The hope is we can carry forth the dream that our fore fathers had for us and our great country; That we could separate ourselves forever from the tyranny of unfair laws and the cruelty towards the many by the few.
In the same week where we had firecrackers and joyful celebrations across our country to celebrate 240 years of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, heartbreak came as two more black lives were lost for unfathomable reasons. Five police officers were killed trying to protect demonstrators conducting a peaceful demonstration and now a courtroom is assaulted all in one bloody, bloody week which some would say is the most bloodshed spread in an entire week since we have entered the modern age and began keeping track of such a thing.
I normally concentrate on writing about the presidential candidates in this blog, I usually focus on how dangerous it would be if Donald Trump becomes our president; Ironically, he almost seems irrelevant this past week. A major discussion in every household and public place in America should now be about how we can come together as a country and a Society to heal the divisions that are so glaring right now. Donald Trump doesn’t come to mind when one thinks of unifying to solve a problem (His specialty is separating and dividing). He doesn’t present plans or visions for the future but rather he rely’s on stirring up fears and rage and a philosophy of disengaging from the world and eventually hunkering down in armed camps of paranoia. Whether you personally like Hillary Clinton or not, she is equipped to lead and not only has the best resume for this post (of any democratic candidate ever) but she actually has plans for the future that will benefit the many and not just a few. Bernie Sanders has had a magnificent effect on her policies, she will have people surrounding her that will expect and demand that she keeps her election promises.
The divisions we have in society can be alleviated and eventually healed, but we have to get down to the root causes and not continue to keep our heads buried in the sand.
When we ignore the whispers, eventually we have to deal with the shouts
These episodes of violence are definitively shouts. We would all benefit from spending some time imagining what it would be like being afraid to be stopped for minor infractions, not knowing if you will get shot if you have been perceived to have made a suspicious move. Or how you must dress your children to look “preppy” enough (No Hoodies!) and how they should answer questions correctly (So not to sound disrespectful). How many white citizens even give that a thought?
This is why this years election is very likely the most important election in our lifetime.
Yes there will be chaos but there are two kinds of chaos in this world, light and dark. Light chaos produces changes that will do good for the masses. Dark Chaos however can make things very dark, very fast. Donald Trump has provided a preview of what Dark Chaos has in store for us with just about every word that comes out of his mouth.
To make the changes we need for a more perfect union, we must start with a dream of how we want our country to look for the next 240 years and beyond. When events look the darkest that is the time to come together and make real and lasting change. Not change for the few but positive change for the many. Lets keep the dream of our forefathers alive and growing. We are American’s and tightening up our boot straps and correcting course from time to time is what we do.
-LM
