During my multiple decades of life and my parents’ life, civic demonstrations and disruption occurred. Specific groups in society used these methods to get the attention of the power brokers.
The Oxford Dictionary defines power brokers as a person or people who deliberately affects the distribution of political or economic power by exerting influence.
Mull that definition over for a few seconds. Can you name individuals in your city, state, and nation who can sit on a “Power Broker Committee.” Do you know who to contact to examine the issues of all involved in a protest?
How many of us felt anger and rage when we experienced an injustice done to us? After the initial shock and tears, which of you gathered friends and family to brainstorm how to address the issue? If you didn’t know who to contact (the power broker), who helped you find this person or committee?
Think of hundreds of years of promises, compromises, and laws broken. Think about being judged by your last name, color of your hair, your inability to see, hear, or speak. Judging individuals inhumanely is rampant.
Americans saw the very worst of humanity when the very individuals who swear “to protect and save,” ignored their sworn duty, one of the reasons they joined law enforcement. They did not see that black man as an equal human being.
Americans look around. All lives matter. We must build and not tear down. It saddens me that my generation needs to continue teach and demonstrate objectivity and conversation. I ask my family to look into their hearts and souls and remember the last time you had anger in your heart. Was your anger addressed? Diid you discuss what sparked your angry? Were you treated compassionately? If yes, then continue teach your children by modeling the behaviors taught to you. If you feel you’re a little rusty, look for compassionate leaders who focus on dialogue, brainstorming, and solutions collectively.
Just remember demonstrating tells us something is wrong. The demonstrations tell us the power brokers are not listening their constituency.
Remember: anger is a symptom of a bigger problem.
Looting , burning cars, damaging iconic buildings and businesses takes away from the message. The individuals who have never gotten justice, never received humane treatment by law enforcement, and those who died without cause because of their color or being found in the “wrong place” will not get just from violent protests.
Register to vote. Vote at every election: locally, state, and federal. Attend public meetings, write letters to your elected officials. You can use https://www.countable.us/. It is a free app where you can write to your U.S. representative in the House, your U.S. senator, and the President of the United States.
Demonstrations have a short shelf life, but the pen is mighty and doesn’t cost you any thing but time. WRITE!
*Editor’s Note: The committee needs to address the violence as a reaction not as a need.This entry was posted in political, Speak up, Voter Action on . Edit
Turn off the radio, pull the plug on the television, silence your phones, and take a few minutes and contemplate one of the oldest holiday traditions -“Sending a Christmas Card.” 