1. Why do some riots catch more media attention than others?
2. Trump or Hillary... Which one is really a racist?
3. The media fueled race war in America
4. What really is a racist? What is racist language?
Let me start by saying this: I have not seen one (ONE!) riot which was started fueled or incited in any other way by "conservatives". You do not see conservatives of any color or stripe burning flags, looting buildings, mob beating people in the streets. It simply is not there, and if there is an instance of it, it certainly is not on the scale of the liberal left. It seems impossible today to hold an intelligent nuanced view on something without someone pulling the "race card" on either side. In fact, language has become so loaded that it is almost impossible to speak at all without becoming labeled as a racist. Let me give and example... The word "boy". In the south was historically used to refer to black men in a derogatory way by whites. I get it, it's not a preferred word. I have also heard it used to describe whites in a derogatory way describing "rednecks" or groups of whites that blacks don't particularly care for. I have heard it used in good ways too. To say "these are my boys, they have my back" is just one example. I learned one important thing in counseling classes... Hearing is always in the realm of the listener, and it is not only the person talking who is responsible for what they say, but the person listening to listen with understanding. A lost art for most Americans I think because they presuppose their own ideas into everything. Reading your own meaning into something has become the norm for thinking in this country as opposed to drawing the meaning out of it. Now, let me get to the points I am trying to make...
Why do some riots catch more attention than others? It's an interesting question that I am sure has many different answers. Some of which may not jive with mine. But that's ok. It's my blog and my opinion. Here's what I think. I think... No, I believe, that there is a meta narrative (a fancy word for saying an overall idea or plan that gives meaning to something) that defines the media and what they want us to believe. There is a plan to "re-educate" us according to what they want us to think, know and believe. I think this is the driving force behind it. The Baltimore riots caught a lot of attention, as did Ferguson, but how did the Milwaukee Riots not catch much attention? Let me tell you why: Because there was confusion and doubt in the two former examples. There was a question (at least until the trials) in Ferguson and Baltimore, but in Milwaukee, a black officer shot a black suspect who was running with a stolen handgun, and turned with the gun in his hand towards the officer. It doesn't fit the narrative the media is trying to portray of police brutality and crooked cops. Despite the fact that the suspect's sister has said " Burnin down sh*t ain’t going to help nothin! Y’all burnin’ down sh*t we need in our community. Take that sh*t to the suburbs. Burn that sh*t down! We need our sh*t! We need our weaves. I don’t wear it. But we need it." and the city alderman Khalif Rainey stated "Rectify this immediately because, if you don’t, this vision of downtown, all of that, you one day away. You one day away.". To add insult to injury, BLM leader Deray McKesson said that "I denounce the state violence that led to the protests in the first place". These comments were all edited by the media or swept under the rug because they don't fit the socialist narrative of a corrupt police state. The truth is, there is still discrimination against people of all races. I have experienced it from blacks, hispanics, asians, and even other whites. What is interesting though is that none of that fits what the media is trying to tell you. That they know best what you need as far as information and how to think. They *want* you to think that all cops are corrupt, that all black criminals are innocent (and some are, I am sure), and that other races (particularly whites) have no idea what it is like to be discriminated against. And if you argue against this... Guess what? YOU are racist.
And that brings us to the "race war" in America fueled by the media. I remember before Obama got in office that race was simply not an issue with the majority of people I came in contact with. Whether you were white, red, blue, or green, it didn't matter. We all happened to be in the same boat, working to make life happen in a less painful way. Obama brought race to the forefront (I believe in a very careless way), and the media has taken it and run with it. There is a victimization mentality that permeates our culture as a whole, where we are looking at some way that whatever happens makes us a victim. Not everyone, mind you, but many if not most believe this, if not in words, then in deed. The news would have us think that whites are openly oppressing blacks, and spanish and everyone else. That all blacks are rioting and looting, and it is someone else's fault besides their own. But here is what I have seen. I have seen people. The responsible ones were not at the BLM rallies, they were on their way to work. They weren't looting, they were living and loving. There are plenty of whites out there with BLM and rioters causing havoc. Not much of it is reported though. it's not what they want you to believe.
So what really is a racist? Some of you might say it is anyone who hates or discriminates. You'd be close. Here is the dictionary definition (remember those things? We used to use them to make sure we were using words correctly): prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.
Well, that certainly eliminates a large percentage of people world wide, unless you belong to a white supremacist group, Black Panthers, etc... I honestly believe most people don't think in terms of "I need to discriminate because my race is superior". Maybe a better term is bigotry? Let's go with that... " intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.". That includes a much broader spectrum of people. In fact, I would say that includes most of us. Let me put it this way... If I say "I support the deportation of all illegals because it is in violation of our laws", some of you will undoubtedly call me a racist or say I am a bigot. But who is wearing the bigot shoe? Read again what I wrote. Because I believe something is in violation of law I am now a bigot and intolerantly labeled as such? Or is the person who intolerantly labels me a bigot because the refuse to accept a different opinion than themselves? I would say it is the latter, and not the former. Is it possible to agree that we all feel for the hispanics in those countries that endure poverty and hardship and still maintain that they need to come here LEGALLY? I believe it is, but sadly... Because of the current state of our country, we cannot hold an intelligent conversation on anything. We get angry and talk over each other, we silence our opposition by labeling them racist or bigots. We are not as much interested in having genuine conversation as we are in furthering our agenda, our own beliefs. Maybe it is fear that we will be marginalized if we don't yell and aren't heard, or that we will be ostracized if we disagree.
Personally, I could give a crap what someone thinks about me. In recent years I have learned to move beyond that. At work, I don't care who I work with as long as we can communicate effectively and you do your job. Outside of work, If I offer to hang out with you, it is not because of your race, but because I find you a person of value, regardless of who or what you are. It means I like you. I had a pastor friend once say that the Bible only recognizes one race, the human race, and we are all in the same boat. It stuck with me. The Marine Corps had a similar philosophy--We are all Green. Maybe we should take a step back from social issues and stop branding each other and look at the individual person. Maybe we should stop listening to the liberal media that fuels fear and hate and sensationalism and live life as Americans who need to be striving to make America great. Or we could keep our heads up our butts and point fingers at each other and say "bigot, racist, discriminator"! Maybe we should look at the 3 fingers pointing at us when we are pointing at someone else and ask ourselves what is wrong with us first and what are we presenting to those who see us...
