Racial Problems

            

             

            The conversations continue---as they should. It is the anger, the hatred, the violence, that should end. Discussion is going on across the land(s), everyone weighing in with their opinions and judgments. Some who agree with the verdict, others unhappy. Discussion on how this trial went this way white other incidents of like manner did not. Many across the land calling out for a changing of the laws. Many saying that it was the laws in place that worked. The disagreements are plentiful, the anger, the pain, is obvious. People are speaking out, from the ordinary citizen all the way up to the President, Most claiming the same thing, racial bias. Sadly, the scales of equality are never level, on either side. Violence is not going to make it so.

Violence on begets violence. That does not bring about true and just change. That does not bring about a healthy and equal way of life. That merely brings out anger and actions of revenge retribution. Ignoring the problem of inequality..and I do see it as a problem..only allows it to grow and fester. Creating the opportunity for violent acts to happen time and time again. Discussing it over the water cooler, holding long interviews and reports on the media and social networks brings it to the front of attention, but talk is just that- talk. And talk without action, is not much more than useless.

         Racial problems are not going away until we lose that mindset of distrust and ignorance. The problems will not go away until we educate ourselves on the ways of others so that we can better understand each other. We, the people, need to do this. We need to stop demanding change from the government officials that we have placed in office and make these changes and improvements ourselves. To give them the power and right to burden us with more laws and restrictions is not the answer. It will never be a fix that will make everyone happy, someone- somewhere will not like what they come up with and again the anger and dissatisfaction will appear.

         Racial problems are not going to go away until we change and discard those feelings of entitlement that we carry around with us. Our race, our age, our gender, our religion, our what-ever, entitles us to no special treatments and perks. Citizens of this country -by our Constitution- have rights that are spelled out within its words and amendments. Too many are seeking change, too many are interpreting the words in ways that twist and confuse. Even our Constitution, as good as it is, it not a writ of entitlement to special favors. In past decades those immigrating to this great country accepted the American way of life, learning the laws of the land, conforming to the American way not expecting the Country to change for them, but for them to change (even as they remembered their ancestry) for their new home. In the past, there was no easy pass. The new jumped in and found ways to create and enjoy their new life. Yes, even then there was distrust and racial bias due to ignorance. Proving that this is not a new problem. When the white man first came to this country our ignorance, our distrust, our greed destroyed the way of life for the Native Americans- even as they too fought among themselves- that is how long this has gone on here. Through-out the history of humanity, we have fought amongst ourselves. One group always thinking themselves better than and above another. One group always seeking dominance.

     Racial problems are not going to go away as long as we have groups of people feeding it. When we have groups living on hatred, thriving on anger we will have problems. Standing on street corners, standing in public forums of any sort and calling for violence, will not fix the problem. Riots, marches and looting will not solve the problem. Attacking each other in any form, will not solve the problem. It will call attention to it, but it will not fix it. It will in fact, only bring about more anger, creating more problems. When one side attacks another for a perceived injustice it  creates a never ending cycle of violence. The stink of violence, the ugliness of hatred, creates an atmosphere of despair that effects us all. Sadly, the darker side of man feeds on that despair. Using it for their own purposes.

   Racial problems are not going to go away, as long as we refuse to recognize and hear the other side. As long as we stand cemented in our beliefs, ignorance and intolerance. I am not saying that everyone should immediately accept everything as right and just. I am not saying that because this religion accepts this treatment of certain people then it is an acceptable practice for all. That because this nationality sees breaking certain laws as just, that we should turn a blind eye. Pain, mistreatment, lawlessness, true injustice should never be tolerated. How does one stand true to their moral beliefs, when their moral beliefs, when their interpretation of laws differ?  The United States Declaration of Independence states "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Man-and woman-, no matter their race, created equal. Created to walk side by side, working, living, laughing equally.  Not expecting special treatment, not expecting not accepting special treatment- working together to create something special. To build up a great land, not destroy it from within by petty jealousies and ignorance. Not tearing down by expecting others to do the work while they sit and watch. To work together in harmony to create a land where trust and hope thrive. Where honesty and compassion lead, instead of seeking the darkness and violence. Hatred and intolerance are easy emotions to feel, love and acceptance take work. many of us have become lazy.

  Sad thing is, racial problems are never going to go away. We blame the violence on guns, on video games, on immigrants, on movies, on any variety of things. We blame the violence on anything and everything but where it truly lies.  Humanity is never going to form a balance where everyone sees eye to eye on everything. As long as there is one thing that people disagree on, there is going to be someone who cries out that it is an injustice. There is always going to be someone who reacts in fear and anger. There is always going to be someone that seeks to use and abuse others. Laws are meant for others. The human body, an amazing creation, is strong when treated well. When one introduces drugs and other unhealthy substances to their body it becomes weak, addicted, craving the bad which then leads the body to do what ever it can to get that substance, even if it is illegal. There is always going to be those who seek power, that power can and often does corrupt when means that man will abuse those he perceives to be beneath him. There is always going to be someone who sees others as less important therefore disposable. Unless we can change our mindset, unless we can rid ourselves of the fear and ignorance, until we can rid our heart of the sin of hate, unless and until we can see each other as equal, to find the compassion and God-given love that we are meant to have, injustices of any type are never going away. Racial problems, are a cancer of community, eating away at our humanity. Until we seek the cure for it as we seek the cure and prevention of cancer of the body- it will thrive and destroy.