If we are not more outraged by the murder of George Floyd than by the burning and looting, then we are justifying having a knee on the neck of our nation.
I cannot for one second imagine what is like to have black skin and suffer the subtle to dramatic indignities, not to mention living with the anticipatory anxiety.
What I do find encouraging is increasing awareness. NFL player Drew Brees enlightened many when he shared that he previously felt taking a knee is disrespectful to our military. Taking a knee was a peaceful gesture by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick who did not feel included in the pledge to the flag. Many African Americans feel excluded from the phrase: “…with liberty and justice for ALL.” My late father was a Citadel graduate, a decorated WWII veteran and retired Brigadier General from the National Guard. I have the utmost respect for our military service men and women. The American flag does not only represent our fine military, but also schools and universities, places of worship, ball parks, government buildings and courts of law, and more. We planted it on the moon!
What I find horrifying is those who insist on attacking George Floyd’s character, calling him “…not a good person…” because he allegedly struggled with addictions. Does that justify murder by slow torture? As an addictions specialist, I promise you we treat substance abuse as a public health issue, not a criminal one.
As Mr. Floyd today is laid to rest in peace, I hope our nation can find a new respect, with liberty and justice for ALL.” Until black lives matter, all lives do not.
“Yes, protests often are used as an excuse for some to take advantage, just as when fans celebrating a hometown sports team championship burn cars and destroy storefronts. I don’t want to see stores looted or even buildings burn. But African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. ” – Kareem Abdul Jabbar
“Racism isn’t getting worse; it’s just getting filmed.”
– Will Smith
“The haunting video of Mr. Floyd’s last breaths is a sobering reflection of this national crisis. …This is a time when we must embrace our differences and become more inclusive. No group should ever be targeted for racism, harassment or other form of discrimination.” – Roger Ferguson, CEO, TIAA