Running ON Empty

The long summer of our discontent continues playing out each week with new levels of gun violence, more demonstrations and the public outcry for peace, justice and gun control.  The issues are mounting due to the recent disturbing and questionable tactics of police that left two black men dead, with both events being caught on cell phone video and shared on social media.  Additionally, the wounding and killing of several police officers is also adding fuel to an already burning fire on race relations in America.  In addition, the unsettling rhetoric of those running for public office, racist groups and those with personal agendas are making things more complicated.

   

With so much occurring each day it is hard to find a path forward that works and that leads to a solution that garner support and by in.  For a new and younger generation, what is happening is shocking and unbelievable.  It seems foreign with many of them having a difficult time coping and understanding what it all means.  For many older African Americans, the current issues are alarming and outrageous, but are reflective of what occurred during the 1960’s that included the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X; the Vietnam War, countless marches, voting rights, housing rights, Kent State shooting, beginning of head start and urban riots.  

   

What is being seen on the surface is just the tip of the iceberg; however these recent events are sheading new light on some old underlining issues.  And to be truthful about it, many of these issues have always been with us.  However, these recent events have brought a sense of urgency on how to restore the loss of trust between residents and local law enforcement and the Criminal Justice system.  This is a tall order to be sure, but not as impossible as some my believe it to be.  

The issues are real, the events are real, and the people are real.  In the larger narrative, unless we make the investment to look deeper and to go deeper into these issues, then things will only remain the same.  But in the wider view, the more we dig into those issues, the more will come to the surface and that is where we will see the healing.  If we want to change our world, we must seek for the solutions regardless of the cost involved.