Pro athlete protesters have been, and aver to continue, to kneel as a response to “police violence” and other grievances. Since they conduct this demonstration during the National Anthem, some have accused them of disrespecting the flag and our country.
Strong denials claim that the protest has nothing to do with the flag or country specifically, but is conducted to speak out against racial and social abuses. So how about a protest that will satisfy both claims?
Either before or after the playing of the National Anthem, the athletes, and anyone else, including the fans in the stands (if there are any in this year) can respectfully kneel in agreement with the protesters. In fact, we could even have a moment of silence for all victims of abuse.
A reasonable protest is Constitutionally protected and, in fact, encouraged by American history. However, the “poke in the eye” approach of some protesters has, and will continue to fail as the focus of the protest is lost in the egregious behavior of the participants.
The “Floyd protests” and others were hijacked by hoodlums intent on mayhem but operating under the umbrella of the peaceful marches and gatherings until they found an opportunity to unleash their own atrocities.
“One nation, under God, indivisible...” has been lost in the deliberately divisive actions of protesters. Seems like some wise person once pronounced, “United we stand, divided we fall.” And if our nation cannot unite in disgust, revulsion, and punitive action over despicable acts of injustice, we will never agree over some “minor,” political issues. With this, the demise of this nation is assured.
One more platitude. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Will we solve our elephantine social, economic, and racial problems in one bite? No. But we can begin to nibble around the edges and make progress.
But that will not happen if we continue to poke one another in the eye and slap away their “spoons.”
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Hoist on Its Own Petard
“Don’t lump us, the peaceful protesters, with the hooligans, rioters, and terrorists!” This, and other similar mantras are chanted by the mobs inhabiting many cities. A second version is that “‘All’ lives matter.”
Well, let’s take a look at these two statements and see how they stack up with reality. If any and all lives really matter, then why are our “peaceful” riot-testers continuing to congregate in the wake of several additional lives being lost, both of police and protesters? These meetings have shown themselves to be deadly, so continuing to pursue these courses of action only endangers other, putatively innocent, lives.
I have read numbers of up to 10 people who have died that are directly attributable to the “gatherings.” (It is hard to verify, however.) So how does the expenditure of, let’s just say, several, lives align with the claim that all lives matter?
And second, the blanket blame for all police officers due to the “bad actions” (undeniable and indefensible) of some, also fails to square with the chant that “we are not all like that.” A specific example was the fact that I saw one post that said only one of the four police officers involved was charged with a crime. Well, if standing by while the incident was in progress is a crime, why has not the photographer who filmed the torture and death for over nine minutes been charged? Didn’t he just stand by and let it happen?
This is not a screed to excuse or justify the actions of a rogue officer or officers. Neither should his, their actions be a blanket justification for rioting, mayhem, destruction, and even murder.
Our society is falling apart right before our eyes. It is not a slow deterioration, it is a calamitous collapse. The right to assemble and protest is sacrosanct in the Constitution. But just to protest for the purpose of protesting is pointless at best and counter-productive at worst.
Instead of decrying “white privilege,” “inherent racism,” or “institutional bias,” give the society some positive, definitive solutions. I am against tornados and hurricanes. But protesting them neither protects anyone from their effects nor prevents the occurrences of the calamities.
I am against illiteracy, so I propose reading programs. I am against poverty, so I propose work-study, savings, and entrepreneurial programs. Don’t just complain about the alligators. Give us a roadmap out of the swamp.
An old cartoon called “Pogo,” which ran during the Viet Nam War depicted one character on a horse, charging wildly around the countryside. When asked what his intention was, the response was that he was too busy “wildly dashing about” to formulate a solution. He was just against things. Pogo is back.
And to avoid “my own petard,” the root problem in our society is a heart problem. We are all sinners by birth and need a new heart, a new creation, to remake us as our Creator intended in the beginning. He sent a Substitute to pay for my sins, and yours, and give us new hearts. And new outlooks on life. We are to bring glory to Him.
Not everyone wants to hear this, but no one can challenge the fact that change is possible and effective in solving our problems. We choose to continue in confusion and calamity. Jesus stands ready to answer our prayer for cleansing and a course correction. We need to turn around, and stop “Pogo-ing” all over the place.
Well, let’s take a look at these two statements and see how they stack up with reality. If any and all lives really matter, then why are our “peaceful” riot-testers continuing to congregate in the wake of several additional lives being lost, both of police and protesters? These meetings have shown themselves to be deadly, so continuing to pursue these courses of action only endangers other, putatively innocent, lives.
I have read numbers of up to 10 people who have died that are directly attributable to the “gatherings.” (It is hard to verify, however.) So how does the expenditure of, let’s just say, several, lives align with the claim that all lives matter?
And second, the blanket blame for all police officers due to the “bad actions” (undeniable and indefensible) of some, also fails to square with the chant that “we are not all like that.” A specific example was the fact that I saw one post that said only one of the four police officers involved was charged with a crime. Well, if standing by while the incident was in progress is a crime, why has not the photographer who filmed the torture and death for over nine minutes been charged? Didn’t he just stand by and let it happen?
This is not a screed to excuse or justify the actions of a rogue officer or officers. Neither should his, their actions be a blanket justification for rioting, mayhem, destruction, and even murder.
Our society is falling apart right before our eyes. It is not a slow deterioration, it is a calamitous collapse. The right to assemble and protest is sacrosanct in the Constitution. But just to protest for the purpose of protesting is pointless at best and counter-productive at worst.
Instead of decrying “white privilege,” “inherent racism,” or “institutional bias,” give the society some positive, definitive solutions. I am against tornados and hurricanes. But protesting them neither protects anyone from their effects nor prevents the occurrences of the calamities.
I am against illiteracy, so I propose reading programs. I am against poverty, so I propose work-study, savings, and entrepreneurial programs. Don’t just complain about the alligators. Give us a roadmap out of the swamp.
An old cartoon called “Pogo,” which ran during the Viet Nam War depicted one character on a horse, charging wildly around the countryside. When asked what his intention was, the response was that he was too busy “wildly dashing about” to formulate a solution. He was just against things. Pogo is back.
And to avoid “my own petard,” the root problem in our society is a heart problem. We are all sinners by birth and need a new heart, a new creation, to remake us as our Creator intended in the beginning. He sent a Substitute to pay for my sins, and yours, and give us new hearts. And new outlooks on life. We are to bring glory to Him.
Not everyone wants to hear this, but no one can challenge the fact that change is possible and effective in solving our problems. We choose to continue in confusion and calamity. Jesus stands ready to answer our prayer for cleansing and a course correction. We need to turn around, and stop “Pogo-ing” all over the place.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)