I can’t do much on my own. But by joining with others, we can bring about real change. People of color in my country can achieve true equality; oppressed people in other countries can know democracy. Peoples suffering from decades of occupation, war, and injustice can one day know freedom and peace.

Who am I to change the world? I’m an activist.

Thank you for reading our blog! We welcome all feedback.

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Post 80: #Coronavirus and a perspective.

We’re sharing our experiences, thoughts, and uncensored opinions during lockdown, quarantine, and self-isolation. For some of us, it’s DAY 80.

Liberty and military power

Tina F., Fairfax, #Virginia

I have an ache in my heart and a burn in my stomach. I am angry. I am seething. My president is a narcissistic racist.

The American president’s response to the Black solidarity movement happening in America today is instigating hate. The president has called the protestors “thugs” and “lowlife scum” when he is one of the biggest thugs in office. He wants to unleash the military to quell the [protestors] “violence.”

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for this great leadership! It’s like the frustrated parent yelling at their kid to “stop crying or else I will smack you so hard you’ll really have something to cry about!”

America needs to get to the heart of the issues and address the core values that have led us to this point. Our president is a racist! Our police forces have not been held accountable for their unnecessary use of force toward African-Americans.

We are not serving anyone by sending out the military to fight their own people. Let’s face it, the military presence will escalate the deaths of innocent people.

All my life, I have been watching activists speak up against anarchy, corruption, inequality, and racism – only to be silenced by the military powers of dictatorship and fascism.

America is waking up! Let’s hope this a start of a new understanding for the downtrodden and not a backward slide into a third-world dictatorship.

^{Dave Granlund cartoon retrieved via Internet search.
No copyright infringement intended.}

The banana republic

Wayne Wallace, McLean, #Virginia

Yesterday morning, I woke up in a free country. For all its faults, it was at least free.

Last night, I went to sleep in a military dictatorship on the brink of civil war.

I recently heard Carl Bernstein use the term, “Cold Civil War,” to describe the state of affairs in this country. He was talking about the chasm between the alt-right and the rest of us. The uneducated White Trump supporters against the rest of us. I thought it was a very appropriate term to capture the state of affairs in the U.S.

I fear it will not be a cold civil war for long. The statements and actions of the @realDonaldTrump yesterday were not only announcing the end of democracy and the rule of law in our country; they were heralding the ascension of a despotic dictator. It was a big step that is sure to widen the divisions between the different factions in America. The steps announced from the Rose Garden yesterday will make the gap between Right and Left even wider. It will make the distrust between Black and White deeper.

@realDonaldTrump seems willing to tear the country apart to ensure his own reelection. Yesterday he took yet another giant step – not for mankind, but toward outright civil war – when he used federal troops to attack a crowd of peaceful protestors. That he did it solely to enable a photo op of him holding a Bible in front of a Church because he was embarrassed about being exposed as a coward hiding in his bunker makes it even worse. This is not what the country needs. This is the national-level equivalent to the White kids driving around the protests trying to hand bricks to Black protestors. Scaring White suburbia into reelecting a despotic thug just might work. I fear for this country if it does.

Mein Trumpf

RJD, #Beirut, #Lebanon

Yep, ladies and gentlemen, we have a Hitler in our midst and the 21st century version is living up to its name.

What in God’s name was Trumpf thinking of yesterday? Seriously, a photo op for campaigning purposes? Really? After tear gassing protestors to get there? Really?

To think of the message that Trumpf was conveying at a time like this…using a Bible to reach his base…being a hypocrite to show up at a Church he has ignored for 3 years…to spew the venom…to actually pave his way there with tear gas from taxes we pay for…is this really the time for egotistical behavior??? Is it????

And now St. Paul’s II National Shrine? Seriously?

I don’t want to lose my focus today; we have a big Thawra day coming up on June 6 in Beirut. There are also #GeorgeFloyd protestors in every city around the world, and the #Coronavirus isn’t done – but the gall. The bloody gall.

And Ivanka in the background, sporting a designer white bag? Really? At a time of pure crisis…And Jared lurking as usual? I am ranting again.

Focus. Stay focused.

My brains can’t. I have too much anger and grief. I am outraged. I must stop here because I won’t be responsible for what else I might say.

The death of democracy

RafifJ, #Malaga, #Spain

In 2011, Syrian-American activists and supporters starting holding demonstrations – against the Syrian dictatorship – in front of the White House. I remember being so impressed with the Secret Service officers, who told us they were there to protect us. As long as we kept things peaceful, there would be no trouble.

Those were the days when one of our chants was, “This is what democracy looks like!” We were all so impressed – the freedom to speak! The respect the authorities gave us!

Of course, those were different times. We were protesting the Assad regime, under whose brutal dictatorship in Syria, holding up a sign would get you arrested. Soldiers would fire teargas and bullets. True: your arms might be cut off in the torture chamber to teach you a lesson about holding up a sign.

But in DC, far away from Damascus, in front of President Obama’s White House, we were safe.

Yesterday I watched as peaceful American protesters assembled in front of the White House. They were People of All Colors demanding an end to racism. They were peaceful: Hands up, don’t shoot!

At first I thought, this is what democracy looks like. Tensions would surely be defused. POTUS – as infantile and sophomoric as he is – would realize that his legacy could be different if he would just put country before ego. I was sure the Secret Service or National Guard would never fire on American citizens exercising their Constitutional rights – because this is what democracy looks like. Until it didn’t.

I didn’t think they would teargas their own people, or fire at unarmed, peaceful civilians. Until they did.

This is not what democracy looks like.

We’re not in a democracy anymore. Just as surely and intentionally as Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, the President of the United States killed democracy yesterday when he declared war on We the People.

Rise up, America. MAKE NOISE. #BlackLivesMatter #Protests2020

^{Retrieved from Newswars.com.
No copyright infringement intended.}

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Post 79: #Coronavirus and a perspective

We’re sharing our experiences, thoughts, and uncensored opinions during lockdown, quarantine, and self-isolation. For some of us, it’s DAY 79.

Tonight’s topic: Civil Resistance & Revolution

Lebanon: #Thawra

RJD, #Beirut, #Lebanon

This is what we call a revolution in Lebanon. It is something we have been doing for a short time, only since October 17, 2019.

What we are seeing in the U.S. this week is a Thawra against police brutality, oppression, inequality, and racism. I am so proud to see so many people out in the streets in many cities, speaking out for #BlackLivesMatter, but truly, ALL lives matter.

I have been saying for the past 28 years, ever since the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in 1992, that the U.S. is facing a ticking time bomb when it comes to racial issues. Beating, torturing, and killing non-White men because of their color or race is not justified by any means. No matter the situation. Why don’t we see a White American being “handled” in the same manner by the police?

You guys out there protesting, more power to ya!

So let me tell you how we do Thawra here, only to give you some additional ideas:

Daily protesting in the streets and city squares til the wee hours
Closing down main arteries and roads into big cities with cars and trucks
Daily car and truck convoys to politicians’ and governmental officials’ houses
At 8 pm daily, we take out our pots and pans and make lots and lots of noise
We write songs about Thawra and we blast them from trucks carrying big loudspeakers
We wear the Lebanese flag as bandanas, face masks, and arm bands.
We destroy government buildings (look at how the Lebanese Parliament is barricaded now)
We have DJs hosting Thawra parties in all big cities and we yell and scream against the “nizam” (the screwed up system)
Watch out for fifth-column infiltrators; in your case, the Aryans.

So my dear fellow Americans, go out and make noise, because we cannot let the system remain status quo. We must, we absolutely must, make the rights of every citizen mean the same to every American citizen.

^{Retrieved from alaraby.co.uk. No copyright infringement intended.}

Palestine: We Need #Change

Tina F., Fairfax, #Virginia

Right after the George Floyd murder by a White police officer, I made a comment to my family about how the police tactics used today are as brutal as those used by Israeli soldiers towards Palestinians.

My son responded that I should not compare this incident with what’s happening to Palestinians under occupation, because we need to address the issue of social and racial injustice in America for what it is.

I totally agree and I am outraged by the blatant discrimination and murder of Black people at the hands of police officers in this country. However, as I read the news I see a few words tucked away amidst the myriad of US headlines. I see this international headline: “Israeli Forces Shoot and Kill Unarmed Autistic Palestinian Man.”

How can we pretend that this is okay? Iyad Halak, 32, was a mentally challenged autistic man. His crime? He was a Palestinian man walking down the street carrying something that was mistaken for a weapon. When the armed forces yelled for him to stop, this mentally disabled man ran away and attempted to hide. The police pursued Iyad and began to shoot at him. As Iyad lay dying, one officer continued to shoot at him.

This happens a lot to innocent of Palestinian men, women, and children. Most of the time, it doesn’t even make the news, or the report is tucked away discreetly at the back of the paper.

*^{Retrieved from Reddit. No copyright infringement intended.}*

What can be done? Just as the Palestinians who protest the mistreatment of their people at the hands of the Israeli soldiers are called terrorist thugs, the Americans expressing their frustration to the mistreatment of Black people are called unpatriotic thugs.

As we saw during the South African apartheid, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. People can only be held down for a limited time before they respond emotionally in order to be heard.

You may be wondering how this is related to America. If I told you your U.S. tax dollars help fund a violent, racist Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people, would that make a difference? What if I told you that almost all Palestinians murdered by the U.S.-funded Israeli military forces were unarmed? Would that make a difference?

The world has completely lost sight of humans and humanity, especially when we turn a blind eye. It is time to demand change and make change.

Syria: The #Revolution Continues

RafifJ, #Malaga, #Spain

It started in early 2011 with simple, peaceful demonstrations and hundreds of brilliantly creative displays forms of nonviolent expression. Activists launched ping-pong balls marked with the words “freedom,” “democracy,” and “dignity” from a mountaintop in Damascus. There were original songs – the kinds that drew crowds of up to 500,000 in one instance, defying curfews and regime orders – about telling the dictator to get lost. Syrians held sit-ins, stand-ins, and flash mobs. They ran social media campaigns, flooding Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube with hashtags, posts, and videos. They banged pots and pans in noise demonstrations, then went totally silent in flat-out strikes. Once someone filled a water fountain in a main city square with red food coloring – the leaping, dancing water, when the water flowed, symbolized the blood of activists who were getting shot at, with increasing precision and savagery, by militarized police and soldiers. The regime released criminals from prisons, armed them, and had them infiltrate the peaceful protests to agitate and stir up violence. Suddenly, nonviolent activists were labeled “rioters,” “looters,” and “terrorists.”

Sound familiar in 2020s America?

Here’s part of an article I wrote in 2012 about the nonviolent movement in Syria:

“The cycle of demonstrations and gunfire repeats itself, every day, and we understand perfectly the need to defend against a brutal regime. We understand perfectly the urge to respond to the government’s crackdown with gunfire. Yet we maintain our position: “Violence plays into Assad’s hands. Violence begets more violence. Revenge begets more revenge.”
We are certain that if we truly want democracy, the transition must begin with us. We will not become the tyrant we are fighting.”
~ Me

That was all before the regime started using warplanes and barrel bombs to target residential buildings and schools and hospitals and markets. That was before the regime started using chemical weapons with alarming impunity.

As the police and other law enforcement in the U.S. get progressively more violent and use increasingly lethal weaponry, I hope my brothers and sisters in humanity – of all races and ethnicities – fare better than Syrians did in the quest for freedom. Trump’s calls on governors to use more force and show strength in the face of protests are reminiscent of Assad’s orders to his paramilitary troops on what to do with protesters: shoot them, arrest them, torture them, kill them.

Today, badged members of the press get shot at in crowds across the U.S. In Syria, reporting the truth is a crime punishable by permanent disappearance. Hell, you can get arrested and tortured for a Facebook post or a Tweet. Is that where the U.S. is headed?

It’s time to ask ourselves if America is any better than a third-world country led by a tin-pot dictator. Ironically, Assad also once hid in a bunker in an undisclosed location.

Syrians have not given up. Today, despite the 1 million dead, quarter-million disappeared, 6 million internally displaced, and nearly 6 million refugees, we still have a couple of favorite sayings: “Down with the dictator” and “the Revolution continues.”

And so, brothers and sisters in humanity, you must do what you must do in America, for the sake of future generations. Just like in Syria, the revolution continues.

#BlackLivesMatter #ResistDictatorship #Riots2020 #TrumpResign

Aleppo, Syria, 2014. Photo Credit: BARAA AL-HALABI/AFP/Getty Images
*No copyright infringement intended*

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If you’d like to contribute a post, please get in touch! Send me an email, contact me on Twitter, or leave a comment here.

Post 78: #Coronavirus and a perspective

We’re sharing our experiences, thoughts, and uncensored opinions during lockdown, quarantine, and self-isolation. For some of us, it’s DAY 78.

Tonight we’re free-form writing

Them Cats

RJD, #Beirut, #Lebanon

Today, I want to add a little humor into our otherwise morbid quarantines and the ticking time bombs exploding worldwide. Hong Kong, Lebanon, Minneapolis, and most U.S. cities are but a few places where racial inequality, hunger, and poverty loom and are among the many issues that we will have to grapple with once we start “re-living.”

I live with 5 felines who consider us humans their staff. And each one of them has personality traits that crack me up! I just might need to change their names.

Cosi, our eldest Himalayan Lilac Point is a quiet soul who never needs anything except his treats. He meows and demands this right several times a day. The rest of the time, he contemplates and sleeps. Very much like Putin. He states his intentions, gets what he wants quietly, and retracts.

Casper, who is 4 years old, is an adventurer, a hiker, and a climber. Where there are heights, he needs to reach them. Very much like Jacinda Adern. Once he reaches the top, he will only look to reach higher.

Bambi, a 3-year-old Persian, is a cuddle of sweetness and kindness. He is very much like Angela Merkel: efficient, effective, and direct.

Jazz, a grey Persian kitten, is the epitome of a bully. He doesn’t poop in his litter box, he steals the treats from other cats, he pushes everyone out of the way to reach his food bowl, and then makes the other 4 play musical chairs with theirs. You know like ummmmm, yep, you got it…Idiot-in-Chief!

Miskeh, his twin sister, is the relentless one who lives by her rules. But she also wants to be loved and taken care of. She is the smart one, she picked whom she felt is the right person for her. She did not vote for me. She voted for my husband. It’s her right. She made a choice and in an otherwise democratic household, she exemplifies today’s poor world citizen.

Me believes me will need therapy after the lockdowns are lifted for many-a-reason!

Freedom for All

Tina F., Fairfax, #Virginia

I want to write something lighthearted today, I really do, but I’m unable to concentrate. My brain is in mourning over the crazy shit we are seeing in America.

I finally watched the CNN reporter and crew being arrested on live TV. As they were covering the protests in Minneapolis, the police arrested the crew for no apparent reason. It did not make an impact on me a few days ago because I was fuming at the lack of justice for George Floyd. Now with all the frenzy of the clashes of demonstrators and police, we are looking at an amplified response from citizens of the United States.

Are they protestor or demonstrators? Are they making a valid point or are they “thugs”?

How can we even begin to pass a judgment? ENOUGH ALREADY. People have had enough of the inequality and the racial injustice in this “Great” country.

A physical response from the people is what happens when people are at their wits’ end for not being heard.

America has ignored racial disparity for far too long. George Floyd’s death at the hands of the police was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

As an immigrant, I stand by minorities and I stand by the downtrodden and the underrepresented. No matter how we protest our mistreatment and inequality, we are silenced and/or imprisoned.

Living in a country where we afraid because of the color of our skin is not the country I immigrated to. When prominent sports figures took a knee in silent protest, they fired and labeled “unpatriotic.”

I am reminded that I could be living in any third-world dictatorship at this point. Where the government has to control its people with might. Where curfews are imposed. Where police drive cars into protestors. And of course, where the country’s leader is justifying this ugly behavior.

But I chose America! A proud country of immigrants. The free America. The America that speaks up against injustice. Or so I thought.

As it turns out, my America is selfish and self-serving. It speaks up only when there is something in it for the privileged few.

If you do nothing else…

RafifJ, #Malaga, #Spain

…change your profile pic. Support the Movement for Black Lives in their call for a week of action June 1-June 5. Use hashtags #DefundPolice and #DefendBlackLife.

Silence equals acceptance. Stand up for human rights. #BlackLivesMatter.

Thank you for reading our blog! We welcome all feedback.

If you’d like to contribute a post, please get in touch! Send me an email, contact me on Twitter, or leave a comment here.

Post 77: #Coronavirus and a perspective: #Riots2020

We’re sharing our experiences, thoughts, and uncensored opinions during lockdown, quarantine, and self-isolation. For some of us, it’s DAY 77.

Almost speechless

RafifJ, #Malaga, #Spain

The tragic events over the past week have left me almost speechless. I’m still not sure I can express my sorrow at what has happened in America. Any progress People of Color thought they had made over the centuries has been undone, not just by the murder of #GeorgeFloyd, but all the senseless killings, human rights abuses, and other injustices that Whites have not had to suffer, not like this. By the disenfranchisement and marginalization of people because their skin is a different shade. Because of fear, ignorance, and hatred – all perpetuated, today, right now, by a racist in the White House. That he was elected is further proof of the utter imbalance of justice, morality, ethics, human values, and power in America. And this insidious, virus – which I’ll call Trump – continues to pour gasoline on the fire.

Why do people riot? Because they’ve been left with no other choice. Never forget the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “A riot is the language of the unheard.”

America should have been better than this. So many of us grew up with the notion that this was the land of liberty, the one place where “equal” and “opportunity” were part of the deal. Our Black brothers and sisters have known all along about America’s evil side. And today, right now, the rest of the world knows it, too. Today, right now, we need to take a stand: We can no longer un-see images or videos of innocents being murdered because they are Black. We can no longer un-hear the statements of White supremacists. #BlackLivesMatter.

We can no longer look away, or hope this will blow over. Today, right now, no amount of “land of the free” or “home of the brave” or waving of flags can be enough for us to go back to complacency and silence. Dr. King taught us that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Silence equals acceptance. Now go out and make some noise.

What is happening?

Norma B. Wallace, Bend, #Oregon

I am hanging my head – part of me wants to bury my head in the sand – what happened in Minneapolis and the aftermath can’t be happening in my country. My country stands for Freedom for All and Liberty and Freedom and and…. Well, it is happening in my country, we can’t look the other way, we can’t pretend it is an isolated case, we can’t blame others, it happened right here.

I have reposted two posts from my community, one from the police chief and one from my pastor on my Facebook page. They both said it better than I could – I am proud that my leaders in Bend are committed to service to those historically oppressed. Unfortunately, even in this community where there is an attempt, even pride, that we are inclusive – I know of instances where we have not been. Where People of Color have been afraid to walk on the street in an area that prides itself on being inclusive and inviting diversity. There is a lot of work to be done everywhere, and we can only start where we are and move forward.

I was in college in the Sixties and there were many race riots, police brutality, and injustices. That was 55 years ago. I naively thought those days were over. I have seen lots of advancements – but today we took a giant step back. If this is going to be behind us, we need to fix the cause and change the system so that the inequities of opportunity do not exist. Then we will be able to hold our head up high.

In keeping with the purpose of the blog, I must relate to the #Covid-19 virus. The Virus of Racism is worse. Those who are using the masks that are supposed to be protecting others from the Covid virus, but are using them to disguise themselves, are no better than the KKK wearing white sheets. Those who are coming into cities to agitate, loot, destroy on the pretext of protests should be dealt with for what they are. Those who are truly grieving for George Floyd and for the injustices towards him and trying to do so peacefully, should be protected.

I hope that I can someday hold my head up with pride again in My Country.

Breach of contract

Wayne Wallace in McLean, #Virginia

It shouldn’t take a video. We should do the right thing always. Evil should be punished universally, not just when there’s a camera recording the evildoer. You would think that the panopticon enabled by universal cellphone cameras and social media would make this type of tragedy anomaly, rather than then all too frequent event that it is.

We were told to always act as though our mothers could see what we were doing. If we followed this advice, or at least acted as if the camera was always rolling on our actions, tragedies like the Amy Cooper “swatting” of a black man, the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, and the public murder of George Floyd would not have happened.

As Trevor Noah says in his brilliant analysis, the social contract is broken. We are all asked to behave in a certain way, live by certain values. What good are those values when they don’t apply to Law Enforcement? We are asked to live by a code of conduct that applies only to some. Society, and our social contract, are designed to protect those who live by the rules. We’ve learned, over and over, that protection does not apply to People of Color.

And justice does not apply to White law enforcement officers. How can we expect anyone to uphold the social contract or their end of the agreement, when those who represent the law are above the law? How do we not expect lawlessness when our contract offers lawlessness?

Thank you for reading our blog! We welcome all feedback.

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EverythingAfter50

I'm unlearning, day by day. Join me.

Author: RafifJ

Post-Lockdown, What’s Next?

What’s Next

The New Karen

Becoming an Activist