Erasing History

Dec. 1, 19555 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus - Her one choice began a movement, the Civil Rights Movement, which led to African American people being allowed the same freedoms as white citizens and led to Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech in 1963. 

In the 1830's, the white man removed many American Indians from their land and moved them to land within the United States that had been identified as "Indian land". This move, known as the Trail of Tears was a forced removal of these Indians from the land that they knew as home and the trip was brutal , leaving many starving and sick along the way. Many of the Indians died before ever reaching their new home. 

In 1619, a private ship brought 20 people into the United States that had been seized from a Portuguese slave ship into the Jamestown, Virginia area. These people were reportedly the first slaves in the United States, although many people slaves were here before then. Slavery was abolished on Dec. 18, 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln. 

Many other events have led to the history of the United States. Many of the historical events in our history are sad, brutal, and even unimaginable to the American people today. However, whether we agree with the events that took place or not, it is our history. We are to learn from it, we are to grow from it and we should never repeat the bad or unimaginable events again. Yet, our country seems as divided racially as we were in the 1950's.

Do I feel that racial equality is a problem in the United States? Yes, I do. However, whether there is a problem with equality or a problem with officers across the United States that are shooting unarmed black men without cause, it gives NO ONE the right to loot and burn or destroy the lives of other human beings that had absolutely nothing to do with any of the problem. 

I am outraged over the death of Breona Taylor, a young lady with so much to give to the country and yet, gunned down in her own home by officers that were delivering a warrant to the wrong home. Mistakes happen, but entering someone's home in the middle of the night and not announcing yourself as police is a crime. Yes, in her case the officers were fired upon, but her boyfriend was attempting to protect her and himself as he thought someone was breaking in. I would shoot too. No knock on the door, no announcement of who is entering my home, nothing except a wrong address and a young lady killed for no reason. 

George Floyd did not deserve to die on the ground with an officer on his neck. He was subdued and in police custody, so he could have been gotten up. Once handcuffed and in custody, there is no reason not to stand him up and get him into a police car. 

Rashard Brooks, the latest to die at the hands of white officers, was clearly in the wrong for struggling with the officers and with grabbing a taser from the officer and pointing it at officers. I am not saying deadly force was necessary as he was shot in the back, but I truly believe that the officers had a right to fire at him to stop him. I was not there to know if threats were made or what. I am fully aware that if he had gotten the officers gun, he clearly may have shot the responding officer and then we would not be hearing nearly as much about it on the news. 

My thoughts are: You do not run from the police if you are being stopped or questioned, you don't reach for their gun, taser, or handcuffs. I was taught that from a young age, were you? If we are going to talk about the homicide rates across the United States, let's talk true numbers. How many of those homicides are by African Americans, Mexican's, Caucasians, and each other race in the country?

My grandmother was Cherokee Indian and never lived on a reservation, but being of Native American decent, and knowing that in the 1830's many Native American's were forced to leave their homes and moved to a near area, where they were told that they were only allowed on Indian land is upsetting to me, I can't hold anyone today accountable for those actions, as it truly had nothing to do with any of them. 

We all need to realize that we all have a purpose on Earth and that we all can do some good if we work at it. We need to love our neighbors and help each other.