Why all of the #ranting?

Is the world really to going to hell in a hand basket as my dad would joke at times when I was a teen in the 60’s? I’m someone that is passionate about seeing racism, classism, age discrimination and gender inequality addressed in a practical fashion that sees definitive progress happen over time. The challenge today is that everyone on all sides of the issues are so quick to cry foul to the other side. Everyone is an expert in statistics, race and now police brutality. Yet, the sad reality is that the lives of anyone who is injured or killed is a true tragedy that needs to be mourned and the issue of why what happened has to be brought into the light! Justice means we have to discover the truth and see tangible consequences for ongoing acts of hatred, violence and injustice.

I was listening to a radio host rant about a local incident where a Black man was pulled over by a Tucson police supposedly and his post about what happened had gone viral. The conclusion of the radio star, after looking at his Facebook page, was that this Black man who is in the National Guard and has a permit to carry a concealed weapon must be a ‘cop lover’ that had obviously fabricated his story. The individual was clearly someone who couldn’t relate to the usual White cop attacking a Black man that came out of poverty because he gave the Tucson Police high marks for their being fair to him regardless of whether he should have been cited for a broken tail lamp and not having the most current registration in his possession.

The point of the ranting talk show host was that this incident regardless of it’s veracity didn’t have any relevance to the latest outrage on social media of a Black teen gal being man handled by a White security officer at a high school. The talk show host continued to make the point that police, teachers and security officers don’t have to be rewarded or given accolades when they are doing their jobs correctly. Then another battle erupted between the two celebrity talk show hosts and a variety of callers that expressed the point that all of the bad press that comes out about the police or Black men makes it so easy to make assumptions and generalizations that are so far from the truth. Yes there are a few bad police officers and a few bad people of all races that ultimately will face some type of law enforcement person whether that is in the classroom, on the freeway, on the street or in the courtroom.

Is it possible to address serious issues in such a fashion that the truth can be discovered and the majority of people understand what really happened? Yes there is a serious issue about police brutality that appears to be pandemic much as there seems to be an issue in our society about understanding how to relate back to those in authority whether that is in court with a judge, a classroom with a teacher or a police officer in your neighborhood. I know when I grew up there wasn’t an Internet or social media that could bring the news of some unfortunate occurrence to the attention of millions literally in an hour.

I had a text from a friend who is totally exasperated over the ongoing inability for any groups of people, whether that is in the church, racial groups or social groups to show much interest in dialoguing in a fashion that shows resolve and change of heart on all sides. There are clearly many barriers between racial groups, socio-economic groups and religious groups to see much hope for our future according to my young friend. I recently attended a conference a week ago that talked a little about how mercy and grace can help social injustice in our society from the church’s perspective. Yet, in the midst of this conference I had various conversations between people of Hispanic, African American and Anglo backgrounds that seemed to still be in the ‘dark’ about how their actions or lack of interest contributes to the problem.

The talk show host is purposely being a cynic who wants to provoke a reaction to anyone that truly cares or is capable of discerning what is really happening presently in our society. The difficulty is that all of the cynics in the world, like this talk show host, tend to just talk about the issues and throw out suggestions, yet they themselves choose to take few steps to see healing and understanding be promoted through their media platform. 

So it’s ok to continue ranting to see justice come as along as you are willing to do something in a positive fashion to bring change. I know that thanking someone for doing a job well done is a flash from the past but maybe it’s worth trying! I can’t fathom how many teachers face discipline issues everyday and could potentially lose it and be the next viral video or what about the police officer or fireman/woman that sees the tragedy first hand of someone dying without cause lose it when someone does something crazy and they over react.

Bottom line it’s time to intentionally make friends across racial groups, socio-economic groups and professions. Just maybe you would be more understanding and less quick to criticize or attack and hopefully the same would happen to you as your friendship groups expand!