Social Media Pause

People on Facebook have started posting photos from 9/11/01 to exemplify the courageous nature of our heroic civil servants. What they don’t realize is that they seem to be justifying police brutality through good intentions. They are also causing trauma. Those of us who were there, who are still dealing with PTSD and Survivor’s Guilt are having that raw nerve exposed for what seems to be political purposes.

I do not believe this is what these good people intend. I believe it is quite the opposite. However, they are not achieving their goal. Every day we have the opportunity to make a better world. Every day we make progress. Every day we also regress. These are emotional times and we are all looking for answers. There are no easy ones.

At 8:46 am on September 11^th, 2001, the first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

An officer in Minneapolis in May of 2020 held his knee down on George Floyd’s neck for 

8 minutes and 46 seconds.

These are facts. We are all appalled at both.

In New York City, we rebuilt, and we will never forget. 

Can we, AS A COUNTRY, do the same now?

Can we remember the grievances of an entire group of Americans who have fought alongside us in our wars, work along with us, struggle with our issues, try to help people understand, just try to take the opportunity of being American, and make it real for themselves and their families?

Yet no matter how law abiding, how successful they are they can still be killed for the color of their skin.

There is always a cost for addressing any problem. We are paying a higher price now for denying the problems exist.

We Are Not Alone

The book on my night stand is an informative piece entitled The Year of Lear by James Shapiro. 

This chronicle of England during the reign of King James I, and William Shakespeare’s composition of three great works reads like a novel. 

Not unlike our own time there is social/political strife, economic hardship, and above all, a contagious illness causing wide spread death and quarantine. 

The unfortunate events that have taken place over the past week come at a time in our nation's brief history when conditions are ripe for the type of unrest taking place. 

Economic downturn and job losses combined with a three month lockdown have folks frustrated enough. The grisly murder of a man in police custody has sparked massive protests across the country and around the world. 

We seem to be, at this time in history, a "culture traumatized by plague" as Shapiro describes 17th Century England. Unlike London of 1606, our culture is not only afflicted by a biological virus, but a social plague as well. That being the plague of racism. 

We want our African American brothers and sisters to know that we stand in solidarity with values of equality and inclusion. 

We reject the notion that any race of people is superior to another. 

We reject all forms of violence.  

We support the right of the people to peacefully protest and understand the anguish over continued injustice. 

Most of all we work and pray for peace. Please stay safe, stay sane, and stay hopeful.

LOVE 

Mark & Jen

PS next book up :
Ta-Nehisi Coates Between The World and Me