Black Lives Still Matter

The Regressive Party has recently become fixated on their own persecution. These are all persecutions that they imagine and create themselves, but that is no reason not to be consumed with them, I suppose. These profound slights are, of course, only a means of deflecting from their own disgusting voter base and platform while creating a means of redirecting negativity toward the left. It is almost embarrassing how desperate their attempts are. It would be laughable if it weren't so fucking despicable and so dangerous because it keeps diverting attention from things that are sincerely important to not only create their own narrative of persecution, but allow for negative dialogue around things which would require none otherwise.

Those poor sonsofbitches on the right are being persecuted because they have to make cakes for gay weddings. What a glorious way to create drama around a beautiful movement America is finally embracing and create controversies and division out of something no thinking human being would ever even imagine.

In June they compelled Americans to understand that the slaughter of nine human beings in their house of worship was because of their religion. It seemed that the plight of the American Christian had not been acknowledged by society at-large so this was a perfect opportunity to make sure everyone knew. Of course, it was also a perfect opportunity for us to all reflect on how many 'lone wolves' who are always white with mental illness keep killing black people, too. As with the gun rights discussion the Regressives try to avoid, that problem of racism which seems so pervasive on just the one side of the aisle becomes very uncomfortable for them pretty quickly. It probably would've been better to just let them discuss the religion of those murdered in Charleston and ignore their race altogether. Fortunately, America sent back a resounding, "Shut the fuck UP" to that plea.

Last week Michael Brown, the former head of FEMA, determined that the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina would be the perfect day to write an article and go all over the media to tell about how unbelievably maligned he has been and and what a tragedy (his word) it was THAT HE WAS THOUGHT POORLY OF. That was a lot more important, I am sure, than a thoughtful and meaningful reflection on the how's and why's of the actual tragedy or any remembrances of those lost. That little conspiracy theorist deep inside of me keeps saying, "Yeah. I'll bet he was paid to write that and be all over the media that day because the GOP and Bush, especially, don't want us to have any sincere or solemn reflections this close to an election." Although my little voice sometimes goes a little overboard, I'm pretty sure she's right on this one.

Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ron Hickman held a press conference this weekend to tell us that all lives matter. As the message has not yet made it to the sheriffs ears, I will reply the same way I did three months ago when this talking point was tried: "Yeah? Kindly go fuck yourself."  All lives do not matter when you find it necessary to quickly dismiss an entire movement by insisting all lives matter instead of considering the truth and necessity behind the words BLACK LIVES MATTER. You negate the message when you make your own movement to parody the one created for an important national movement. Do you want to know why? Do you wonder why we have never had a movement that demanded all lives matter? Because, Asshole, that has never been in question. No one in our history has walked around and thought to themselves, "Goddamn, those poor straight white Protestant men. They cannot catch a break. The world seems to beat them down every time they start to make inroads toward progress."

A deputy in his charge was shot and killed by a black man. So far, this is all that anyone knows. But the message the sheriff wants to send us is that the Black Lives Matter movement is hateful and its rhetoric is dangerous. This is the lowest level of diversion I have seen yet. This asshole has determined all by himself that the person who shot this cop had done so solely because the Black Lives Matter movement exists. This assertion is completely based on supposition. They have not found anything to evidence his involvement in the movement, let alone his reasons for having shot the officer. Even though he isn't white, he, too, might be a lone wolf. He, too, might have mental illness (it's not an exclusive condition to white men with guns, you know). You are a disgusting low-life when you hijack the good works and important focus of the movement to promote your own tired agenda.

We know... You were all a lot more comfortable in the world where your power was understood and accepted. That world is gone. Its been gone for a while now. It's time for all of you who can not bring yourselves to embrace the world we have in 2015 to step aside. We are all getting sick of making excuses for you and all of your hate. It is only the hateful rhetoric of the right that is the problem. No national rhetoric has come out around race relations which is dangerous except by those who don't want to allow our progress. We are done with you. Honestly.

Close Your Eyes. Keep Them Closed.

Here is a brand new trick for your mind and your eyes:

This test is even crazier than the one with the dress. You have to follow the rules though. Whenever you are instructed to close your eyes and keep them closed you have to do it. Okay?

The idea of this color test is to see if you can see things differently when you close your eyes and then reopen them.



There has been a lot of outrage in America for the past several years about the deaths of unarmed people of color. Many have been angry that nothing is being done about it. Many others have been outraged that people are upset in the first place. Those defending the killers insist that each of those who were killed deserved it for one reason or another and find ways to excuse each event as it comes up.

I think that the problem in America, however, lies with the people in the middle. Those who have no opinion either way are the ones who perpetuate the problem. When you see these stories on the news and think "Gosh. That's awful," and don't give it another thought until you go to work and hear someone say that Tamir Rice shouldn't have been allowed to be in the park with a toy gun from a person who will rationalize that if his mother hadn't let him go to the park he would still be alive today, you are the problem. If in this moment you do not demand a coherent thought out of the person defending a killer, you allow them to believe that their hate is justified, or at least tolerated.

Unfortunately, we are always going to have racists. We will always have bigots. And homophobes. And assholes. And cranks. They will always exist and we will always have to deal with them. They can, however, go with the rest of us into an evolved society where their hatred is diminished. My answer (which is very naive, I know. I am adorable and I can't help it), is for all Americans who have heard the news about these killings and then gone on in their day having never given them another thought to spend just 5 minutes taking this test.

Jordan Davis

Imagine your white little brother standing in front of that flag instead of Jordan Davis. Now imagine he is 17 years old and in a car at a gas station with his friends back in the day while listening to Metallica too loudly. They were being rowdy like 17 year old boys are supposed to be. Now imagine some black guy pulled up and told his girlfriend in the seat next to him that he hated that awful shit white music and yelled at the kids. The boys yelled back at him. So that black man shot at your little brother. 10 times. He's dead now.           

                                  Close your eyes.  Keep them closed. Can you see that?

Walter Scott

Imagine your white uncle standing in front of that flag instead of Walter Scott. Now imagine he gets pulled over for a broken tail light the day before Easter. He is the one in the family who has a good heart but seems to screw up a lot. The whole family is coming in tomorrow and he knows he has a warrant against him because he is behind on his child support. He decides to take off and make a run for it so he doesn't spend Easter in jail. That would certainly ruin Grandma's day, wouldn't it? The black police officer takes off after him and shoots him in the back. Repeatedly. Until he is dead. And then tries to create a scenario where it was your uncles fault.

                                  Close your eyes. Keep them closed.  Can you see that?

Eric Garner

Imagine your white father holding and feeding your baby in this picture instead of Eric Garner. Now imagine that he is standing on the side of a building and police officers ask him if he is selling cigarettes. They ask your dad this every time he is standing outside. He is getting really sick of it. Your dad asks the police why they don't just leave him alone. One officer, completely unprovoked, put your father in a choke hold and took him down while he was literally begging for his life. As he is beginning to struggle he tells the officer that he can't breathe. The officer does not refrain. Your father is choked to death. On camera. Surrounded by many police officers. Who said he was trying to sell a cigarette. The black police officer who murdered your father gives a gleeful wave to the camera while his body is being taken away. Handcuffed.

                                           Close your eyes. Keep them closed.  Can you see that?

Tamir Rice

Imagine your white son with that unbearably sweet face in this picture instead of Tamir Rice. Now imagine that he is in the park playing with a toy gun. His gun, like most made today, looks real. He is doing what children do with toy guns, pretending to shoot it. A gentleman who is not quite sure about the situation calls the police and tells them it looks like he may be a child and he is unsure if the gun is even real. The police show up and in less than 2 seconds, the officer in the passenger seat gets out of the car and shoots your son. On this day after shooting your son, he also tackles and detains your daughter when she runs to see what has happened to her little brother. He is doing this while he is neglecting to give aid to your son who is still alive. Your son dies the next day. This black police officer, you will later learn, had been released from his previous law enforcement position because he was deemed too emotional and immature regarding his use of weapons. That information doesn't really help you now, though. Does it? Your son is dead.

                                  Close your eyes. Keep them closed.  Can you see that?

It is a lot easier to live in a happy world when you allow for easy answers from the people who would really rather not allow changes in our society. I realize that. It is easier to just say that Jordan Davis should not have talked back to his elder or Walter Scott should not have run or Eric Garner should not have tried to sell cigarettes or Tamir Rice should not have been playing with a toy gun. But society will stay right here as long as you allow that to happen. From now on, every time you hear another story of an innocent unarmed person of color being murdered (and tragically, you will because we aren't demanding better of ourselves), take a quiet moment, close your eyes and imagine that the innocent unarmed person who this story about is white. And someone you love. And their killer is black. Then ask yourself why you have to rewrite the scenario for yourself. When you realize that you do not have a rational answer for that question, you will start to be a part of the solution.


Open your eyes, America. They've been closed long enough.

Dear Police: If You Need to Git 'Er Done, You Need to Go!

Our society seems to be gradually losing its soul. Power seems to hold more value these days than human lives. Over the last couple of years it almost seems that we have come to not only expect that out of control police officers will be sent free, but many people have determined that they should. Society is being conditioned to believe that life is so invaluable as to willingly accept its loss over a loose cigarette or an unpaid child support order. We seem to have a growing number of people who first seek control and then exploit it with an enthusiasm that a reasoned person could never comprehend. It is as if there is a joy or a pride in the excitement of wielding power over another person. I won’t go into the myriad of possible causes because it is too complex for a simple piece, but the representations are all around us.

The video released this weekend shows that we may be making progress considering the events of the last few years where police officers had been either filmed or suspected of having murdered unarmed citizens. Although the video shows us a way-to-eager white neighbor trying to help the police ‘bring order’ to the situation, it also showed that some of the police officers were completely mindful of the fact that the rogue in their midst was taking it too far when he pulled out his gun. Of course, I would have much rather they stopped that officer before a little girl was slammed to the Earth by her hair and abused in a manner that a citizen would certainly find jail time for. But, at least no one got shot, this time. Jesus! That is an absolute tragedy isn’t it? I still find I’m holding my breath when I watch the video for the *nth time and hear her call for her mother and here I suggest that we should commend officers for not allowing this cop to open fire on unarmed kids. Sometimes I really think I need to commit myself when I try to rationalize the base of our society. Honestly.

The day before Easter an unarmed citizen of South Carolina, Walter Scott, was pulled over in a traffic stop and he took off because he had unpaid child support orders. He was filmed being murdered because he ran from a cop with an all too eager attitude to just kill the man, do the paperwork and go home for the evening. Americans were all over social media having an argument about whether or not it was wrong. Really? As a woman who never received child support, I would have loved for someone to have taken the warrants for my back pay seriously. But I wouldn’t expect anyone to die over it. Watching that video I felt the fear of this man running from gunshots. I watched the cop and couldn’t imagine what he could have been thinking, “I don’t want to chase after this man who I pulled over for a simple driving infraction, I’ll just shoot him until he’s dead.” Git ‘Er done, motherfucker.

We saw Eric Garner strangled to death last year and I have not been able to shake that vision. I am haunted by it. Mr. Garner never posed a threat to anyone. He was a single man surrounded by police officers. He begged for them to stop and there was no moment of reflection where the officer realized the man had been subdued and he needed to step away. One of the commonalities between the Walter Scott murder and that of Eric Garner is the fact that after they were both clearly dead, they were put into handcuffs. Was it to make it look like they were alive for anyone who was watching or was it still part of their need to dominate? Who gives a shit? Git ‘Er done, motherfucker.

In Cleveland last year a 12 year old boy, Tamir Rice, was in the park with no one around. The police pulled up and shot him. There was no warning given. This child had not even had an opportunity to register what was going on and they killed him. These police officers get a call about a “young man” in the park with a gun and they drove in with an immediate instinct to shoot him. That is not how they were trained to deal with this situation. There were several steps in the middle that they completely surpassed where they would have determined that #1 he was a child #2 the gun was a toy #3 he was a threat to no one. They decided to forego all of the training they were given and just drove up to murder this child. Git ‘Er done, motherfucker.

Maybe the fact that there were officers at the scene in Texas this weekend who were able to control themselves and (finally) sought to control the one who was taking things way too far is a sign that law enforcement is hearing society’s demand that it be the responsibility of the police officers to treat their citizenry with respect until they are given a reason not to? Maybe this will begin a change where their leaders demand that they offer respect to both the power and the weapons they are given in their job of protecting and serving our communities? These officers have been protecting and serving their own egos. Period.

I’m glad Officer Casebolt quit his job because he should have but the outcome of his ‘investigation’ in a state like Texas will offer us insight to the way things are heading. If there was ever a way to show the exact mentality we are fighting against, we were offered it this weekend.

Git ‘Er done, motherfucker.

Indeed.

Black Lives Matter?

I don't know. Do black lives matter? I can't tell. I am sickened by how many people have to defensively scream in reply, "All Lives Matter!" Yeah? Kindly fuck yourself. I know that most of America's citizens say that they want equality. But we are all living in the same country and having the same stories relayed to us. And we are not all the handful of assholes who go around blindly demanding the innocence of the people who kill unarmed black men. But we continue to coexist with them. And we continue to allow them to be outraged when anyone attempts to have a rational discussion about where we are as a country. Yes. In fact, all lives do matter. But until we can all get on the same page about that, it really is important that we all focus a little deeper on the lives we allow our society to dismiss.

It has been six months now since we have been seeing this face in the news. I'm not kidding. When we were offered the picture of Trayvon Martin in the hoodie a few years ago, I could not let him go. And Tamir Rice is so much harder. This little boy was 12 years old. LOOK AT THAT FACE!!!  Neither of these children were doing anything wrong. After Trayvon was murdered and the trash that killed him was let go I honestly thought that my country was having an awakening. There were a  handful of assholes who I gladly put in their place, but for the most part everyone I talked to seemed to be pissed at work. And online. And then time passed. And then countless unarmed black men were being murdered by police officers. And we were offered absolutely bullshit stories that no one would believe. Right? Eric Garner was on video! And the people who were outraged with me about Trayvon just kind of settled into a nice, easy complacency in their world where police officers do no wrong. Being a thoughtful and useful member of society demands that you have a little more analysis than you will find in a lazy right v. wrong / good v. bad / black v. white argument. Sometimes you have to actually let go of whatever comfortable naiveté you have allowed yourself to live with and enter reality. You have to be thoughtful enough to process information with a depth that tells you that some Americans are racists and, statistically some racists are cops and some cops who kill unarmed black men just might be racists. And then you have to be outraged and demand more of your country!

Did everyone watch the same newscasts that I did? Did everyone who, undoubtedly, knew that GoFundMe accounts were created (and funded into the hundreds of thousands) for each of the officers who killed these men also see on the news that the mother of Tamir Rice ended up homeless? Which lives matter? This is your country! This is the country where you demand that all lives matter! Really? Then act like it. Have outrage because a child was murdered and his mother, who undoubtedly fell into an awful depression, then ended up in a homeless shelter! Admit that her child was murdered! Tell yourself and tell your children and tell anyone who disagrees with you that her child was murdered. The moment you allow yourself or anyone else a hint of hesitation here means you are not qualified to judge which lives matter.

You are the problem in America if you have seen that video and, knowing that you are looking at a 12 year old child who is standing there doing nothing, having no time to even register what is going on, is shot and murdered by a police officer who had been released from his former department for his immaturity and over-emotion regarding his desire to shoot his gun, you can find a word that doesn't mean murder. And you are the problem when you have no outrage after having heard the same news story that I did about his sister then being pinned down by the police officer when she went to help her dying brother; the brother that was still not receiving CPR or any kind of aid. And until you admit that this is the most tragic story you can imagine if your eyes are closed and that child is white, you will continue to be the reason my country is such a tragedy. And you will continue to be the reason that black lives, in fact, do not matter.

I have no information to offer anyone here. I have done no research and found no answers. I offer no recipe for anyone on how to make our country better. I am just pissed off and needed to rant tonight. If you made it all the way to the end and were hoping for a revelation, I apologize.