I am writing this here because I need to write it somewhere, or I will start crying. I am a Maryland native, one with family in Baltimore, and one who considers Baltimore to be 'my city'. I live further south for work, so I am safe tonight. Except I'm not. Right now, 'my city' is burning, and it's burning because of the best intentions of man. That's right: it is the angels of man's nature that have paved this path of destruction, not his demons. Those who did this did this because they thought it would make a change for the better in the long run. Maybe it will, but if it does, it will not be because of their actions, but in spite of them.
Tonight, I am filled with a righteous anger. An anger towards those who are destroying the city of Baltimore. However, I will not let it control me. I have the wisdom to know this righteous anger is the same thing that those who are destroying the city of Baltimore feel. They are not giving in to mob mentality or barbaric impulses. They are acting this way because they feel that this righteous retribution, and they are doing what is right.
It's this fact that we have to face now: Righteous Anger is still Anger. It is still Hate, and we must never forget that. It will lead us down the same dark path that all hate will if we let it take control of us. Anger is a fire, a flame that can never be extinguished, only be brought down to embers. Anger can be a powerful force if we harness it, bend it to a constructive purpose. But we must never forget that it is a destructive force, one that can destroy us if we let it consume us.
Remember that as we sift through the ashes this fire will leave. What happened here happened because of justified anger, and it's results are only smoldering wreckage that we now must clean up.
What happened tonight happened because of decades of police doing what they thought was necessary to protect the law abiding. They thought themselves righteous, and they have wrought the seeds of destruction.
What happened tonight happened because of decades of a system of justice that became aimed at a group of people because it thought them to be wicked. It thought itself righteous, and when it could've acted to protect, it found itself distrusted and ignored.
What happened tonight happened because a group of people saw those who mistreated them clad in blue, and felt those people to be oppressors and not to be trusted. They thought themselves righteous, and now they their communities are being destroyed by those who should be their neighbors.
What happened will happen again because no one will look at the righteousness that drove us here, and admit they were wrong. We will never admit that we are only human, and we cannot understand that good intentions can drive us to evil acts.
A city burns tonight because of the good intentions of humankind. God help us all