I've been just a tiny bit discouraged lately, what with the events in Ferguson and having seen the documentary about Edward Snowdon just over the weekend. Not sure whether I should flip or fly. Seems like our country may well collapse under the burden of its racism and a level of espionage and intrigue worthy of a LaCarre novel.
Maybe some good could come of the unjust grand jury decision in Ferguson, amid the outrage and indifference. Maybe we could wake up in white America and get that something in our program is just a little bit funky. It is the legacy of slavery in this country that created the environment that allowed an unarmed black teenager to be shot and killed by a white police officer. And something is terribly wrong that the police responded to the protests in the aftermath of the shooting with quasi military force. We can't change anything until we look at reality through a clear set of eyeballs. As long as white people are convinced that we are living in a post racist world, the gross injustice and violence will continue.
As for the Edward Snowdon thing: Jeez, don't ask me. George Orwell may have imagined a world in which my stupid emails and phone calls and this blog could be of concern to the federal government, but who'da thunk it would come true. I have visions of some NSA person saying, "Frank, she's posted another blog. What a big mouth that woman has." Really, kids??? Just what the hell are we supposed to give up in pursuit of an increasingly elusive sense of "safety"?
I say this: Stand up. Speak up and don't ever stop. Write letters and emails. Show up. This democracy can only be take away from us if we allow it. And white people: start by recognizing that you have privilege not afforded to others. Live in reality. Painful as it is, it is far better than denial, excuses and bullshit.
